Got a question? We've got answers
Call 01252 413600 or email support@symprove.com. Why not try our live chat? Answers to our frequently asked questions can be found below.
Most asked
Symprove is a unique water-based solution that contains billions of live and active bacteria. What makes Symprove different is its water-based formula which makes sure our bacteria are alive, active and ready to work in your gut. Whilst the easiest way to describe Symprove is as a probiotic, due to regulations that term can’t be used for bacteria products.
What does Symprove taste like?
Symprove comes in three flavours. The Original (where it all started from) is slightly sour while the others are a little sweeter.
Original
Don’t have a sweet tooth? This one’s for you. It’s a little tart with a tangy kick.
Mango and Passion Fruit
A refreshing tropical fruit flavour with a slightly tangy kick.
Strawberry and Raspberry
The sweetest of the bunch. A light berry flavour – also with a tangy kick.
We recommend including Symprove in your daily routine. It’s all about being consistent and taking it in the same way every day.
We know that 94% of our customers feel a difference within three months. What difference exactly and how long it takes depends on your gut microbiome. We are all unique!
We also know Symprove works best when complementing a healthy lifestyle. So, when you start Symprove it’s a good time to think about your diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management. These are all linked to gut health too!
How you feel is unique to you and your microbiome - just like your fingerprints, no two guts are the same. Sometimes people find it frustrating that we won’t make
promises. You can read how others find Symprove on our Trustpilot page.
Good to know
- 94% of our customers feel a difference after three months
- Read our customer reviews on Trustpilot
- Join our Symprove Supporters Facebook Community and ask others about their experience
Your body is totally unique, so your experience of Symprove will be too! What our research shows us for sure is that there are some key stages people go through:
- In the first few weeks some people notice a big improvement, while others experience some gut disturbances – but these niggles are perfectly normal.
- In the weeks that follow as the gut balance usually improves, so fewer people report upsets – and more tell us that they feel better.
- The exciting news is that 94% of people feel a positive difference after three months of taking Symprove.
So all you have to do is take it the same way each day – and let our good bugs do their thing!
Symprove is officially classed a food supplement (not a medicine). So we can’t legally make specific health claims ourselves.
This means that the best way to learn about how Symprove has helped people is to head to our Trustpilot page. You’ll hear firsthand from thousands who tell us Symprove has made them feel better – and in many cases changed their lives!
Symprove delivers live bacteria to your gut where it thrives and helps stimulate the good bacteria you already have. Research proves that a healthy, balanced gut can help with all sorts of things – from your digestion to your immune system. Even your sleep quality and mental health.
Don’t panic, missing a single dose is unlikely to make much of a difference. But if you miss a dose, just start taking it again the following day.
Need some help to build a habit that lasts? Check out these tried and tested tips from our helpful community:
- Set a reminder on your phone that goes off 10 minutes after your morning wake-up alarm. That way, it catches you before you tuck into breakfast!
- You could also do something similar in the evening. Set a reminder before bed to place your Symprove shot glass on the kitchen counter – so you can’t miss it in the morning!
- Alternatively, try training yourself to associate taking Symprove with a little morning treat. Why not use the 10 minutes after you’ve taken it to do something small for you? Play Wordle on your phone, do some meditation, or read a poem. Whatever works for you.
Sometimes just linking an action with something else you enjoy can be enough to bed-in your new habit. Psychotherapist and Symprove fan Anna Mathur offers some great advice about building good habits that last right here.
We make Symprove in a controlled environment. That's because our bacteria are living organisms and need nurturing at every stage. To transform Symprove from grain and good bugs into our famous gut-loving formula, we follow these key steps:
- We boil specially selected grain to create a wort
- Then we purify it and keep it at a consistent temperature in sterilised vats
- Carefully we add the star ingredients – our four strains of bacteria!
- These begin to multiply
- Once we have just the right quantities of bacteria
- We send Symprove off for independent testing
- After that, we're ready to bottle up!
Symprove contains live bacteria (which means it can be considered a probiotic). It’s just that we don’t use the term because Symprove is technically classed as a food supplement, and European food laws prevent us from doing so.
Yes, lots! Symprove is backed by over 20 years of research. During this time we’ve collaborated with some of the UK’s top scientists – and we’ve taken part in lots of large independent studies.
