In this episode, we explore how IBD microbiome testing is changing the way patients and practitioners understand Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis — and why it reveals what colonoscopies and blood tests simply cannot.
Chloe Turner has lived with Crohn’s disease for 25 years. She’s also a degree-qualified naturopath and clinical microbiome consultant at Microba — one of Australia’s most advanced gut microbiome testing companies. In this conversation, she brings both worlds together with rare honesty: what the science of gut microbiome testing actually reveals in IBD, and what it truly feels like to live inside a body that can turn on you without warning.
Chloe speaks candidly about the psychological weight of waiting for the next flare, the fear that sits quietly behind even the good days, and why clinical remission doesn’t always mean your microbiome is out of danger. She also takes us inside the clinical data — explaining how shotgun metagenomics testing is identifying things that colonoscopies and standard blood tests cannot, including stealth pathogens like EPEC that quietly fuel inflammation while everything else looks stable.
This is a conversation about data, but it’s also a conversation about hope — and what becomes possible when you finally understand what’s happening inside your gut.
GUEST BIO
Chloe Turner is a degree-qualified naturopath and clinical microbiome consultant at Microba, one of Australia’s most advanced gut microbiome testing companies, with a primary focus on inflammatory bowel disease, gastrointestinal infections, autoimmunity, and the gut microbiome. Chloe also works with complex fertility cases and thyroid disorders, bringing both professional expertise and 25 years of personal experience living with Crohn’s disease to her clinical practice. She mentors practitioners in IBD, complex gut conditions, and fertility, and consults online via chloturner.com.au.
What You’ll Learn About IBD Microbiome Testing
This conversation goes deep into IBD microbiome testing — what it shows, when to do it, and why it matters more than most people realise.
— What gut microbiome testing reveals that conventional IBD workups cannot
— How EPEC and E. coli species silently fuel flares — and what to do about it
— Why clinical remission doesn’t mean your microbiome is out of the danger zone
— How microbiome shifts can precede a flare before symptoms appear
— The emerging link between microbiome state and biologic medication response
— The psychological weight of the relapse-recovery cycle
— and how Chloe navigates it personally
— Why intuition and anxiety around food can look identical — and how to tell them apart
— Practical dietary and supplement strategies alongside conventional IBD care
— Why annual microbiome testing could be one of the most powerful tools for flare prevention
In this episode, you’ll Discover About IBD Microbiome Testing:
✅ Why shotgun metagenomics sees what colonoscopies and blood tests miss — including stealth pathogens driving active flares
✅ How a patient sent in a test months after ordering it — and the results caught a flare he didn’t even know was coming
✅ Why E. coli overgrowth (even without a pathogenic strain) can mimic a Crohn’s flare through Hexa-LPS production
✅ What the microbiome actually looks like in someone who feels well — and why that picture still matters
✅ How the microbiome may influence whether a biologic medication works or fails — and what that means for IBD treatment
✅ Chloe’s personal approach to managing the anxiety of living with an unpredictable chronic condition
✅ Why restrictive eating in IBD can be fear-driven rather than intuition-driven — and how to tell the difference
✅ The case for annual microbiome testing as a flare prevention strategy
IBD microbiome testing doesn’t replace conventional care — it adds a layer of precision that standard gastroenterology workups don’t offer.
Whether you’re in the thick of a flare or sitting in apparent remission, IBD microbiome testing gives you and your practitioner a clearer picture of what’s actually happening inside your gut. If you’ve been wondering whether IBD microbiome testing is right for you, this episode will help you decide.
Show Notes
🔬 Interested in gut microbiome testing? Visit Lynda’s gut testing page
📅 Book a 1:1 consultation with Lynda
👩⚕️ Connect with Chloe Turner
Register for a Microba Practitioner account
Probiotic Strains for E. coli Overgrowth in IBD Microbiome Testing
In the episode, Chloe references specific probiotic strains used clinically to help reduce E. coli overgrowth in IBD. These are the three strains discussed:
- Lactobacillus gasseri KS-13
- Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1
- Bifidobacterium longum MM2
These are used short-term and should be guided by a qualified practitioner based on your individual IBD microbiome testing results. This information is sourced from Chloe’s clinical education through Microba.
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This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your health routine.