Why I’ve Never Recommended a UC Supplement (Until Now): Healing the Whole Gut Health Triangle

I’ve been asked the supplement question more times than I can count. Is there something I should be taking? What about L-Glutamine? Or turmeric? Or the best probiotic?

And for years, I’ve struggled to give a straight answer. 

It’s not that I don’t believe in the power of targeted supplements. I do. And it’s not that there aren’t really good supplements on the market. There are. It’s just that most of the ones marketed to people with Ulcerative Colitis (UC) or Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) only support one part of the picture. That all-important gut health triangle I keep banging on about. And when your gut is as complex and sensitive as ours, one piece of the puzzle isn’t enough.

The truth is, I’ve never come across a supplement to recommend with confidence. One that felt safe, smart, and comprehensive enough to cover ALL areas of the gut health triangle - Inflammation, leaky Gut and Gut Microbiome dysbiosis. Until now.

I had the chance to work with the team behind Proviscera, and for the first time, I saw something that made sense. A supplement that actually matches the way UC behaves, supporting different needs in different phases, and respecting how personal the healing process is.

After years of watching people try product after product with minimal results (or worse, flare-ups), and testing them myself, I finally feel confident saying: this could help.

The Real Reason Most UC Supplements Fall Short

If you’ve ever stocked your shelf with turmeric, probiotics, omega-3s, or L-Glutamine, hoping they might be the missing link, you’re not alone. I’ve done it too.

Most people with UC are willing to try something if it promises even a little relief. The problem isn’t the ingredients themselves. It’s that they’re often trying to do too much, or too little, at the wrong time.

Some supplements are anti-inflammatory. Others help feed your microbiome. Some are aimed at repairing the gut lining. But almost none of them support all three. And very few take into account the most important factor of all: what stage of the healing journey you’re in.

What works during a flare won’t work in remission. What helps build resilience when you’re well could backfire when your gut is inflamed and fragile.

This is where most supplement strategies miss the mark. They treat UC like a single problem with a single solution. But if you’ve lived with UC for more than five minutes, you know better.

That’s why the Gut Health Triangle matters so much. It’s a simple way of understanding the three key systems that affect your symptoms and your healing:

• Your gut microbiome (the balance of good and bad bacteria)

• Your gut barrier (also known as intestinal permeability or “leaky gut”)

• And your immune response (inflammation)

  
  

These three systems don’t just exist on their own. They feed into each other, sometimes creating a cycle of healing, and sometimes creating a cycle of flares.

If you’re only supporting one corner of that triangle, you’re never really breaking the cycle.

Healing Takes Phases, And So Should Your Supplements

One of the biggest myths in IBD healing is that there’s a single thing that will fix everything. One magical food. One probiotic. One powder you just need to stick with long enough.

But healing doesn’t happen all at once. It happens in phases.

When I look back at my own journey with Ulcerative Colitis, there were clear shifts, times when I was flaring and needed to calm the system, times when things were settling but still fragile… and times when I felt well and just needed to stay there.

Each phase came with completely different needs. And yet, most supplements try to treat all of those moments the same way.

That’s what made Proviscera stand out to me. Instead of trying to cram everything into one bottle, it supports your body differently depending on what stage you’re in:

• FLARE: When your gut is inflamed and reactive

• REPAIR: When symptoms are easing but your system is still healing

• CARE: When you’re well and want to stay well

  
  

This is a thoughtful approach. Knowing when to calm inflammation, when to rebuild your gut lining, and when to support a diverse, resilient microbiome.

Proviscera doesn’t promise to do it all at once, because your body doesn’t need it all at once. It gives you the right kind of help at the right time.

And that, to me, is smarter healing.

FLARE: What Your Body Needs Most in the Middle of a Flare

Lowering Inflammation Gently

When you’re in the thick of a UC flare, your body is already doing too much. Inflammation is high. Your immune system is on overdrive. Your gut lining is fragile. And anything too harsh, even something well-intentioned, can make things worse.

That’s why the FLARE phase in Proviscera is all about gentle support. The goal here isn’t to fix everything. It’s to take the heat down just enough to give your gut a fighting chance to heal.

Proviscera FLARE is formulated with targeted doses of ingredients that have been shown to help soothe inflammation without overwhelming an already stressed system:

• Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, which supports a healthy inflammatory response

• Qing Dai, a traditional herbal extract that’s been studied in UC and may help calm flare symptoms (with careful attention to safety)

• Boswellia, a resin used for centuries in traditional medicine, known for its gentle anti-inflammatory effects, especially in the gut

  
  

What’s not in here? Probiotics. Harsh fibres. Strong immune-stimulants. Because while those may be helpful later, they’re often too much during a flare.

This phase is about calming the system. Giving your gut a break. Letting things settle.

And while the supplement plays a role, it’s just one part of the picture. During a flare, your best supports are:

• Rest

• Hydration

• Gentle, low-fibre meals

• And kindness, especially toward yourself

  
  

This is not the time to do everything. It’s the time to do less, but with intention.

REPAIR: Restoring the Gut Lining, Microbiome, and Immune Balance

The ‘Bridge’ Between Flare and Remission

This is the phase that almost no one talks about, but it might be the most important one.

Once your active symptoms have eased, it’s easy to think, okay, I’m fine now. But beneath the surface, your gut is still catching up. The inflammation may have settled, but your gut lining needs support, your microbiome is still out of balance, and your immune system is learning to relax again.

