Travel Boldly, Digest Confidently: Introducing Prebiotic Gut Fuel
Don’t let tummy issues destroy your vacation. This new supplement sets you up for the adventure of a lifetime, without the aftermath.
Did you know that the gut is considered the largest component of the immune system, housing approximately 70–80% of the body’s immune cells? It acts as a central hub for immune activity, interacting with trillions of microbes and distinguishing between harmless food and dangerous pathogens. That’s why a poor diet can compromise our health, and that stomach bug or bout of food poisoning can really knock you around for days.
But: We love to eat, and especially while traveling, because it offers an immersive, sensory, and accessible way to experience a different culture’s history, traditions, and people. Food serves as a memorable cultural bridge, fostering connection with locals and providing a deeper understanding of a destination than sightseeing alone.
But eating new foods in different time zones and traveling in general disrupts the gut microbiome—causing symptoms like bloating, constipation, or ‘traveler’s diarrhea’. This occurs through abrupt changes in nutrient intake, the introduction of foreign bacteria, and increased stressors on the body. Travel-related changes, such as jet lag, dehydration, disrupted circadian rhythm, and high-fat or processed food ‘on the go’, reduce beneficial microbial diversity and trigger inflammation, momentarily shifting the microbiome’s composition.
Complicating this further: frequent use of antibiotics, which eradicate your good bacteria along with the bad. So, wouldn’t it be great if there were an easy supplement for that—something you could introduce into your diet in the days leading up to travel, incorporate in your intake while you travel, and of course, when you get home? Well, there is, and of course, it’s invented by a woman!
Meet Colleen Cutcliffe, PhD, a trailblazing microbiome scientist and biotech leader who guides high-performing biology teams across academia, pharmaceutical companies, and the ever-changing field of biotechnology. She holds a PhD in Biochemistry from Johns Hopkins University and a BA in Biochemistry from Wellesley College, and is known for translating complex molecular science into practical, real-world health solutions.
I chatted briefly with Dr. Cutliffe about the connection between good gut health and travel, and she agreed that while we kind of want to eat and drink everything on our trips, our stomachs might not be quite as prepared as our appetites. There are so many disruptors to gut health—even when you are having the time of your life! Dr. Cutliffe’s own story of formulating this product came when her first daughter was born eight weeks early and spent four weeks in the NICU receiving multiple rounds of antibiotics. Dr. Cutliffe became aware of the long-term risks of early disruption to the microbiome. Her work now includes identifying novel bacterial strains, such as Akkermansia, with therapeutic potential.
And so to the product:
Pendulum Gut Fuel is a prebiotic fiber and polyphenol powder that turns any food into a superfood and supports GLP-1 signaling and improves nutrient absorption. It blends seamlessly into a wide range of foods and drinks—without impacting their flavor. Neutral-tasting, pleasant-smelling, and soluble, you can take it with you, stir it into drinks, mix it into soft foods, dressings, and sauces. It gives you all the gut health you need, cuts down your appetite, and keeps your digestive system regular. To demonstrate how food-friendly Gut Fuel is, chef and restaurateur Johanna Hellrigl teamed up with Dr. Cutliffe to put on a lunch and showcase the product. This was a dynamic duo!
As a busy working mom, Chef Johanna is redefining restaurants as drivers of systemic change—she is the owner of Ama, a Northern Italian restaurant in Washington, D.C., known for its sustainability and mission-driven approach. Raised between NYC and Italy, and the daughter of chef Andreas Hellrigl, Johanna is also an integrative nutritionist working with restaurants, brands, and hospitality groups to advance cleaner sourcing and regenerative supply chains, and to create non-toxic kitchens.
A 2026 James Beard Semifinalist for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic, she also serves on the boards of the Environmental Working Group and is Culinary Director for Eudēmonia Summit. But that’s not all! She also advocates for the Plastic Pollution Coalition, advances children’s nutrition as a Chef Council Member of Eat Real Certified, and serves on the Chef Corps with World Central Kitchen. She is a member of the Independent Restaurant Coalition, Les Dames d’Escoffier, and Regarding Her, and has lobbied on Capitol Hill alongside organizations such as the Tufts Food is Medicine Institute.
