ALICE MACKINTOSH

Our next client story is that of the magnetic Alice Mackintosh, nutritional therapist, founder of Equi supplement range, best-selling author, Mum and devout foodie. She loves nothing more than sharing her lifelong passion for nutrition, helping thousands of people achieve better physical and mental wellbeing, with clients including Ella Mills, founder of Deliciously Ella.  

Alice reveals how her greatest failure led to discovering her passion in life, how she is inspired by Jimmy Carr to convert her imposter syndrome into a gift and what three values matter most to her…

1.What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?

I can be a real catastrophiser, so this is a good one for me because I can talk myself out of doing things because of this, that or the other.

In truth I wouldn’t change much about my current life path – I don’t have any passion project ideas niggling away at me. I'm fortunate to work in a sector I love and I started a business at the age of 28 (my supplement brand Equi), back when I was more willing to dive in headfirst without worrying about the minutia. 

If I knew I couldn’t fail, I’d be likely to go for more opportunities instead of talking myself out of them. To give you a specific example of late - we’ve recently launched our supplements on QVC and the prospect of appearing on live TV has sent my anxiety-prone mind into overdrive. It would be liberating to learn how to silence that inner critic and channel all that energy into seizing the moment and enjoying it!

2.What three things are "non-negotiables" for you?

I had the privilege of attending a Tapestry retreat in Marrakech earlier this year, where we delved deep into our inner selves, distilling our core values and what truly matters to us. Connection, Freedom, and Health were three top ones I discovered.

Freedom, for me, is about experiences over stuff – this is probably why I've never been particularly good at shopping! It encompasses finding the essence of joie de vivre in life through travel, culinary adventures, music and being in nature. Don’t get me wrong, I like and appreciate beautiful things, but freedom is what really lights my fire and makes all the hard work worth it, and what connects me to the Earth and to those around me. I am in the throes now of life with two very small kids, (my boys are ages 3 and 8 months) so freedom isn’t quite as adventurous right now, but I'll return to it when I can, hopefully with the children in tow.

Connection is primarily with my family, but also with friends, clients, and the broader community. This means loyalty, kindness, authenticity, joyfulness, and, of course, love! While I have a tendency to prioritise others’ needs over my own, I am getting better at striking a balance between giving to others whilst preserving my own essential self-care. Ultimately, this balance helps make me a better mother, wife and nutritionist, but it also brings me happiness and contentment.

Health is my career, but it’s also fundamental to who I am. Even from a very young age I always wanted to help others, but when I lost my Dad at 24 I felt I understood the value of life overnight - how quickly it passes by and what’s important. This changed me forever and solidified my goals. It took a while to find balance with this when I first started out but over the past decade, I've successfully struck a harmonious balance between savouring a wholesome diet and indulging in occasional deep-fried delights and wine. This equilibrium extends to exercise and rest, as well as choosing between staying in and going out. It's a balance that keeps me happy, positive and energised.

3.What is the biggest lie your Inner Saboteur tells you?

I am a real professional when it comes to imposter syndrome. However, I recently took inspiration from Jimmy Carr’s book in which he states his belief that imposter syndrome is a gift, because it makes you work harder, prepare more and do whatever you have to do to learn, grow in confidence and expand your mind. This really reframed things for me. So though I haven’t nailed my inner saboteur yet, it can really drive me to learn more and work harder. When I do this, that voice quietens.

4.What is your greatest failure and the greatest gift it gave?

I wanted to be a medical doctor and so aged 16, I set out to do whatever I had to do to make it happen. I got into medical school but I needed to nail A-Level Chemistry to secure it. The exam went badly, and I just knew I wasn’t going to get the A I needed. This ‘failure’ led to me studying Biomedical Sciences, which is ultimately what sparked my interest in nutrition.

Fast forward 6 years and I had two degrees, was working on London’s Harley Street and helping to support people’s health by means of nutrition – it wasn’t medicine but it was a million times better - I’d discovered my passion in life.

5. What one piece of Sage advice would you give to a future Tapestry participant?

I’m going to answer this one from a nutrition perspective because eating to support the brain is an area of particular interest to me. Your brain is very hungry. Not only does it take up to 20% of the energy your body needs to function at rest (amazing considering it constitutes 2% of your total weight) but it also needs nutrients like omega 3, magnesium, zinc, B6 and plenty of rest to work at its best. To get the most from your journey, do what you can to optimise this because you might just get more from it if you do! It’ll also help you action the things you need to in order to move forward.

 If you need help, and trust me my diet is far from perfect, try taking Equi’s Wellness Formula – I have formulated it to contain everything your brain needs to function at its best.