We’ve also seen some amazing breakthroughs. One study by University College London saw Symprove outperform seven other leading products in its ability to arrive alive, survive and colonise the gut. In fact, it was the only product that passed all three tests!
Original flavour:
Ingredients: Water, extract of germinated barley, live activated cultures of: L. rhamnosus NCIMB 30174, E. faecium NCIMB 30176, L. plantarum NCIMB 30173, L. acidophilus NCIMB 30175; acidity regulators: ascorbic acid, trisodium citrate; preservative: potassium sorbate.
Mango and Passion Fruit flavour:
Ingredients: Water, extract of germinated barley, live activated cultures of: L. rhamnosus NCIMB 30174, E. faecium NCIMB 30176, L. plantarum NCIMB 30173, L. acidophilus NCIMB 30175; acidity regulators: ascorbic acid, trisodium citrate; preservative: potassium sorbate; natural flavourings.
Strawberry and Raspberry flavour:
Ingredients: Water, extract of germinated barley, live activated cultures of: L. rhamnosus NCIMB 30174, E. faecium NCIMB 30176, L. plantarum NCIMB 30173, L. acidophilus NCIMB 30175; acidity regulators: ascorbic acid, trisodium citrate; preservative: potassium sorbate; natural flavourings; colour: black carrot juice.
See more information here.
We always look for the best quality ingredients for use in Symprove and source these from reputable suppliers. Our bacteria are all produced in the UK.
Our active ingredients – also known as the fab four – are types of live and “activated” lactic acid bacteria. These are:
- Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus
- Enterococcus faecium
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Lactiplantibacillus plantarum
All four are safely used in food.
If you end up with too many bottles it’s a good idea to delay your next pack.
To do this, head to your online account or:
- Call us on 01252 413600
- Email us at support@symprove.com
Don’t forget that each pack has a shelf-life of 6 months because our bacteria is alive. So always check the pack for the expiry date.
We make Symprove in a controlled environment. This means we’re incredibly careful about hygiene, temperature controls and how we handle our live bacteria.
Our production process is patented and we take quality control really seriously. We want to make sure that our quality and purity is spot on.
Symprove is an ISO 9001:2015 certified company. This means that our internal quality management systems are held up to internationally approved standards.
Tip #1
Take 10 mins out!
Always take your morning shot of Symprove on an empty stomach – then leave 10 minutes before you eat and drink. Time for a spot of yoga or meditation?
Tip #2
Give it 12 weeks
Caring for your gut is a lifelong act of self-care. We recommend trying Symprove for a minimum of 12 weeks and after that, who knows? You might be one of the many people who go on to take it for life.
Who Can Use Symprove?
Short answer? Anyone who wants to support their gut microbiome!
Lots of people on Trustpilot say they take Symprove for gut conditions. Others take it because they know how important their gut microbiome is.
As with all supplements, Symprove works best with a good balanced diet. For more about looking after your gut through diet, exercise, sleep, and nature connection, head to our blog
Symprove is made from water, germinated barley, and four strains of live bacteria. We remove gluten from the barley during the production process. More ingredient information
If you live with allergies, it’s a good idea to double check the ingredients on the label. Just to be on the safe side. Find our labels on the 'About flavours' section of our Shop now page.
We can tell you for sure that Symprove is dairy-free and so vegan-friendly. And although it contains barley extract, we remove gluten during the production process. So it’s gluten-free too.
Yes, and completely suitable for vegans!
Yes, we remove gluten from the barley extract in our production process.
Yes, absolutely.
Most people don’t experience side-effects. A few find there are niggles when they first take it. But this is usually just a sign that the bacteria are where they need to be – and getting to work.
Often these niggles take the form of changes to your poo. Either constipation or mild diarrhoea. But as your body adjusts to Symprove these should quickly disappear.
Trying a new bacterial supplement can be a big deal if you live with a gut issue. That’s why we’re always on hand to listen and reassure. There’s no such thing as TMI with the Symprove team, and lots of us have experienced gut issues too.
If you need to chat, just call us on 01252 413600.
Symprove is made with natural ingredients – and doesn’t contain anything that the NHS says you should avoid while pregnant or breastfeeding.