Chef Johanna’s endorsement of Gut Fuel is meaningful. Mix it into smoothies, eggs, stews, and sauces, and incorporate it into baked goods, pancakes, crepes, and more to add 6 grams of fiber per serving. It’s also great for kids ages 4 and up and for those looking to boost fiber while staying on a low FODMAP diet.
At our delicious lunch, prepared by Chef Johanna, the standout dish was her Leek Salsa Verde, served with a Branzino filet. Please enjoy her recipe below.
Make It At Home: Leek Salsa Verde
Recipe by Johanna Hellrigl of Ama
Yield: ~1 Quart | Prep Time: 15 min | Cook Time: 10 min
Serving ideas: Spoon over fish, chicken, roasted vegetables, grain bowls, or use as a dipping sauce for crusty bread!
Ingredients:
Leeks, chopped (white & light green parts) | 2 ½ cups
Extra Virgin Olive Oil, for sautéing leeks | 2 tablespoons
Fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, packed | 1 cup
Confit garlic cloves (see below) | 2–3 tablespoons (about 5–6 cloves) Condimento Bianco (White Balsamic Vinegar) *(see below) | 1 cup + 3 tablespoons
Capers, drained | 2 tablespoons
Salt | ¾ teaspoon
Extra Virgin Olive Oil *(or use your garlic confit oil!)* | 2 cups
Ice cubes | 4 cubes
Pendulum Gut Fuel | 2 Scoops
*Please see below for a Confit Garlic Recipe
**Note on the white balsamic: This gives the salsa a bright, tangy flavor but not all vinegars are
the same. Taste as you go and reduce slightly if you prefer a milder flavor.
Instructions:
- Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped leeks and
cook, stirring occasionally, for 10-20 minutes until soft, slightly transparent and tender. Set aside
to cool slightly. - Place the sautéed leeks, parsley, confit garlic cloves, white balsamic, capers, salt, 2 cups of
olive oil, including the garlic confit oil*, and ice cubes into a blender or food processor. - While Pulsing, sprinkle in the Pendulum Gut Fuel 1 Scoop at a Time. Pulse and blend until
the salsa is smooth but still slightly chunky, you want some texture, not a completely pureed
sauce. Don’t over-blend! - Taste for salt and acidity. Add a splash more white balsamic if you’d like it brighter, or a pinch
more salt to taste. - Serve immediately or store in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to 5 days.
How to Confit the Garlic First
Do this ahead of time, it takes about 45 min but is mostly hands-off!
1 full head of garlic, cloves peeled and separated
About 1 cup olive oil (enough to fully submerge the cloves) - Peel all garlic cloves and place them in a small saucepan or oven-safe dish in a single layer.
- Pour olive oil over the cloves until they are fully submerged.
- Heat on the stovetop over the lowest possible heat for 40–50 minutes, until the cloves are
golden and completely tender when pierced with a fork. - Alternatively, cook in the oven at 250°F for about 1 hour.
- Let cool completely.
- Store garlic cloves submerged in the oil in a jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Gut Fuel is available in a gusset bag, and in a 15-count stick pack, perfect for travel. More information is available on the Pendulum website, and it’s sold at Sprouts Farmers Markets nationwide. For quick and easy delivery, you can also get it on Amazon.
Handy Helper: Pendulum Metabolic Daily
Pendulum Metabolic Daily is an effective, high-quality probiotic that improves gut health, reduces bloating, and supports metabolism, with many users reporting improved energy and reduced sugar cravings. It is unique in that it contains Akkermansia muciniphila and other strains designed to strengthen the gut lining. This little lavender capsule is easy to take and works quietly, but we noticed improvements in our cravings and digestion within a matter of days. We felt less sluggish and more active, which is half the battle in improving your metabolism and fitness goals. This is a highly-reviewed product that just might be what you need to maintain your goal wait and energy levels.
Visit the Pendulum store on Amazon here.