REPAIR is designed for this in-between space, when the urgency has lifted, but deep healing still needs to happen. It supports all three corners of the Gut Health Triangle at once:

Inflammation, with tapered doses of:

• Qing Dai

• Curcumin

• Boswellia

Gut lining repair, using:

• L-Glutamine, an amino acid that fuels the cells lining your gut and helps reduce permeability. It supports regeneration where damage has occurred.

• Tributyrin, a gut-friendly form of butyrate, which helps calm inflammation and strengthen the intestinal barrier, right where you need it most.

• Zinc Carnosine, a combination of zinc and carnosine that soothes the gut lining and supports tissue repair, especially in the small intestine and stomach.

• Omega-3 fatty acids, anti-inflammatory and cell-supportive, omega-3s help reinforce the structure of your gut lining and reduce lingering immune overactivity.

Microbiome support, with:

• Clinically-selected probiotics that are introduced gently at this stage, once your system is ready to receive them

This phase is often skipped because, on the outside, you might feel “okay.” But if you try to fast-forward to full remission without rebuilding what’s been broken down, symptoms can creep back in.

REPAIR is about pacing your healing. Giving your gut lining time to regenerate. Reintroducing microbiome support slowly. And continuing to calm lingering inflammation.

CARE: Supporting Long-Term Remission and a Resilient Gut

Holding Remission, Gently

Remission doesn’t mean the work is over. It means the foundation has been rebuilt, and now you have the chance to strengthen it.

CARE is for when you’ve done the deep repair work and want to stay well for longer. It’s not about high doses or intense interventions. It’s about steady, ongoing support that helps your gut stay balanced, especially through life’s inevitable ups and downs.

This phase is designed to help you hold remission by supporting all three corners of the Gut Health Triangle:

Inflammation, kept in check with:

• Curcumin, to gently calm the immune system and reduce the chances of a flare creeping back in

  
  

Gut barrier integrity, supported with:

• Tributyrin, to nourish the cells lining your colon

• Omega-3s, for their anti-inflammatory and cell-supportive properties

• Zinc Carnosine, to strengthen and maintain the gut lining under everyday stress

Microbiome nourishment, through:

• A gold-standard mix of pre- and probiotics, chosen to feed beneficial bacteria, promote microbial diversity, and support immune balance

  
  

When you’re in remission, your goal isn’t just to avoid symptoms; it’s to create a gut environment that’s resilient, responsive, and less prone to tipping over.

Why I Finally Trust a UC Supplement Enough to Recommend It

I’ve spent years watching supplement trends come and go, each one claiming to be the answer to gut healing. I’ve seen powders marketed as cure-alls, probiotics thrown at every problem, and complex ingredient lists that don’t match what someone in a flare actually needs.

That’s why I’ve always been cautious. And why I’ve never recommended a UC supplement—until now.

What made Proviscera different wasn’t just the ingredients. It was the thinking behind it.

It wasn’t designed to be trendy. It was designed to be practical. Grounded. Flexible. Built around the lived reality of what it’s like to navigate flare-ups, fatigue, food triggers, and fear, stage by stage.

I had the privilege of working with the team as they developed it, and I saw something I’ve never seen before:

• A genuine commitment to evidence-backed ingredients

• A deep respect for the timing of healing

• And a refusal to throw the kitchen sink at a gut that’s already overwhelmed

  
  

This isn’t a magic fix. It’s not a replacement for food, rest, or your doctor’s guidance. But it is a thoughtful tool, one that finally speaks to the full complexity of life with UC.

And that’s why I trust it.

Last Thoughts

Ulcerative Colitis isn’t simple. And healing from it was never meant to be one-size-fits-all.

That’s why I’ve held off on recommending supplements for so long, because most of them only tell part of the story.

But Proviscera is different. It understands that UC moves in phases. Your gut needs different kinds of support at different times. That healing the microbiome, the gut lining, and the immune system isn’t about doing everything at once, it’s about doing the right things, at the right time.

For the first time, I feel confident recommending a supplement that’s thoughtful, targeted, and truly aligned with what UC healing actually looks like.

If you’re flaring, there’s a place to start.If you’re in recovery, there’s a path forward.And if you’re in remission, there’s a way to stay there longer.

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about giving your gut the best possible chance to heal, step by step, phase by phase.

FAQs

Is this supplement only for people with UC?

It was designed with Ulcerative Colitis in mind, but people with Crohn’s or other gut issues may also benefit, especially if they’re working through flares, repair, or remission. That said, always check in with your doctor or specialist to see if it’s a good fit for your individual condition.

Can I take these alongside my medication?

In most cases, yes, but it’s always important to have that conversation with your doctor or healthcare team. Proviscera was made to complement, not replace, your existing treatment plan.

What if I’m in remission? Should I still take something?

Yes. The CARE phase is designed specifically for people in remission. It helps maintain the progress you’ve made by keeping inflammation low, supporting the gut lining, and nourishing the microbiome.

What if I’m not sure what phase I’m in?

That’s totally normal. UC isn’t always clear-cut. If you’re unsure, start by asking yourself:

• Am I currently flaring?

• Are my symptoms easing but still present?

• Or am I feeling mostly well and stable?

• Chat with your care team or use symptom-tracking tools to help guide you.

• You can also take the Proviscera survey, reach out to clinic@proviscera.com to learn more.

Do I need to take all three phases?

Not necessarily. Some people may start with FLARE and work their way through. Others might begin with REPAIR if they’re post-flare. And many may use CARE to stay well. The beauty of this approach is that it’s flexible; you can start where you are. There’s a handy assessment tool on the site to help you figure out what stage you’re in.