That said, starting a new food supplement at a sensitive time can still be a big change. So check in with your healthcare professional first. And if you’re on any medication, it’s worth checking the label to see if there are any specific foods you should avoid.
Symprove is a safe food supplement made from natural ingredients. But it’s a good idea to take a copy of the label to your doctor anyway. Just to check that you're ok to start it.
Yes, Symprove is a natural food supplement that’s perfectly suitable for children. We’d recommend you give them 1ml per every 1kg of their weight (so 20ml a day for a 20kg child).
Most kids prefer Strawberry and Raspberry flavour as it’s the sweetest. Of course!
Yes, absolutely. Antibiotics are brilliant at beating illness but the downside is that they can destroy good gut bacteria. We’d recommend spacing out the times you take Symprove and your antibiotics – so they’re as far apart as possible.
And don’t forget to leave 10 minutes before you eat or drink anything (except water) after taking Symprove. Just to help our bacteria arrive alive in your gut.
Yes, lots of people have used Symprove alongside the FODMAP diet. But we’d always recommend talking to your doctor or dietitian about the two of them working together.
94% of people say they feel a positive difference after taking Symprove for three months. Lots go on to take it for life. If you want to get a better idea of how people have found Symprove, check out our Trustpilot page.
Tip #1
Tip #1: Take 10 mins out!
Always take your morning shot of Symprove on an empty stomach – then leave 10 minutes before you eat and drink. Time for a spot of yoga or meditation?
Tip #2
Tip #2: Give it 3 months
Caring for your gut is a lifelong act of self-care. We recommend trying Symprove for a minimum of 3 months and after that, who knows? You might be one of the many people who go on to take it for life.
Instructions And Storage
Just take 70ml every morning on an empty stomach. Then leave 10 minutes before you eat and drink (unless you need water, which is fine!).
70ml might not sound a lot but it contains about 10 billion live colony-forming units. Line them up nose to tail and they’d stretch for a whopping 30 kilometres!
Keep your bottles in a cool, dark place until they’re opened. After that, store them in the fridge and consume within 10 days. This might sound obvious but please don’t heat or freeze it as you’ll kill our amazing bacteria.
Symprove is fermented in small batches in a natural barley extract. As a result, each batch varies in colour, aroma and taste. We have an Expert Taste Panel who make sure we only release product which meets Symprove Quality Standards.
Symprove is a safe food supplement made from natural ingredients.
This means you’re absolutely fine to take it with other supplements. Many people take it alongside medications too. But if you’re being prescribed medication, we’d always recommend taking a copy of the label to your doctor. Just to check with them before you start taking it.
We recommend storing your packs in a cool, dry place. Once each bottle is open, pop it in the fridge and consume within 10 days.
Symprove is classed as a food supplement not a medication. This means you couldn’t technically overdose on it. It’s also made from naturally derived ingredients and free of any chemicals or nasties.
All our clinical trials have been based around the effects of a daily 70ml shot a day on your microbiome. This means we don’t have any reason to suggest you should take more than that.
We recommend a 70ml shot each day for adults. For children we suggest 1ml per 1kg of their body weight (so 20kg = 20ml). This is because their microbiomes are still developing.
It’s best to avoid alcohol for a few hours after taking Symprove as it can have a really negative effect on gut bacteria. And, on the whole, alcohol isn't good for your gut. You can read more about what to eat and drink for your microbiome on our blog.
Absolutely. Lots of our customers travel all over the globe with it. Where possible just pop it in the fridge when you arrive at your destination, otherwise a cool place should be ok.
Funnily enough, lots of flight attendants use Symprove. They’ve told us that if they reach hot destinations and can’t find a fridge right away they store their bottles in a sink of cool water – and just change the water every now and then to keep it as cool as possible.
Yes! Once you open a bottle just pop it in the fridge and consume within 10 days of opening.
Yes. Once a bottle is open keep it in the fridge and consume it within 10 days.
Did you know that balancing your microbiome takes time? It’s a marathon not a sprint. That’s why dietitians say you should give your body three months to get used to any new bacterial product.
Most people feel the difference with Symprove after three months. Many see results sooner. The key thing to know is that the gut has a high level of plasticity. This means it can easily flip back to being unbalanced if you stop using something that’s helped it.
