Bio Strath Elixir Yeast Tablets

I must admit, I'm always a bit dubious about health supplements and the often highly impressive claims they make - after all, if you take the product and feel better, how do you know if it's down to the supplement, the psychological placebo effect or just a total coincidence ? And how can you say that you feel better than without it when you can't really know how you would be feeling without it ? But nevertheless, when I was offered the chance to take part in the Bio-Strath 60 Day Challenge, I decided I had nothing to lose and came to it with an open mind.

According to the box, "Bio-Strath is a revitalising herbal yeast formula backed by scientific research that shows its benefits in helping support the body's natural defences when life demands that little bit extra". As a breastfeeding mum of 3, just about to go back to work as a teacher after my maternity leave, it sounded exactly what I needed ! The blurb on the box promises that Bio-Strath can "help to support resistance and sustain optimal physical and mental performance", as well as "provide you with a feeling of vitality". OK, bring it on !

The directions for use say you should take 2 tablets 2–3 times a day before meals. That sounds simple but it isn't when you're an overstretched mum or a frazzled workaholic, which is basically the target market for these tablets ! I aimed for taking 2 tablets twice a day, but sometimes once a day was all I could manage because breakfast was a quick piece of toast at the bus stop and lunch was a sandwich gobbled on the run.

On the plus side, they don't taste of anything much - certainly not the revolting musty compost taste you get with some herbal supplements ! They seem totally natural, listing Saccharomyces cerevisiae herbal yeast, cellulose plant fibre, corn starch, apple pectin and silicic acid as the only ingredients. They explain, "Bio-Strath is made in Switzerland from a special yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae that has been carefully cultivated on herbs including Angelica, Balm, Basil, Caraway, Chamomile, Cinnamon, Elder, Fennel, Horseradish, Hyssop, Lavender, Liquorice, Parsley, Peppermint, Sage and Thyme." There are no colourings, flavourings or preservatives and 1 tablet provides under 2 calories so they certainly won't make you fat !

So did they boost my immune system ? Well, I don't really know because things could have been a lot worse without them, but in those first few weeks back at school, I did succomb to a cold, a cough, a tummy upset and my first ever cold sore.

However, before writing the whole experience off as a total flop, I did feel a lot less exhausted at the end of the day. Instead of falling asleep in front of the telly as soon as the kids were in bed, I actually felt quite alert and refreshed, despite some days being very hectic with sick kids, Pierre's jabs and mountains of marking. I wasn't sure that that had anything to do with the tablets but the website does say :" A licensed remedy, Bio-Strath Elixir has been shown in clinical trials to restore energy that has been lost through tiredness and fatigue – for example, when recovering from illness." Aha, so maybe they were giving me this extra energy then.

In conclusion, they didn't boost my immune system to such an extent that I could fight off everything an entire school of kids, most of whom forget to put their hand over their mouth when they cough all over you, could throw at me, but I wasn't fully respecting the suggested number of tablets per day. I think they certainly did give me an energy boost though and helped me get through the initial back-to-work stress and rushing around that could have otherwise caused a meltdown ! There were absolutely no side effects or nasty taste so I would definitely say it's worth giving them a go if you're feeling under the weather or need to be fighting fit and full of beans and know the odds are stacked against you. The website also says that "the weaker your immune system, the more noticeable Bio-Strath’s benefits" so the efficiency of the problem will depend on the individual.

star rating : 4/5

RRP : £12.95 for 100 tablets