It’s a Tuesday morning and my neighbour sends me the following, slightly ominous text (given we don’t tend to message if we’ve taken one another’s deliveries): “There’s a very big, heavy box that’s been delivered for you!”. Considering I live with my parents, this clearly isn’t furniture or another heavy object of sorts. I know exactly what this very big box is. 

The box with my 12-week course of the supplement set to send me on my gut transformation journey – Symprove! Duh?

The box is indeed heavy, but that’s 12 weeks worth in there – essentially 3 months worth of powerful gut-loving juice. I can’t wait to get started but from reading the guidance pack, I understand that for Symprove to work effectively it must be taken consistently and in line with strict timings. By this I mean the once-daily probiotic must be taken on an empty stomach in order to populate your gut with good bacteria. Sadly, for this reason, it isn’t right that I guzzle my first shot at 3pm in the afternoon and instead I have to wait until the following morning.  

Furthermore, I read that the effects shouldn’t be looked at in isolation. Lifestyle factors such as stress, sleep and diet play a huge role in our gut health and therefore ought to be considered before and during the course of taking Symprove. I expand on this in Part 1: my interview with Dr Chris George (@dr.chris.george).

It was time I redeemed my gut-freedom with Symprove.

The Verdict

Ease

As mentioned I’m usually sceptical of supplements, not just because of how they’re prolifically marketed to us but also because I hate taking tablets. Symprove is different – which is why I was intrigued by the product. Merely take a 70ml cap 10 minutes before your first meal of the day. The super-hero bugs from the fermented barley mixture will work their magic like little luggage buggies at the runway! 

Taking this first thing in the morning was a tangy awakening to say the least – the cidery taste took some getting used to but at the end of the day, it’s a supplement and not a treat. The sharp, sour taste reassured me that this was a naturally-occurring product – had it tasted moreish and sweet I’d have been sceptical of the ingredients. As an avid water-drinker (wow, what have us health-conscious millennials become!), the one thing I found difficult was to remember not to drink any water before taking the Symprove shot. 

Results

I feel that Symprove is only the beginning of my ‘gut transformation’ journey. I have firmly eliminated other factors which may be contributing to my gut health symptoms (IBS and constipation to name a few), but after visiting my GP several times we’ve agreed that there is something deeper that needs investigating. Exploring lifestyle/dietary factors is something I’d strongly advise to anyone looking into Symprove – for example, if you’re finding yourself depressed with a raging hangover every Saturday and Sunday, chances are it’s not just your gut affecting your serotonin levels! Review your lifestyle holistically to ensure you’re starting your Symprove course on a level platform.

While Symprove didn’t get my metabolism to magically skyrocket, after the 12-week course I was able to go to the toilet more comfortably which consequently made me feel much less lethargic all the time. 

Cost

Starting from £1.79 per day (£150 for 12 weeks or £80 for 4 weeks), courses are an investment so I would only recommend buying if you’re ready to fully commit! Because results are cumulative and our response to certain probiotics is very subjective, consistency during your course is key in order to assess results properly. If you’re not prepared to take the cap like a religious ritual every morning, it’ll be more troublesome for the supplement to complete its work!

 Before ordering, embark on Dr Chris’ advice and consider these questions: 

Have you seen a healthcare professional recently? 

Which lifestyle factors could be impacting your gut health? 

Do you eat a lot of ultra-processed food? 

Are there certain trigger foods for your symptoms? 

Are you achieving the recommended 30g of fibre a day? 

How many different plants do you consume in an average week?

For answers to any general questions around Symprove, find FAQ’s here.