For this reason lots of people choose to stay on Symprove for life. Usually they do this with one of our subscriptions which offer the best value way to pay.
No, ideally you should always take Symprove on an empty stomach before breakfast. Then leave 10 minutes before eating or drinking (unless you need water, which is fine!).
Don't worry though, it’s not the end of the world if you eat shortly after taking Symprove. Forgotten to take Symprove and eaten breakfast already? Don’t worry, ideally just leave two hours then take it.
Don’t panic, missing a single dose is unlikely to make much of a difference.
We’ve tested the effects of a daily 70ml dose in clinical trials, and learned that it’s the optimal amount. But if you miss a dose, just start taking it again the following day.
Need some help to build a habit that lasts? Check out these tried and tested tips from our helpful community:
- Set a reminder on your phone that goes off 10 minutes after your morning wake-up alarm. That way, you can catch yourself before tucking into breakfast!
- Or, do something similar in the evening. Set a reminder before bed to place your Symprove shot glass on the kitchen counter – so you can’t miss it in the morning!
- Alternatively, try training yourself to associate taking Symprove with a little morning treat. Why not use the 10 minutes after you’ve taken it to do something small for you? Play Wordle on your phone, do some meditation, or read a poem. Whatever works for you.
Sometimes just linking an action with something else you enjoy can be enough to bed-in your new habit. Psychotherapist and Symprove fan Anna Mathur offers some great advice about building good habits that last, right here.
Each pack has a maximum shelf-life of 6 months because our bacteria is alive when we bottle it. Please check the date on your pack.
Just don’t heat or freeze it or you’ll kill those precious bugs.
Tip #1
Tip #1: Take 10 mins out!
Always take your morning shot of Symprove on an empty stomach – then leave 10 minutes before you eat and drink. Time for a spot of yoga or meditation?
Tip #2
Tip #2: Give it 3 months
Caring for your gut is a lifelong act of self-care. We recommend trying Symprove for a minimum of 3 months and after that, who knows? You might be one of the many people who go on to take it for life.
Buying And Delivery
To keep things as simple as possible – we offer a choice of two subscriptions. With both our subscriptions you’ll pay the same amount, on the same date every 4 weeks.
Our rolling subscription: This is a great way to try Symprove. You can control your delivery dates, skip a delivery, change flavours, and cancel anytime.
Our loyalty subscription: This is the cheapest way to take Symprove (saving you £120 a year) and perfect for those who want to commit to their gut health long term. In your online account you can still manage delivery dates, change flavours and pause deliveries.
One-off and 12 week packs: We also sell individual monthly packs and 12 week starter packs. These non-subscription packs are more expensive, but useful for those who want to try Symprove without subscribing.
We recommend trying Symprove for at least 3 months - 94% feel the difference after this time.
Yes, no problem. Our 12 week pack
is a good way to get started, and you can buy one-off 4 week packs too. But lots of people find our flexible subscription cheaper and more convenient. You can stay on it if Symprove works for you or amend or cancel anytime.
When you start a subscription,
your first payment will be taken straight away. After that, any
subscription payments will be taken from your card on the same date every 28 days.
For the UK mainland, we deliver within 48 hours (if you order by 4pm, if not we'll deliver a day later), 7 days a week.
We also deliver on bank holiday excluding Christmas and Easter. For the Channel Islands, we deliver within 48 hours and for Northern Ireland it's within 2-5 working days (excluding bank holidays).
For those with a subscription we make sure we deliver every 28 days so you don't run out.
Yes, our boxes are fully recyclable – and we’ve recently upgraded our bottles to PET plastic. The world’s most recycled plastic.
We don’t have overseas stockists at the moment, but we do still ship single purchases of Symprove to most countries. Please see full information below:
Costs
A 1-month pack is £66.66 (excluding shipping costs)
A 3-month pack is £124.99 (excluding shipping costs)
And as your pack/packs will be dispatched from the UK, you may need to pay import duties or taxes.
Next steps
Email us at support@symprove.com with:
- Your full address for a shipping quote
- A contact phone number
- The number of bottles you’d like to order and your preferred flavour
- Where you heard about Symprove (this is just for our reference!)
We will then come back to you with a full quote and a payment link.
