How to Get The Most From Equi’s Original Formula

- written by our founders Alice and Rosie

Since meeting at university and throughout our busy London lives, we are not ones to miss out on the fun! Whilst sometimes burning the candle at both ends, it always been really important to us to stay healthy and continue feeling our best no matter what life throws at us.
 
Like so many working women, Mums and ladies running on the general treadmill of a hectic and often stressful life, we know what it’s like to be spread too thin. Knowing how many women are out there in the same boat, we wanted to designs something for people just like us that want to live life in the fast lane without suffering the side effects.  

Equi’s Original is our answer. Unlike our other more targeted products, this is our general daily wellbeing formula. Ideal for those wanting some health insurance!

How does Original Formula keep me feeling my best?

• Contains a top quality multivitamin to deliver all the important nutrients. Better energy with B12, folate, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, niacin, B6, magnesium and iron with iron and magnesium*
• Improved immunity with zinc, pantothenic acid and iodine*
• Healthy cognitive function with vitamin C, zinc and vitamin D*
• Healthy hormone regulation with B6*
• Siberian Ginseng to help combat that ‘tired-but-wired’ feeling, re-energise you, calm the stress response and to help encourage restful sleep 
• Nourishes digestion
• Provides essential nutrients for natural detoxification
• Helps with jetlag when traveling across time zones.

What should you eat?

Equi is designed to fill in the gaps in your diet on days you don’t have time to eat well. But on the whole, if you can eat well some of the time then the benefits of Original will be excelled. We hope that by taking Equi you will consciously be more aware of your nutrition and make an effort to do what you can even though you're super busy.

 Though everyone is different and we need to eat according to what we like, our lifestyle, preferences and objectives, these are our top tips to try to incorporate into your diet when you try taking the Original Formula. You don’t have to get this right all the time (we certainly don’t!) and no-one believes more than us that there shouldn’t be a healthy dose of fun mixed in with all of this 😉

Get more of:

• 7+ portions of colourful vegetables per day, with 2 portions of fruit per day.
• Whole grains (such as brown rice, oats, buckwheat, quinoa, sweet potato or pulses) should form up to 70% of your breakfast, and around 25% of your plate at lunch and dinner. Phew – we hate cutting carbs!
• Lean protein – chicken, turkey, beef, venison.
• For vegetarians and vegans - try to get a portion of protein with each meal – beans, pulses, nuts, seeds, tahini, tempeh, hard cheese (if you eat it, but be aware of the soft cheese limitations as below), miso paste, organic dairy, hummus/bean-based dips, flaxseed, hempseed, vegan protein powder.
• Oily fish 3/week– salmon, mackerel, fresh tuna, sardines, anchovies.
• Extra virgin olive oil, hempseed and avocado oil – 2 portions each day (1TBSP = 1 portion)
• Nuts and seeds – 2 portions (palmful = 1 portion) per day
• Digestion supporting foods such as apple cider vinegar, peppery salad leaves (rocket, watercress) lemon, fennel, pomegranate, fresh spices such as ginger, turmeric, garlic, oregano, thyme and rosemary.
• Fermented foods – sauerkraut, beetkraut, kimchi, dairy-free kefir, low sugar kombucha
• Choose organic dairy when you do eat it, as well as some dairy-free alternatives such as almond, oats and hazelnut milk (be sure it’s sugar-free!)
• Staying hydrated with herbal teas (especially green, ginger tea and Tulsi) and filtered water. So simple but so important!

Get less of:

Try not to overdo these foods, especially if suffering with low energy/lethargy, poor immunity, headaches, bad PMS, bloating and – we don’t advocate cutting out everything fun (I mean you’ve gotta live right?). But do be mindful about eating too much of these food groups each day.

• All added sugar in drinks, confectionery, desserts, snacks, cereals, low-fat diet foods or snacks.
• Refined white carbs (white rice, white pasta, pizza, white bread and cakes/biscuits) where possible in favour of wholegrain, as above.
• Alcohol – yes, of course, you can have it but try to get 3 nights off minimum per week and not combine all your drinking days together. You maybe better off with red wine or white spirits with soda, lime, or low sugar tonic over-sweet cocktails and white wine.
• Deep-fried food and pastries
• Takeaways and carb-heavy ready meals such as lasagne, pies or pizza.
• Super fatty cuts of meat or fatty processed meats such as sausages, ham or chorizo.

How to get restful sleep

 Though we realise it’s not always possible to get enough shut-eye, especially with a crazy job, travel, kids or family commitments, we so often speak to people who give sleep low priority in their lives. This might be fine when you’re 19, but…. Sadly we aren’t 😭 

Yes you may be able to survive on 4 hours per night but countless studies have shown the long and short-term benefits of good quality sleep and like a good diet.

We include Siberian ginseng in Equi Original which has adaptogenic properties that may support you through times of stress and sleeplessness. 

 Here are some other tips if you’re struggling on that front:

• Epsom salt baths – t.h.e.y.r.o.c.k   That is all
• ‘This Works’ Sleep Spray – spritz your pillows to your heart's content when you get into bed
• Beta Wave Sounds – some sounds can trigger anti-anxiety beta waves, great before bed to help you switch off. Download Kelly Howells sleep waves and switch them on when you flick thru a magazine
• Switch off the blue light on your phone past 8pm – this is easy to do and is possible on most phones. Better yet, put your phone away after dinner.
• Meditate
• Belly breath
• Reduce overall caffeine consumption - 2 per day is enough and ideally not after 4pm!
• Don’t do hardcore workouts later in the day. This is better saved for yoga, swimming or pilates.
• Drink chamomile tea before bed
• We discuss other stress hacks to try if you’re feeling the crunch in this blog post

*Vitamin B6 contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity

*Vitamin B12, folate, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, niacin, B6, magnesium and iron contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue

*Vitamin C, vitamin D, iron, vitamin A, selenium, zinc contribute to the normal function of the immune system

*Iodine contributes to normal functioning of the nervous system and cognitive function, improved energy and thyroid function

*Zinc, magnesium, pantothenic acid, iron contribute to normal cognitive function

We would love to hear from you! Drop us a line, or check out our Instagram or Facebook to see what we are up to and hear about exclusive offers. 

Disclaimer: No one diet or supplement regime works for everyone and you should always seek help from a GP and registered health expert before making changes to your diet, or before introducing any supplements.