What is the end-goal for wellness? Men’s Folio hears from Tiffany Wee, SuperNature’s in-house Naturopath and Nutritionist.
SuperNature’s newest premises at COMO Dempsey is flooded with a warm inviting orange, and peppered with the vibrance of the produce laid out in its 6500 square feet space; instead of harsh whites and bleak minimalism. The concept has been around since 2001, but as the premises have shifted, so has its style. The pioneer of organic lifestyle is now fitted with iridescent tiles, terrazzo countertops, concrete flooring and of course, washes of orange. This contemporary take on interiors is courtesy of renowned Italian designer, Paolo Navone, who hails from OTTO Studio, the team responsible for other COMO projects.
“Nothing has changed at the new location,” says Tiffany Wee, the in-house naturopath and nutritionist who collaborates on the menu for Glow, a 32-seater that boasts both indoor and al fresco dining. The “change” Wee is speaking about refers to her approach to dishing out naturopathy guidance to customers — a job scope that entails doling out advice and recommendations, while curating workshops alongside wellness and medicine experts. “When customers approach me, I always take the time to listen to their needs and provide relevant guidance and recommendations. With the move to COMO Dempsey, Glow café now operates in a bigger kitchen. Hence, there are more opportunities for collaboration between myself and the kitchen team, bringing about further developments in the menu to include a wider array of diverse and exciting new dishes.”
And exciting they are. As healthy cuisine slowly sheds its bad rep and “rabbit food” association, Glow’s menu is an exhilarating showcase of the potential of tasteful and tasty wellness. By no means are Glow’s dishes delicate or fussy, though. In place of microgreens and pseudo-GMO labels, salmon cakes and crispy porchetta slices are reflective of SuperNature’s skill at balancing both nutrition and taste, something that Wee has had a hand to play in. “Whenever the kitchen team creates a dish or tries out a recipe, they will let me try and ask for my input from a nutritionist’s point of view. I will share my thoughts about how the dish can be made more balanced if certain functional ingredients are added to enhance the overall nutritional value.”
The practice of naturopathy has been on an incline in the past decade, as more wellness-conscious individuals opt for holistic healing and preventive measures to maintain wellbeing. When quizzed on the difference between naturopathy and orthodox healing, Wee is lengthy in her response. “Naturopathy is guided by the Illness-Wellness Continuum, a comprehensive approach that encompasses both mental and emotional health. As opposed to dichotomous states of well-being, health is redefined along a spectrum, ranging from optimal wellness, a neutral point (disease-free), to severe illness. While orthodox medicine simply aims to assist patients in achieving the neutral point, naturopathy seeks to guide patients towards a high level of optimal wellness, surpassing the state of being disease-free.”
Below, Men’s Folio Singapore speaks to Wee on the art of wellness, and on her position on adopting a healthier, sustainable and holistic way of life.
How do you define well-being?
Everyone harbours personal pursuits or goals that they want to achieve, be it everyday objectives or big life plans. Ultimately, health serves as a tool to ensure that the mind, body, and spirit are in their best state, allowing anyone to pursue and attain their desired goals. Essentially, it involves not only healing oneself for the sake of feeling better but also empowering the individual to attain their aspirations.
Is there an end goal for holistic wellness? Is it feeling good, or staying healthy or in shape? How would you measure it?
I think that there is no rigid standard as the end goal for holistic wellness would vary depending on everyone’s personal objectives. Ultimately, holistic wellness extends beyond a state of mere survival; it’s about thriving. Thriving means waking up feeling energetic and bountiful and not being plagued by discomfort. It also encompasses a point mentioned earlier about being able to achieve goals and experiencing a sense of contentment.
Can you tell us about your role in relation to SuperNature? What does it entail to be an in-house naturopath?
SuperNature is Singapore’s pioneer and leading retailer of organic and natural products. SuperNature adopts a knowledge-based wellness approach where we prioritise educating the customer about the world of wellness to empower them to make mindful choices relevant to their own lifestyle and needs. I am here as the in-house certified nutritionist and naturopath to help guide customers as well as share my expertise and knowledge in an accessible way. I enrolled in a 4-year naturopathy course in Nature Care College in Sydney. My training introduced me to various aspects of naturopathic practice, from anatomy and making medicine to gaining clinical experience under the guidance of a practising naturopath during a 500-hour attachment. On top of that I am still renewing my certification every year.
What are the main pillars of naturopathy?
Naturopathy seeks to empower patients by equipping them with the awareness and knowledge needed to achieve a self-sustaining state of well-being. There are 6 salient pillars or principles of naturopathy. Do No Harm which emphasises non-invasive methods for treatment, The Healing Power of Nature, Identify and Treat the Causes by understanding the medical history and lifestyle of the patient, Naturopath as Teacher, Treat the Whole Person in their mind, body, and spirit and Prevention.
Are there practices from work that you adopt for your day-to-day? Or is it more of a vice-versa?
The nature of my job is about implementing and practicing what I share about in everyday life and it is something that is naturally ingrained in my day-to-day. On top of that, I am very passionate about what I do so it does not feel like work to me. For example, at home, I practice mindful eating habits with my family like “Eat the Rainbow”, where we implement fruits and vegetables from each colour in our diets.
How can one aim to integrate functional wellness into their everyday life?
Rather than adopting an occasional approach to wellness, functional wellness is about integrating small changes into one’s existing lifestyle. For instance, instead of overhauling the entire diet, one can take simple steps like incorporating functional superfood powders in smoothies or yoghurts to enhance their nutritional quality. Similarly, in terms of physical activities, instead of relying on modern-day conveniences like cars and elevators, opt for stopping one bus stop earlier to walk the rest of the way or taking the stairs. The emphasis on little things also extends to other aspects of everyday life, including stress management. Instead of meditating for half an hour once a week, it would be more beneficial to allocate time to meditate consistently for five minutes, daily.
What are your favourite new features of SuperNature at COMO Dempsey? How does it differ from the prior one at Forum The Shopping Mall?
The landscape is my favourite feature of SuperNature at COMO Dempsey as we are now situated amidst nature. Furthermore, the interior is more spacious with high ceilings and big windows bringing in natural light and creating a more tranquil environment.
SuperNature is now stocked at 26 Dempsey Road and on its e-shop online. To learn more about the organic and natural concept, head to www.supernature.com.sg. Once you’re done with this story, click here to catch up with our September 2023 issue.
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