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

The very first step is to get a medical diagnosis of IBS from your doctor, as IBS symptoms are very similar to other conditions like coeliac disease, so it’s important to make sure you have the right diagnosis. Next, try some simple dietary changes—search on the web for "BDA IBS" to find a useful guide on Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and diet. Consider whether stress may be contributing to your symptoms too, as it often can. If you think it is, try to identify which coping strategies work best for you. Gentle exercise, breathing techniques, and mindfulness activities can all help manage stress, so it’s worth exploring which methods help you relax and stay calm under pressure.

If your symptoms persist despite making lifestyle and dietary adjustments, return to your GP to discuss the next steps. In the U.K., most people can be referred to an NHS dietitian for a trial of a FODMAP diet which can be very effective in terms of improving symptoms.
Other options include referral for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), a talking therapy that examines how thoughts influence behavior, or gut-directed hypnotherapy, which uses guided imagery and relaxation techniques to relieve pain and improve symptoms.

Dfferent colours and varieties of fruit and vegetables contain different nutrients, and therefore eating a wide variety (eating the rainbow!) can ensure we get all the vitamins and minerals needed for the body to function normally and stay healthy. In terms of gut health, dietary diversity (the number and variety of foods and food groups eaten) has been linked with gut microbiome health. Put simply - the more diverse the diet, the more diverse the gut microbiome, which in turn is linked with gut health. So eating lots of different colours and types of fruits and vegetables is great - but apply this to other plant foods too - so different grains, different nuts, seeds and pulses.

Great question! Resistant starch is the name for starch (carbohydrate) which ‘resists’ digestion in the gut, but which feeds beneficial bacteria in the gut making it a prebiotic (fibre). Some foods are naturally rich in resistant starch (like beans and lentils, greenish bananas, oats) but resistant starch can also be created when starches are cooked and cooled - think pasta and new potatoes. During heating in water the starch 'leaks out' of it's granules, but when cooled, forms complex structures that can't be broken down by digestive enzymes. So leftover pasta and potatoes contain more food for your microbes and as such can help with microbiome health. So yes, leftovers for work is a win-win!

It's a misconception that probiotics stay in the gut and 'grow' - rather than becoming permanent residents, they exert health benefits by altering the environment in your gut as they move through. Therefore, when you stop taking them you stand to lose these benefits - but while you're taking them you can also work on making dietary changes to support a healthy gut environment, so it's not one or the other. The recommended approach is to try a probiotic for between four weeks and twelve weeks before deciding whether to continue, stop, or try another product. If you do stop and you notice symptoms returning, there's no problem to begin taking again.

Most of the gases which make up farts are odourless, but tiny amounts of sulfur-containing gases are usually the ones responsible for smelly, rotten egg smells. Foods with sulphourous compounds tend to be the worst offenders, so that's foods like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower. Some protein foods are also a source of amino acids that can be turned into sulphurous gases, and high protein diets may contribute for this reason. Protein bars and protein supplements often contain sweeteners called polyols which aren't digested but are broken down by gut microbes and again can be a source of excess gas. These things aside, excessive or very offensive gas can be a sign of a problem digesting a particular food. A common example is lactose intolerance. If your gas is accompanied by other gut symptoms like bloating or pain, chat to your G.P. Otherwise a gut specialist dietitian can help you take a look at the dietary causes.

What shall I look for when choosing a probiotic?

If you’re working on improving your gut health after years of poor diet, how do you know whether it’s actually improving assuming that you don’t have any specific symptoms of poor gut health?

@EllieSmumsnet am I too late for this thread - have you chosen a winner ? ty

If I take a probiotic supplement, do I need to take a prebiotic as well to get the best results?

If you’ve had a correction to a perforated bowel and had your sigmoid removed, what’s the best foods to consume and avoid in order to live with a more comfortable gut and smoother movements?

I’m not an expert, but I always thought that a prebiotic feeds whatever probiotics you have in your gut.