Carrageenan, cellulose gum, polysorbate 80 - are emulsifiers a problem in Crohn's and colitis? A calm look at what the research on emulsifiers and IBD actually shows, which ones are worth reducing, and how to navigate labels without losing the foods your child relies on.

Water does far more than prevent thirst. From digestion and stool consistency to the gut lining and fluid balance, hydration plays an important role in gut health, particularly for people living with IBD.

Fibre and fermented foods are often recommended for gut health, but with IBD the picture is more nuanced. Here’s why type, timing and individual tolerance matter.

Microplastics are showing up in the human gut - but what does that mean if you or your child live with IBD? A gentle, evidence-based look at what we know, what we don't, and the easy swaps that lower everyday exposure.

Propolis for colds when flying: a functional practitioner's honest look at how it may support your mucosal barrier - plus simple extras that help.

Magnesium is one of the supplements I recommend most often in children and adults with IBD. Discover who may benefit, which form to choose, the latest research, and whether magnesium could support sleep, fatigue, brain fog and gut health.

Bifidobacteria is one of the most misunderstood markers in gut health — and one of the most important, especially in children with IBD. Low levels don't always show up as digestive symptoms. Mood, sleep, fatigue, skin reactivity and immune resilience can all be affected. Here's what parents most commonly get wrong about bifido - and why checking your child's levels matters more than you might think.

Synthetic folic acid is being added to UK flour. For people living with IBD, the implications go further than most people realise.

Crohn’s symptoms despite normal calprotectin can be confusing and exhausting. Reuben’s story explores fatigue, pain, food fear and recovery beyond inflammation alone.

This, for me, comes from two places. The first is professional. I've watched the same pattern play out, again and again. I see people doing everything they've been told, sometimes for years, and still not feeling well. Sometimes their numbers look OK. Sometimes some of their symptoms become manageable. But too often, there's so much that doesn't get addressed. Life ends up feeling not where it should be. And alongside this, when it's children that are affected, the impact on

Still struggling despite improving IBD markers? This article explores why symptoms can continue in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, even when inflammation is reducing, and why gut healing involves far more than suppressing inflammation.

Exams can be demanding at the best of times. When a young person is also managing IBD, it often becomes more complex. You may notice: energy that feels inconsistent or easily depleted brain fog or slower thinking difficulty concentrating for sustained periods needing more breaks than their peers This isn’t about effort. With IBD, there are additional factors at play: ongoing inflammation increased nutrient demands the impact of medication disrupted appetite, especially in the

C. diff can sit quietly in the gut, but in children with IBD it can switch on quickly and look just like a flare. Here’s how to spot it early, treat it properly, and support the microbiome afterwards to keep C. diff dormant.

How Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Ruminococcus gnavus affect gut balance, inflammation and recovery in children with Crohn’s and colitis.

When Marco was discharged after bowel surgery, he and his mum left hospital with no guidance on what he should eat. They instinctively knew they needed some kind of post-surgery diet for children with IBD, but didn't know what that should look like. His digestion was sensitive, his appetite low, and he was frightened that eating the wrong thing might cause a blockage or delay his recovery. His surgical site was also slow to heal and very sore, adding to the uncertainty. This

When Ella was newly diagnosed with IBD , her mum felt completely overwhelmed. She wanted Ella to feel well and supported, but didn’t know where to start with food. She also didn’t want Ella to feel different or restricted - a familiar tension for many parents navigating a newly diagnosed child IBD diet for the first time. To make things harder, the hospital had said “diet doesn’t matter,” yet Ella clearly reacted to certain foods, and her mum’s instincts told her that what E

Understanding the Link Between Child Gut Health and Behaviour Many parents come to me because they’ve noticed a connection between their child’s gut symptoms and their behaviour — a link that’s becoming increasingly recognised. Lotte’s story is a gentle example of how supporting child gut health and behaviour together can help a child feel more settled, calmer and more comfortable in themselves. Lotte's Symptoms: Tummy Pain, Anxiety and Emotional Outbursts Lotte's parents in

Meet Akkermansia — the “mucus gardener” that helps protect and repair the gut lining. Learn how this important microbe supports gut health in children with IBD, why it often disappears during flares, and how to encourage its return with gentle, microbiome-friendly foods.

Bifidobacteria are some of the gut’s most important peacekeepers. Learn how supporting bifidobacteria gut health can strengthen your child’s gut lining, calm inflammation, and build long-term digestive balance - especially in children with Crohn’s or colitis.

The gut microbiome is home to trillions of microbes that shape your child's digestion, immune balance, and inflammation. Here's what it is - and how to keep it healthy.