Symprove

is this working or what

It began with a terrible and unnatural bloating last summer. So terrible and unnatural that I had a pelvic scan to rule out ovarian irregularities.

Then to rule out just plain summer fatness and to prove bloating I started taking a pro-biotic capsule from Happy Mammoth. It was a punishing regime - six pills a day. Six! After a week of this nonsense I did notice a difference in the pneumatic state of my gut, but taking the pills was inconvenient, easy to forget and choking them down was just not very nice.

And so earlier this year, before the summer holidays, I looked into the dreaded Symprove. Symprove is a probiotic drink that promises to provide your gut with billions of hardworking bacteria that will improve digestion and reduce bloating.

I consulted Maddy Spencer, (who takes a semi-clinical and Teutonic approach to all health and beauty), as to whether she takes Symprove and her view on it all. She said she does take it and is in favour.

The daily 70ml must be taken first thing in the morning and a good ten minutes before you eat or drink anything else. That was do-able. “Does it taste funky?” I said.

“I buy the passion fruit one because it adds a hint of sweet to the sort of wholesome weird vinegary taste,” said Maddy. Then she said, (and I think this is the greatest compliment I have ever been paid in my entire life), “I imagine you could handle the ‘Original’ flavour, though. You’re exceptionally strong of mind and constitution.” Writing it down now I do wonder if maybe she was being sarcastic. But, then, no. Maddy is half Austrian and doesn’t do things like that.

Anyway I ordered myself some passionfruit flavour Symprove and got on with it.