faqs.

emily explains.

the gut microbiome.

What exactly is our microbiome?

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What are the signs that our gut needs support?

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Where do we start with our gut health?

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What exactly is our microbiome?

Your microbiome is a complex community of over 38 trillion microorganisms. Interestingly, there are more microbes than there are human cells in your body. You are, quite literally, more bacteria than you are you. Scientists are still mapping out just how far this network reaches, and it has become one of the most heavily researched areas in modern science. Just over ten years ago, most people would have laughed off the idea that your gut has anything to do with your mood. Now research is constantly exploring its links to digestion, to the immune system, to hormones, to skin and to mental wellbeing. We want to share that knowledge with our community, which is why we’ve brought together a panel of experts to make this complex area of science understandable. We also want to stay at the forefront of this research, so we're investing in our own clinical trials to help find answers that can make a real difference to our community.

What are the signs that our gut needs support?

Most people don't think about their gut until something prompts them to. Maybe digestion feels less settled than it used to. Maybe you're feeling heavier after meals, or your energy isn't quite where you'd like it to be. Maybe your skin is doing something unexpected. These are the kinds of things that make people start paying attention. If you've started asking questions about yours, that's already a good place to be.

Where do we start with our gut health?

The best place to start is simply paying attention. Your microbiome responds to everything, what you eat, how you sleep, how stressed you are or even how much you move. You want to start forming consistent habits with the long term in mind, not a quick reset. That might mean adding more diversity and colour to your diet, getting a bit more sleep, building in more movement day to day, all small, ordinary things that quietly shape the environment your microbiome lives in. Consistency is the thing that matters most here, not perfection. The people who tend to feel best about their gut health are the ones who've stopped chasing quick fixes and started building small, consistent habits instead.

nutritional & diet.

What’s the difference between a prebiotic and a probiotic?

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Should I take a supplement for my gut health?

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What is the difference between fermented foods and a synbiotic supplement?

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What makes a good gut health supplement?

It’s important to look for a mix of:

Potency - look for the colony-forming unit (CFU) count. This measures the number of bacteria in each dose that are viable (alive) and active (able to multiply). The higher the count, the more bacteria you will consume.
Diversity - the type of bacteria it contains are also important. Generally looking for the genus Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Bacillus or Saccharomyces boulardii, some of the most researched strains, is worthwhile.
Delivery method - when consuming bacteria, they will need to survive the harsh conditions of your stomach, such as intense pH level changes. Many supplements boast high CFU counts but the bacteria struggle to survive from manufacture to shelf and, more importantly, through your digestive system to your gut. Look out for the % of bacteria promised to make it to the gut alive.
Convenience - these products can only benefit you if you remember to take them. Therefore, choosing a product that is easy to consume and that you enjoy taking is also important.

What’s the difference between a prebiotic and a probiotic?

Probiotics are live bacteria, the good kind your gut relies on. They help maintain a balanced microbiome, supporting overall gut health. You'll find them naturally in fermented foods like yoghurt, kefir and sauerkraut. But live bacteria can't do much on their own; they need something to feed on to survive and thrive, and that's where prebiotics come in. A prebiotic is essentially food for those bacteria, usually fibre, the kind your body can't digest itself, but your gut bacteria can. You'll find it in things like fruit, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds. So put simply, a probiotic is the bacteria, a prebiotic feeds it.

Should I take a supplement for my gut health?

Your gut health isn't only connected to digestion, it also plays a role in your skin, immunity, hormones, and even your mood. And it's shaped by more than just what you eat. Stress, sleep, and movement all leave their mark too, shifting your gut microbiome constantly, often without you noticing. No two routines look the same. Maybe you eat well most of the time, but a stressful few weeks or a run of bad sleep throws things off. Or maybe it's less about food and more about a busy schedule that leaves little room for rest or movement. Either way, a balanced diet is a good foundation, but it's rarely the whole picture. That's why a supplement isn't about replacing a good diet, but supporting your gut alongside it, whatever the week looks like. Our synbiotic dual cap is designed to complement a balanced diet. Fifty billion live bacteria from eleven strains, FOS fibre to help feed them, and nutrients such as zinc, vitamin D and biotin, carefully picked for their emerging research into gut lining support.

What is the difference between fermented foods and a synbiotic supplement?

