From surviving depression to leading one of Utah’s fastest-growing companies
Nearly two decades ago, Karalynne Call sat in a rocking chair, unable to see a future for herself. She had been battling debilitating depression, with many failed attempts to find relief. Finally, she reached a breaking point that changed her life. What started as a road to get her health back would later become the foundation of one of Utah’s most impactful wellness brands: Just Ingredients.
Karalynne didn’t begin with dreams of entrepreneurship or a plan to build a company. She began with a simple hope: to feel joy again. As she slowly healed, she immersed herself in the hidden ways food can impact our mental and physical health. Along the way, she realized she wasn’t the only one searching for answers. Parents, neighbors, and friends around her were also fighting mental illnesses that made everyday life feel heavy.
Her desire to help led her to start an Instagram account where she shared easy ingredient swaps families could make at the grocery store. It was the beginning of a movement that would attract more than a million followers, redefine transparency in wellness products, and land Just Ingredients on the Utah 100 list for three consecutive years, climbing all the way to No. 3 in 2024.
Today, Karalynne is leading a nationally recognized brand built on real food. Her mission is to show others that there is hope and healing, no matter how dark things may feel.
From Rock Bottom to Purpose
Karalynne’s story began long before her first product ever hit a shelf. At the height of her depression, she visited doctor after doctor trying to find healing. After years of searching, she finally found a doctor who told her, “I can help you, but it will take work.” That work revealed a cascade of underlying issues: nutrient deficiencies, absorption problems, food intolerances, and hormonal imbalances.
With every step of healing, she felt her spark returning. She still remembers the first time she really laughed again. That moment became her turning point. She committed herself to learning everything she could about nutrition.
But her healing sparked something more: purpose. She wanted to help others find hope, clarity, and confidence in their health journeys. So, she started on another journey to help educate others on their own health and wellness.
Teaching First: Building a Community Through Education
Seven years ago, Karalynne launched what she thought would be a small Instagram account focused on practical, everyday health tips. Her goal? Two thousand followers.
She exceeded that number within days.
People connected not just with her knowledge, but with her relatability. She wasn’t preaching perfection. After all, she was a mother of six who understood that families needed realistic, accessible solutions. She offered easy swaps like comparing ketchup brands on the shelf, explaining artificial sweeteners, or showing why fiber matters.
Her content spread quickly because it simplified what felt overwhelming. As followers shared her posts with friends, her community grew.
From Education to Innovation: Creating Just Ingredients
As her platform expanded, Karalynne realized that education alone wasn’t enough. Families wanted clean, trustworthy products, and the market simply didn’t offer many. This led to a shift in gears for Karalynne.
She decided to make her own products.
Starting with a single item, Karalynne partnered with food scientists to create protein powders, supplements, and wellness products made from real food. What she didn’t anticipate was how difficult real-food formulation would be. Every product has to be tasted, tested, adjusted, and perfected.
Manufacturers resisted. The process was more expensive. Consistency was harder. But she refused to compromise.
Today, Just Ingredients offers dozens of products, each formulated with transparency and real nutritional value. Karalynne’s commitment helped the company skyrocket, becoming one of Utah’s most celebrated growth stories.
Leading with Transparency, Kindness, and Family First
Despite running a company with more than 180 employees across multiple operations, Karalynne’s leadership philosophy remains deeply personal.
Her four core pillars guide every decision:
- Transparency: Honest labels, open communication, and clarity when something goes wrong.
- Kindness: Rooted in her own lived experience with depression. “You never know what someone is going through.”
- Communication: Clear speaking with her team and with her community.
- Family First: A priority woven into company culture, especially for the many mothers on her team.
Karalynne lives those values daily. She structures her schedule around picking up carpool, attending her kids’ activities, and being present at home. Sometimes this means working after bedtime when needed. She’s known for saying yes only when it benefits her family or her business, even if it means turning down glamorous opportunities.
Her children have joined her in the business, too. They have learned firsthand about hard work, passion, and resilience. Karalynne’s beliefs are about more than just her work ethic; it’s about her example.
Looking Ahead: Fueling Future Growth
Just Ingredients has grown quickly because of Karalynne’s ability to spot and solve problems in the wellness industry.
She’s tackled:
- Protein powders filled with cheap fillers
- Supplements that don’t match their labels
- Turmeric products diluted with powders and dyes
- Household ingredients marketed as “healthy” but filled with harmful additives
And now, she’s taking on one of the biggest markets yet: energy drinks.
In 2026, Just Ingredients will release an energy can made entirely from real food and body-supportive ingredients that doesn’t rely on caffeine bombs that spike cortisol or mask exhaustion. Instead of stimulating the brain to ignore fatigue, her formula supports the body in creating real energy.
This new line marks the next chapter of growth, and her team is already planning additional products in the coming years.
With a mission centered on healing, education, and real ingredients, Karalynne sees endless opportunities for innovation. As new problems arise in the market, she plans to address them while preserving the values that made Just Ingredients into what it is today.
And as always, she remains focused on the people at the heart of her work: individuals searching for hope, families trying to feel better, and anyone striving to take one small step toward a healthier life.
Lessons for Entrepreneurs
- Start with purpose. A mission grounded in personal experience creates authenticity and resilience.
- Educate first. Build trust by helping before selling.
- Solve real problems. Sustainable growth comes from addressing gaps in the market.
- Lead with values. Transparency, kindness, and communication shape culture—and customer loyalty.
- Grow at the right speed. Take one step at a time, learn through challenges, and stay true to your mission.
- Keep family first. Balance isn’t perfect, but priorities bring clarity.
Want the full story behind Karalynne Call’s journey?
Listen to the complete MountainWest Capital Network Podcast episode, where she shares the challenges, inspirations, and bold goals driving Just Ingredients forward.
[Listen to Karalynne’s full story here →]
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About the MountainWest Capital Network Podcast: Your gateway to the Winners’ Circle, featuring stories and strategies from Utah’s fastest-growing companies. For 31 years, MountainWest Capital Network has celebrated entrepreneurial excellence through the Utah 100, recognizing the state’s most dynamic businesses and their founders.