Does Symprove Really Work as a Supplement?

One of the many perks of being a nutritionist is that now and again I'll get goodies to try out before recommending them to clients.

This one, I'm pretty excited about.

What is Symprove?

Symprove is a probiotic supplement that claims every shot contains over 10 billion bacteria which are delivered to the gut, alive, working to balance your microbiome.

It's vegan, gluten and dairy-free and unlike powders and dairy-based supplements, Symprove is water-based meaning it won’t trigger digestion so the bacteria reaches the gut alive.

So what's in it apart from water and bacteria?

Well, it contains germinated barley extract which works as a catalyst for fermentation. It helps to speed up the growth of the live bacteria, and keep the numbers steady for the 4 months of Symprove's shelf-life. The gluten content is removed before it's bottled.

The Microbiome and Bacteria

Our gut “microbiome” is a delicate ecosystem made up of trillions of good and bad bacteria, yeast, fungi and viruses. Once food is broken down in the stomach, our gut absorbs nutrients and expel waste.

Scientists has discovered over the years that our microbiome composition can affect different areas of health, from the immunity and fertility to mood and sleep.

As we go through different life stages, our microbiome can change. In fact, it can be altered through stress, the environment, our diet and hormones!

In fact, the way in which we are born can contribute to our microbiome composition as well as whether we are breast-fed or bottle-fed. So as you can see, our gut composition is influenced by some things we can control and some we can't.

Symprove has 4 active strains of bacteria;

- Lactobacillus rhamnosus. Low levels of this strain have been recognised in IBS, diarrhoea, acne, allergies and UTIs.

- Enterococcus faecium. Contributes to creating a protective barrier around the gut and fighting off harmful microbes.

- Lactobacillus acidophilus. Low levels have been associated with gut issues such as IBS, allergies and eczema as well as vaginal infections. This probiotic is suggested to boost the immune system.

- Lactobacillus plantarum. Is associated with enhance athletic performance and cognition, promoting weight loss with low levels associated with anxiety.

How do I take Symprove?

It's simple! Take a 70ml shot first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Then wait 10-minutes before you eat breakfast.

If you forget (like I did on day 2!) wait 2 hours after you've eaten before you take it. Surprisingly, I managed to work it into my routine without forgetting again!

Keep your opened Symprove bottle in the fridge. The others can be stored in a cool place.

And the big question that I know what you're all asking... how does it taste?

Well, it doesn't taste like fruit juice as you would expect but it certainly doesn't taste bad either. In fact, after 12 weeks, I quite liked it!

Does Symprove work?

If you're new to probiotics or are wanting to try something different, I really recommend Symprove as I trust the science that the bacteria will be more likely to reach gut as digestion isn't stimulated.

There is also scientific research to suggest that probiotic supplementation could help with symptoms such as IBS and bloating and chronic constipation.

Why should we care about the gut microbiome and do I need probiotics?

If you've been following me for a while or worked with me before, you'll know how often I talk about gut health and how I believe that all illness starts with the gut! It houses 70% of our immune system and has connections with the rest of the body (gut-brain axis, gut-skin axis etc.)

As mentioned above, many things affect the gut flora so you may benefit from probiotics if you have ever had any antibiotics or suffered from chronic stress. Working with a qualified nutritionist can help narrow down which are the best probiotics for you depending on your medical history, current symptoms and diet.

But probiotics may only be part of the picture. It's all very well taking probiotics and yes, you may see a difference and I think they are important to gut integrity and overall health but...

... if there are other issues going on such as a poor diet and other nutritional imbalances, it may not work miracles.

Evidence suggests that different strains of bacteria and their abundance or lack of, can be related to different conditions so by taking probiotics we can support the body by repopulating the gut but sometimes you will need a specific strain. This is where a nutritional therapist can help through research and testing.

Where Can I Buy Symprove?

If you fancy trying Symprove for yourself, you can do so here:

• No savings, lots of flexibility

• Amend or cancel anytime

• No minimum term

Sign-up for a subscription and use the code ACTNATURAL50 to get money off!

Have you tried Symprove probiotics? Let me know what you think!

This blog contains affiliate links. This means that at no additional cost to yourself, if you purchase any items through the links provided in this post I earn a small commission. All links provided are either tried and tested by myself or have been researched thoroughly before recommendation.