Fermented foods like yoghurt, kefir, kimchi and sauerkraut have been part of human diets for thousands of years. The live bacteria they contain develop naturally through fermentation, which means the strains, quantities and survival rates vary between products and even between batches. They come alongside other nutrients, protein, fat, vitamins, depending on the food, which is part of what makes them valuable. Live bacteria supplements are built around precision. Our strains are selected from published research, quantities are measured and stated on the label, and our dual cap delivery mechanism is engineered to maximise survival through to the gut. FOS fibre is included in the outer core, giving the live bacteria something to work with on arrival. Neither replaces the other. A varied diet that includes fermented foods and a consistent daily supplement are doing different things, and understanding the difference is a good place to start.

the synbiotic dual cap.

What makes our synbiotic dual cap unique?

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Why does survivability matter and how does the synbiotic dual cap achieve it?

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What can I expect from taking the synbiotic dual cap?

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Is the synbiotic dual cap a probiotic?

The capsule contains live bacteria, therefore it can be considered a probiotic. It also contains fructooligosaccharides (FOS) which can be considered prebiotics. However, we refrain from using such terms as UK Law prevents this, seeing our products as food supplements to which no health claims can be associated.

What are the active ingredients in the synbiotic dual cap?

Our capsule combines live bacteria with other vitamins and minerals for added digestive value. See the full nutritional information table for more information:

What are the active ingredients in the synbiotic dual cap?

Is there consumer testing/research which has been completed on these supplements and if so, what are the results?

The synbiotic dual cap technology has been tested using SHIME®, or Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem, a sophisticated in vitro technology that simulates the human gastrointestinal tract. There are also hundreds of independent studies on the ingredients within our product. Head to our Lab and Research Library pages to learn more about the testing and studies behind our products.

What is SHIME testing and why is it important?

SHIME® testing, or Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem, is a sophisticated in vitro technology that simulates the human gastrointestinal tract to study the impact of substances like our synbiotic dual cap. on the microbiome.

For Epetōme, utilising SHIME® testing to validate the efficacy of the duo capunderscores a commitment to scientific excellence and consumer benefit. SHIME® testing demonstrates the survivability and targeted delivery of our capsule through the harsh conditions of the stomach to reach the intestines, where these components can add to the diversity and complement the gut microbiome.

Why choose Epetōme compared to other gut supplements on the market?

1) Potency:

We have sourced our ingredients from the best manufacturers in the industry, ensuring a potent dosage of 50 billion live bacteria (one of the highest colony-forming units, or CFU counts on the market). There are also 11 unique strains of bacteria (making the synbiotic dual cap one of the most diverse bacterial supplements), each selected by a qualified nutritionist for the scientific and mechanistic research behind them.

2) Our technology:

Many supplements boast high CFU counts but struggle to survive from manufacture to shelf and, more importantly, through your digestive system to your gut. That's where our synbiotic dual cap. makes a difference. The synbiotic dual cap technology ensures that the beneficial bacteria are alive during manufacture and remain viable up to the expiration date. This is vital for ensuring all 50 billion bacterial strains reach your gut alive. Our capsule is engineered to protect these delicate bacteria from stomach acid, providing targeted delivery to the gut.

3) Convenience:

And finally, we have understood that convenience is crucial. No gimmicks, no refrigeration needed, no blending. Just one capsule, once a day, every day. Making it easy to embed Epetōme into your morning routine.

What makes our synbiotic dual cap unique?

Our synbiotic dual cap is a blend of science and nature, carefully formulated around the research behind each individual strain. Let's explore its unique composition. The inner core contains 50 billion colony forming units of live bacteria, ensuring a potent and deliberate dose. Among the eleven strains is Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, one of the world’s most extensively studied strains of acidophilus, with over 45 published clinical trials exploring its role in digestive comfort. Once released, the FOS fibre in the liquid part of the capsule acts as food for the live bacteria and is exactly what makes a synbiotic different from a probiotic alone. We’ve also included three additional nutrients, Vitamin D, Biotin, and Zinc for their connection to the health of the gut lining. Zinc contributes to the normal function of the immune system. Biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal skin and to normal psychological function. And vitamin D3, sourced from a plant, contributes to the normal function of the immune system. We made sure to only include ingredients that are well researched and well evidenced. But we didn't stop there. We wanted a delivery system that ensured what's inside the synbiotic dual cap gets to your gut alive. Our unique dual cap delivery system has one of the greatest survivability rates, with an outer core to protect the strains through the stomach, helping far more of them survive the journey and actually arrive where they're meant to.

Why does survivability matter and how does the synbiotic dual cap achieve it?

