Helping someone change lifelong habits, especially those related to personal nutrition, requires an informed, personable approach. One of our earliest encounters with Anita Tee was a clear demonstration of her capacity for exactly this, helping us better understand our own digestive issues and comfortably getting us to share what would otherwise be private details. The guidance that followed was unequivocal proof that Fact vs Fitness is the perfect extension of Anita’s passion, encouraging people to naturally overcome health issues and ultimately adhere to healthier, happier lifestyles. In the years that have followed its launch, Anita’s business has grown alongside her skillset and community of supporters. Her scope has expanded to include an informative Youtube channel, online consultations, e-books, and a recent online course in Total Gut Health.
We took some time to speak with Anita about what brought her to Istanbul, the common misconceptions behind natural therapies, the numerous lessons inherent in running every aspect of one’s own business, some insight into biohacking, and what we can expect from the future of Fact vs Fitness.
Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I was born in Canada to Lebanese parents so my personality shaped into something of a falafel covered in maple syrup. My family valued travel a lot, so I grew up exploring the world. I carried that passion with me and always looked for opportunities to travel within the scope of my goals. I went to university in Canada and got my Bachelor of Science focused in Genetic & Molecular Biology, but I did a lot of exchanges and international opportunities during. I went backpacking for a while after, and then completed my Master of Science in Personalized Nutrition in the UK. Since graduating, I’ve been working on my start-up company, Fact vs Fitness, full time. My company deals with natural interventions mainly focused on gut health and digestive conditions, but branching out into an array of chronic disorders. Now I have a great balance of work and travel, so I see myself staying in this lifestyle for a while.
What brought you to Istanbul?
My most recent base was in the Canary Islands. It was so beautiful and great for my new start-up but, as my company expanded, I felt that I was in need of more opportunities for networking and growth. I did some research and Istanbul seemed to have a great start-up scene for young, digital entrepreneurs and it worked out better than expected in terms of those goals. I also love the fact that Istanbul is a mix of European and Middle Eastern cultures, which has been a perfect combination for someone like myself who’s been shaped by both influences.
Could you tell us a bit more about Fact vs Fitness? How did it come about and what’s the vision there?
Fact vs Fitness was initially started without a goal in particular, aside from my life-long passion for nutrition and natural health. I started my social media growth early, without any plan for monetisation in mind. During my Master’s Degree in Nutrition, I became ill with an undiagnosed condition which continued to worsen. Before I knew it, I was bedridden with no foreseeable end. Since doctors and natural practitioners didn’t seem to be able to help, I turned to a combination of my own research and reached out to others experiencing similar issues. Before I knew it, I found an entire community of people suffering with similar stories. Their whole lives were messed up with no way out, just like mine. I was lucky enough that my research allowed me to find a conclusion and slowly bring myself back to reality and overcome illness, but I knew I had to use this information to help others. That’s when I geared 100% of my efforts towards helping people with chronic illnesses, often undiagnosed, through natural remedies. That’s where Fact vs Fitness is at now and, so far, I’ve successfully helped thousands to improve or eliminate their symptoms using natural therapies that are 100% backed by science.
Any particular stories you’d like to highlight from people you’ve worked with in the scope of your work?
I’ve met a lot of interesting people in my field, and the biggest thing I’ve learned is that it’s very common to misinterpret a lack of evidence, for evidence of non-existence. Basically, there’s a lot of things we don’t know yet in science. That doesn’t mean they’re not true, it just means we don’t have enough evidence to come to a conclusion just yet. Also, science evolves a lot so even something that appears to be true can change. This may sound really confusing, and like science is useless in some ways, but really what it’s taught me is that it’s important to keep an open mind about everything. Looking at the entire situation and ensuring you understand both sides is something I value at my core – not just in my work, but in life. Basically, I feel like the people in my field have taught me to be a more open-minded and non-judgmental person.
What brought you to ATÖLYE?
I checked out around 10 co-working spaces in the city, and none of them quite had the vibe I was going for. Each place was so different in size and professionalism, and I could see how they would suit different personalities and businesses. None of them quite felt right to me, and I had basically decided to just settle on one. ATÖLYE was the last stop on my list to check out and, to be honest, I went in without high hopes due to the other mismatches I had experienced. To my surprise, ATÖLYE was such a perfect combination of social and professional. The community feel is so strong, and the space was so beautiful. I knew right when I walked in the door that it was the place for me, and everyone was so welcoming from day one. In my personal experience, I would definitely say it’s the best place to work in Istanbul.
You seem to be very involved in nearly every aspect of your business. What are some of the challenges inherent to your work?
Creating my start-up has been one of the most challenging and fulfilling things I’ve done in my life. It’s amazing to watch the company grow but, there’s a lot of different parts and it takes time to become educated in all of them. I’m a good scientist but, that didn’t give me much experience in marketing, social media, lead generation, etc. It’s amazing to slowly master each area, but the biggest challenge is definitely the fact that, after mastering one area of the company, you have to start from square one all over again to understand the next thing. That’s why networking has been such an important thing for me. The exchange of information has allowed me to streamline a lot of growth by lightening the research load and going directly to experts in that area.
We see the term a fair bit in your work. Could you elaborate a bit on what “biohacking” is and how we might incorporate it into our lives?
Biohacking is essentially using scientific info to hack particular mechanisms in your body in a way that works with your biology to upgrade your mind and body. Basically, you can use strange, seemingly counterintuitive actions to naturally turn yourself into a superhuman. Biohacking can be incorporated into every aspect of life. By exploiting your biology in this way, you can think more clearly, work harder and more focused, increase energy, improve athletic performance, and improve overall health and appearance.
A quick and awesome biohack that I can tell you guys is to take cold showers. This increases norepinephrine in the brain to enhance memory, regulates the immune system and even alleviates depression for hours immediately following. Doing this daily is a way to feel smarter, happier and acts preventatively against chronic illness.
What’s next on the horizon for you? Anything we can expect coming up?
I’ve just released a course on Udemy called Total Gut Health – I haven’t started marketing it quite yet, but it’s my next big project. In a 400 person survey of individuals who trialed the course, we had 100% positive feedback and success in either improving or eliminating symptoms of chronic illness. It mainly surrounds digestive health issues, but is applicable to nearly any chronic disorder as it attends to the root cause of illness. I’ve been scouted by a few large-scale companies who want to partner for the course, and combined with the success rate I believe it could easily turn into the next big thing in the natural health world. You can check out the current project at udemy.com/total-gut-health/.
We realize you’re relatively new to Istanbul, but any tips or advice you’ve gained in your time here that you’d like to share with our readership?
Of all the places I’ve traveled, Istanbul has been the most interesting city for a number of reasons. Typically, I find home quickly and fall in love with the city and what it has to offer. Istanbul was a bit the opposite. I didn’t like it at first, and it took me time to find my place here. But, since I have, it’s been one of the best and most unique experiences I’ve had, and I’ve decided to extend my visa to stay for a year or two. My best advice is definitely that finding home in a new city is about finding people you love. I have found people that I would follow anywhere, and for that, Istanbul has become my home.
To keep up with Anita and learn more about her work, visit her page for Fact vs Fitness as well as her course for Total Gut Health.
ATÖLYE Spotlight is our series on the inspiring community members of Istanbul’s most creative space.