Things to know
If you pay by bank transfer any charges incurred are your responsibility.
Deliveries usually take 2-3 working days (but can take up to 7) Via DHL couriers.
Once the parcel has been sent, you’ll be emailed tracking details by the courier.
Our bacteria is fine to travel – we frequently ship Symprove around the world. It has a 3.5 month shelf life and doesn’t need special packaging or cooling for shipping.But this might be a possibility in future. Email us if you’re interested and we’ll let you know if things change! You can see our delivery policy for more information.
It’s really easy to make changes to your subscription through your online account. You can also call us on 01252 413600 or email support@symprove.com and we can sort it for you.
Just remember you can make changes up to 48 hours before your delivery is due. After that, it’s too late to alter an order.
Good to know: all our subscriptions give you the flexibility to pause your subscription. Or simply delay your monthly orders. This is handy if you’re going on holiday or heading to hospital for an op, for example.
Yes, you’re welcome to switch flavours. You can do this in your online account, by calling us on 01252 4135600 or emailing support@symprove.com
A flexible subscription can be cancelled anytime. While a 6-month or 12-month subscription can be cancelled within 14 days of you receiving your first pack.
All our subscriptions give you the flexibility to delay your monthly orders. This really helps if you’re going on holiday or heading to hospital for an op, for example.
Good to know: we can offer lower prices on longer-term subscriptions because they allow us to manage our budgets better.
We accept all major credit and debit cards, excluding AMEX. Payments will show on your bank statement as being made to Symprove Ltd. And they’ll be taken before your pack is sent to you.
As soon as your payment has gone out, you’ll receive an email letting you know that your order is ready to be sent. Then another email will be sent once it’s on its way.
At the moment you can’t make recurring payments by ApplePay or GooglePay.
Simply log in to your online account and go to manage my subscriptions. There, you can add or change the payment method. You can also contact us on 01252 413600 or by email at support@symprove.com and we’ll do it for you.
Our full terms and conditions can be found right here.
Want to share the good gut feeling? You can refer as many friends to Symprove as you like. They’ll get 50% off their first 3 months with us and you’ll get £20 off for every successful referral. Win win! For more details, head here.
You can order it right here on this website (hello!) or by phone on 01252 413600. Symprove is also stocked at selected pharmacies and health stores around the UK and Republic of Ireland.
We don’t have overseas stockists at the moment, but we do still ship Symprove to most countries. Please see full information below:
Costs
A 1-month pack is £66.66 (excluding shipping costs)
A 3-month pack is £124.99 (excluding shipping costs)
And as your pack/packs will be dispatched from the UK, you may need to pay import duties or taxes.
Next steps
Email us at support@symprove.com with:
- Your full address for a shipping quote
- A contact phone number
- The number of bottles you’d like to order and your preferred flavour
- Where you heard about Symprove (this is just for our reference!)
We will then come back to you with a full quote and a payment link.
Things to know
If you pay by bank transfer any charges incurred are your responsibility.
- Deliveries usually take 2-3 working days (but can take up to 7) Via DHL couriers.
- Once the parcel has been sent, you’ll be emailed tracking details by the courier.
- Our bacteria is fine to travel – we frequently ship Symprove around the world. It has a 3.5 month shelf life and doesn’t need special packaging or cooling for shipping.
Tip #1
Tip #1: Take 10 mins out!
Always take your morning shot of Symprove on an empty stomach – then leave 10 minutes before you eat and drink. Time for a spot of yoga or meditation?
Tip #2
Tip #2: Give it 3 months
Caring for your gut is a lifelong act of self-care. We recommend trying Symprove for a minimum of 3 months and after that, who knows? You might be one of the many people who go on to take it for life.
Need a replacement dosing cup?
Call us on 01252 413600, and our Customer Care Team will send you a new one.
Can't find what you're looking for?
Our highly knowledgeable customer care team are always here to support you so please don't hesitate to get in touch. Whether you need a listening ear, or simply want to order more Symprove, we're open Monday-Friday from 8:30am-5:30pm. Did you know most changes can be made to your subscription through your online customer account?
We are open: Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 5:30pm
Call us: 01252 413600
Email us: support@symprove.com (or press@symprove.com for press enquiries)