Got questions about gut health? Ask dietician Laura Tilt - £200 voucher to be won

[EllieSmumsnet]

Did you know your gut health can influence more than just digestion? From boosting your mood and energy levels to supporting your immune system, taking care of your gut is vital for overall well-being.

But how do you know if your gut needs some TLC? What are the best ways to support it? And what role do live and active bacteria play in maintaining a healthy gut?

To help answer all your burning questions, we’re joined by gut health expert Laura Tilt! Whether you’re curious about spotting the signs of poor gut health, incorporating live and active bacteria into your family’s routine, or just want simple tips for feeling your best, Laura’s here to help.

• Everyone who shares a questions on the thread below by 12/02/2025 will be entered into a prize draw
• One lucky Mumsnet user will win a £200 voucher for a store of their choice
• Laura will be back soon to answer some of your questions

About Laura Tilt:
“Laura has been passionate about microbes and the gut for nearly 10 years, sparked by her focus on gastroenterology during her time in clinical practice. She is an experienced dietitian, health writer, and a regular columnist for Women’s Health Magazine. With over 15 years of experience in nutrition, Laura is passionate about helping people understand the connection between food and health, bridging the gap between what we eat and what happens in our bodies. You can find her on social media @nutritilty, where she shares practical tips for eating healthy amid the everyday challenges of parenting and sleep deprivation.”

About Symprove:
Symprove’s powerful liquid solution is the UK’s no.1 water-based live and active bacteria supplement and most recommended by health care professionals in the UK. It’s a firm favourite with our Mumsnet community. It's dairy free and water based, plus it's safe for children (always check dosage instructions) and those on antibiotics.

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

I have coeliac disease, so the damage caused to my stomach, intestines and just about everything else was substantial.
I was diagnosed age 31, and my ttg levels were 131 (the highest the consultant had ever seen).
7 days years later, having been completely and totally gluten free, my rashy arms have healed, my hair has grown back fully, and my periods have returned to normal.

All good signs my gut is healing (the medicine being a complete gluten free diet with no cross contamination).

But, when I do accidentally digest gluten through cross contamination, I become very ill- a quick google will show the absolute agony of it.

My question is- even with cross contamination, my gut feels like I’ve been kicked in the stomach repeatedly, for about a week.
can you recommend whether any probiotics or supplements could help with the ongoing gut ache following the initial reaction? Something to help in the week following would be really useful.
Also, is Symprove gluten free?

This is something I’m really interested in, my daughter has a wheat and dairy intolerance and I’m really worried about the damage that may have already been done to her gut.

what probiotic should she have to aid recovery and then maintain her gut health?

for the rest of us in the family, what should we have to maintain a healthy gut?

Do you think its worthwhile drinking chicory coffee or does it not actually have many gut health benefits other than reducing caffeine intake?

Is going upf free enough or should we be actively eating fermented things etc.

What are the best foods to try and improve gut health? which is the worst?

Is Biomel as good for the gut as all the hype around it?

I eat live yoghurt everyday. will this be doing enough for my gut health or should I also be taking probiotics?

I've been diagnosed with IBS. I suspect instead it may be wheat and dairy intolerance. I could go to the loo 7 or more times a day.
As a result I take an immodium every night. I now have a completely normal life without panicking where the nearest toile is.
I still go to the loo but only once a day now. Is the immodium doing me any harm or is it just slowing my overactive gut down? Would probiotics help in any way?

Is added sugar/lots of sugary processed foods bad for your gut health?

There are so many baterial strains in the gut. How do you know which ones to consume via probiotics?

You could also be missing a whole colony of bacteria, how would you increase this particular strain?

How long does it take for the bacteria to colonise in the gut?

When can you stop taking the probiotics?

What about harmful bacteria in the gut, how do you reduce harmful bacteria in the gut and replace them with beneficial bacteria?

What if you experience intestinal problems despite eating 30 plants a weeks and fermented foods, such ad sauerkraut, kimchi and kefir?

Forgot to add. I tried symprove for several months, but it didn’t improve my gut health.

Our 4 year old suffers from constipation and we don't seem to be able to figure out how to help him. He eats a fibre-rich diet, lots of veg and seeds/nuts, lots of yoghurt as well and drinks enough, but still can easily go 4 days without a poo. His older sibling that follow the exact same diet has no problem at all, goes to the toilet at least once a day. What can we do to help him have more frequent bowel movements?

What food and supplements can me and my toddler take to build our immunity and improve our gut microbes?

How do sweeteners / food additives/ emulsifiers/ preservatives affect gut health?

How much does buying organic food matter?

Does not eating meat have an adverse effect on your gut health

What is the best thing I can do to encourage good guy health in fussy teens?

How quickly can you safely improve your gut health by changing diet and/or taking supplements. What are the risks of wholesale changes to diet?

I had a normal (high carb) diet and since perimenopause began I was constantly constipated or had the runs (sorry!)
I started low carb to lose weight. Suddenly I am having perfect and regular bowel movements.
Is this a thing? Is sugar / carbs just bad for everyone or is it just me?

What can we do to help our autistic daughter?*

*only speaking from our experience, but gut health and function seems to be a big contributor to delayed development, if only because her tummy hurts and wakes her up! We give her a probiotic and multivitamins, but her diet is otherwise restricted.

How do I know if I need to improve my gut health? If I don't have any symptoms, can I assume it's ok?

Is it true that sugar is an absolute no-no for gut health? Do I really have to give up all added sugar to improve my gut microbiome?

I eat pretty healthily, but feel like I need a gut reset and would like to introduce some foods into my diet to encourage gut health. Kefir and fermented foods are suggested, but I can’t have these because I have perimenopausal histamine issues, please can you recommend some (low histamine) foods I can introduce into my diet to help? And / or probiotics / supplements?

What can I introduce into my diet that I can eat regularly for gut health and not just a one off?

I sometimes have runner’s trots - any tips related to gut health for that?

I read recently that someone takes a well known store’s own probiotic tablets daily & rarely gets tummy bugs - is this a good thing to do?