SUITCASE SERIES: Jasmine Chilcott founder of FixBIOME, a supplement brand for gut improvment

This week we caught up with Jasmine Chilcott the Founder of FixBIOME a supplements brand developed by doctors and naturopaths taking a multifaceted approach to gut improvement, to find out what they never travel without, their packing tips, and what their most memorable trip has been so far…

After a painful four-year personal journey with severe gut issues, FixBIOME founder Jasmine turned to medical literature and research. Despite having had access to excellent medical care, no doctors had been able to give her an answer.

From hair loss to daily pain, her gut issues remained a mystery and made her miserable. Finally, she came across studies that showed how natural ingredients could help improve gut health which enabled her gut a full recovery – this was after relapsing when using antibiotics to treat her gut issues (over five times!)

Jasmine realised, if she had this much medical privilege and still wasn’t effectively treated for so many years, many others must be suffering far longer. She decided to pay it forward, and founded FixBIOME.

FixBIOME has earned its place as a leader in the category and has sold out over 5-times – changing lives across the globe as well as being used by doctors and naturopaths.

In this week’s Suitcase Series, we take a sneak peek into Jasmine’s travel psyche…

What’s been your most memorable trip and why?

The Bali trip, where I got severe food poisoning, was definitely the most ‘memorable’. This was actually the trip that kicked off all my gut issues.

I’ll never forget defecating (pooing- I’m a big advocate for the poo talk, so I’ll just set the stage by sharing this) the bed with my new boyfriend at the time. Was a great way to really bond us right from the start.

That trip was really what kicked off the start of FixBIOME’s education blog on gut health when I couldn’t fully resolve my own gut issues and had to dive into the research.

Second to that would be the Europe trip I did with my Grandfather. My late Grandmother was from the UK and wanted to return back there as her final resting place and my Grandfather made that happen (he’s my biggest inspiration in both love and life).

My Gran had a few favourite cities around Europe that my Grandfather and I visited together. I love Paris; it’s probably one of my favourite cities because of its history, laid-back attitude, and romance.

Florence was my grandmother’s and grandfather’s favourite city, so I loved getting to visit that with him. I also really love Greece, it just looks like something off a postcard.

The Langham Melbroune is Jasmine’s favourite hotel

What’s your favourite ever hotel?

I’m going to give an Aussie recommendation and say the Langham in Melbourne. I used to stay there a lot as a kid, plus they have a chocolate fountain. That remains a core memory from my childhood. They also have fantastic service every time even though the rooms aren’t quite to my taste- I prefer something more modern personally.

Where or what is your escape?

The first would be Meditation. This is something I do twice a day as a non negotiable for 20 minutes. It’s been life-changing for me.

I personally am someone who struggles to sit still (so if I can do it, you can at least give it a try!).

Learning to just sit with my thoughts and let them wash over me has been really impactful. It’s definitely made me better in business and life in general. I’m far less reactive and anxious than I once was, which, if you asked anyone who had to work with me in the early days, is most definitely a very good thing.

Second would be friends. Those friends you can truly be yourself with that you just leave feeling better than when you came. I’m pretty lucky to have some amazing female friendships in my life that really fill up my cup.

The ocean would be the last. I love sitting by the beach and just watching the waves and going for a swim.

One thing I will say I’ve learnt this year on escapism is it’s not always escaping you need. Sometimes it’s actually the ‘coming back to’ the moment and shifting our perspective to remember what really matters and is beautiful in life. Beautiful beaches and places, of course, make this an easier task than sitting at the office.

If you could go anywhere tomorrow it would be…

Canada, to drag one of my best friends back to Australia. Her stories are making me jealous right now. It looks absolutely beautiful, and I’ve never been. She’s coming down for my Birthday in December, which I’m super excited about.

What’s your idea of a luxury wellness holiday?

Somewhere warm, with lots of ocean swims, good healthy whole food, good people, and a slow pace of day. That would probably be my key criteria.

I’d also love to pack my yoga teacher Imogen who takes yoga over in Manly. She has the best energy and would host the most amazing wellness retreats. Everyone in the community hopes she starts and keeps suggesting Bali as a location.

Personally, I have not been back to Bali since that trip. I am absolutely terrified of it, which is unfortunate because it’s beautiful, but a wellness retreat hosted by her is the ONLY reason I’d face the fear and go back.

The Santa Claus Village in the Finnish Lapland is on Jasmine’s travel bucket list

My top bucket-list destination is…

Northern lights! I want to go to Lapland and Santa Claus village so badly and see where all the letters to Santa go. That’s the theoretical ‘north pole’. I also really want to see a reindeer in real life and go on a sleigh ride, but maybe I just need to grow up.

Switzerland is also pretty high on the list.

If you could sit next to anyone – dead or alive – on a long-haul ﬂight, who would it be?

My late Gran. She was the best. Basic answer, but I wish I took the time to write down more of her stories growing up in the war so I could pass them on to my kids someday.

She played a big role in raising me and told me I could do anything I wanted. She definitely helped give me the courage to start FixBIOME at a young age. She was a very fearless yet gentle and generous woman.

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What is your jet-lag recovery tip?

Light!

Morning light exposure- and actually let it hit the back of your retina. Don’t stare at the sun, but look in its general direction for about a minute (it shouldn’t hurt- if it does, you’re looking too close).

I’d also say deal with the first day of exhaustion and push through.

Eating times!

Regulate your system and sleep cycle by eating at the local times. Based on the science that and light exposure are the best natural ways to get your circadian rhythm in sink with a new time zone and beat jet lag.

What is your suitcase stalwart?

Currently I am without a suitcase, and looking to invest in a new duo.

For carry-on or overnight, I love my trusty Loui Speedy. I swear nothing stands the test of time like Louis Vuitton luggage. My speedy’s been around the world with me, you couldn’t kill her if you wanted to. One of my goals in life is to be as resilient in life as that bag has been to the places I’ve dragged her.

What is your number one packing tip?

Get cubes and take a washing bag! You can get them on Amazon and they will keep your life so much more organised. Apple air tags are a must for all travel items!

I have a passport case that has an Apple Air tag in it and it even helps me find it around the house.

I never travel without…

My FixBIOME Supplements & a portable charger. It’s very common for a new travel zone to mess up your gut, so having this with me is really important. Once, I didn’t have any in Vegas and my gut got very messed up, and I don’t think I’ve ever wanted my own product so badly.

I had to get the team to express me from our USA 3PL a new FixBIOME system because I left them at home, and I won’t make that mistake again.