Most live bacteria supplements face the same problem. The journey through the stomach is an acidic one, and a lot of bacteria do not survive it. So the number on the label and the number that actually arrives can tell a very different story. And for us, that gap is exactly where the Dual Cap begins. Rather than a single standard capsule, ours works in two stages. The outer core protects the bacteria through the stomach, releasing them only once they reach the part of the gut where they are actually meant to be. That is what makes survivability so central to how we think about bacterial composition, because the best strains in the world only matter if they get there. We tested this using SHIME, a validated gut model used by research institutions around the world. Against non-encapsulated formats, our dual cap delivered up to 23x higher survivability. Even accounting for the natural dropout that happens on that journey, our survivability rate is high enough that we arrive with more than most formats start with. That is the difference between a number on a label and a number that actually reaches your gut.

What can I expect from taking the synbiotic dual cap?

We only use high quality live cultures backed by credible science in state of the art encapsulation to bring you a product you can trust. In the first few days, your body is simply getting acquainted with something new. It is a time of gentle adjustment, and that is completely normal. Any new addition to your routine takes a little time to settle, and this one is no different. I always encourage people to give it that space rather than looking for anything overnight. Over the first month, you might notice things starting to shift in your daily routine. It will look different for everyone. By three months in, your gut should be accustomed to the live bacteria and you’ve started finding your tempo. Because the live bacteria are transient, it is their regular, daily presence that matters most, which is why Epetōme is designed to be taken on an ongoing basis as part of a daily routine, making a consistent gut health habit an effortless part of your morning. You only have to read through our reviews to see how it has become a non-negotiable for people's daily lives.

other.

Is Epetōme worth the price?

From £1.33 a day on a 6-month subscription with free UK delivery, Epetōme brings together ingredients you’d otherwise need around five separate supplements to get, making your daily routine simpler and saving you money. Live bacteria have a tough journey to make. Your stomach is highly acidic (around pH 1.5–3), which is ideal for breaking down food but can also destroy delicate bacteria, so by the time many supplements reach the intestine, very few live bacteria remain. Epetōme’s dual capsule is designed to protect them on that journey. The outer capsule shields the inner capsule from stomach acid, and the inner capsule keeps the bacteria safe until they reach the less acidic pH of the intestine. Independent laboratory testing showed greater bacterial survival than the non-encapsulated format tested, so you’re paying for protection that helps more of those live bacteria reach their destination.

Getting there alive is only half of it. Live bacteria also need something to feed on once they arrive, which is why Epetōme includes FOS, a plant-based prebiotic fibre. It passes through the stomach and small intestine undigested and reaches the lower gut, where beneficial bacteria use it as food. Many probiotic supplements stop at the bacteria alone, but Epetōme pairs them with their fuel.

Then there’s your gut lining, a single layer of cells that lets nutrients through while helping to keep out unwanted substances. That’s why Epetōme also includes zinc, biotin and vitamin D, nutrients involved in maintaining a healthy gut lining, so the live bacteria, their fuel and gut lining support come together in one daily capsule.

Why does Epetōme cost more than a standard probiotic?

Because you’re paying for both what’s inside and how it’s protected. Epetōme uses trademarked strains with research behind them, so you know exactly which bacteria you’re getting. It combines 50 billion CFU from 11 individually named strains with FOS fibre, vitamin D, zinc and biotin in one daily capsule. Its Dual Cap® technology is designed to protect the live bacteria through their journey to the gut. SHIME® testing found that the synbiotic dual cap had 12x higher survivability rates than the non-encapsulated, and 23x higher than the leading powder, offering more than a high bacteria count on the label.

Is “epitome” the same as Epetōme?

If you’re searching for “epitome” probiotics, you’re likely looking for Epetōme, pronounced ‘ep-ee-tohm’. You’ll see our name written with the macron (the line over the o) as Epetōme, or without it as Epetome, and both mean us. Epetōme is a daily synbiotic supplement that combines live bacteria with FOS prebiotic fibre, vitamin D, zinc and biotin.

Where can I buy Epetōme?

You can buy Epetōme exclusively through our official website, epetome.com. We don’t sell through other retailers or online marketplaces, so ordering directly from us ensures you’re buying genuine Epetōme.

If you see Epetōme for sale anywhere else, please let our Customer Care team know at support@epetome.com. We can't vouch for the quality or authenticity of products sold by third parties, so we'll look into it.

faqs.

Emily English, founder and nutritionist, answers questions on the gut microbiome, nutrition, epetōme., when best to take gut health supplements, ingredients in our synbiotic duo cap, the advanced duo cap technology within our digestive supplement and more.

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