# Dr. Gaurang Ramesh — Gut Health Doctor > Dr. Gaurang Ramesh (MBBS, MS, FSGE, FMCP-M) is a surgical gastroenterologist and functional medicine physician at Arka Anugraha Hospital, JP Nagar, Bengaluru, India. This site explains gut, liver and metabolic conditions, tests, operations and integrative care in plain language. Every page is reviewed and approved by him before publication, answers a question directly, and lists its sources. His areas of special interest are gut microbiome restoration and gut-brain axis disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia. Information on this site is educational and does not replace a medical consultation. Appointments: phone or WhatsApp +91 80737 37505; consulting hours Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 4 pm to 8 pm (India time). ## About the doctor and the practice - [About Dr. Gaurang Ramesh](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/about/): Dr. Gaurang Ramesh, MBBS, MS, FSGE, FMCP-M: surgical gastroenterologist and functional medicine physician at Arka Anugraha Hospital, JP Nagar, Bengaluru. - [Surgical gastroenterologist in Bengaluru](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/surgical-gastroenterologist-in-bangalore/): Dr. Gaurang Ramesh is a surgical gastroenterologist at Arka Anugraha Hospital, JP Nagar, Bengaluru: keyhole GI surgery, endoscopy and gut care. - [Services](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/services/): Gastroenterology, endoscopy, GI and laparoscopic surgery, and integrative medicine in one practice at Arka Anugraha Hospital, JP Nagar, Bengaluru. - [Gut Health Program](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/gut-health-program/): A doctor-led gut health program of three or six months for reflux, gastritis, IBS, bloating and SIBO, with a dietitian and health coach. Bengaluru. - [Gut health self-assessment](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/gut-health-assessment/): A five-minute gut health self-assessment reviewed by a gastroenterologist. Answer questions about your symptoms and habits and get a personal summary. - [Contact and appointments](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/contact/): Book a consultation with Dr. Gaurang Ramesh at Arka Anugraha Hospital, JP Nagar, Bengaluru. Phone and WhatsApp +91 80737 37505. Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, 4-8 pm. - [Editorial policy](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/editorial-policy/): How the health information on guthealthdoctor.in is researched, drafted, checked against its sources, reviewed by doctors, dated and corrected. ## Areas of special interest - [Gut microbiome restoration](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/microbiome-restoration/): A doctor-led plan to rebuild gut bacteria after antibiotics, infection or illness: who it helps, the tests, the steps and where faecal transplant fits. - [Gut-brain axis disorders](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/gut-brain-axis-disorders/): Gut-brain axis disorders such as IBS and functional dyspepsia cause real symptoms with normal tests. How they are diagnosed and treated, step by step. - [The gut microbiome explained in simple words](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/gut-microbiome-explained/): The gut microbiome is the community of trillions of microbes in your intestine. What it does, what a healthy one looks like, and what harms or helps it. - [The gut-brain axis explained](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/gut-brain-axis-explained/): The gut-brain axis is the two-way link between the gut and the brain, through nerves, hormones, immune signals and gut bacteria. A doctor's guide. ## Conditions - [Acid reflux and GERD](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/gerd/): Acid reflux that keeps returning usually has a cause. How GERD is confirmed and treated with food changes, medicines or keyhole surgery in Bengaluru. - [Anal fissure](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/anal-fissure/): An anal fissure is a small tear that causes sharp pain and bleeding with stool. Most heal with ointment and stool care; some need a minor procedure. - [Anal fistula](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/anal-fistula/): An anal fistula is a small tunnel near the anus that keeps discharging. How it is mapped and treated, with care to protect bowel control. Bengaluru. - [Anorectal abscess and pilonidal sinus](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/abcess-fistula-fissure-pilonidal-sinus/): An anorectal abscess is a painful collection of pus near the anus; a pilonidal sinus forms at the tailbone. Both need drainage or surgery. Bengaluru. - [Appendicitis](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/appendicitis/): Appendicitis causes pain that moves to the lower right abdomen. It needs same-day assessment, and keyhole removal is the usual treatment. Bengaluru. - [Barrett's oesophagus](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/barretts-oesophagus/): Barrett's oesophagus is a change in the food pipe lining after years of acid reflux. Who should be checked, what biopsy shows and how it is followed up. - [Coeliac disease](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/coeliac-disease/): Coeliac disease is an immune reaction to gluten that damages the small intestine. Signs, the right blood test, biopsy and the gluten-free diet in India. - [Colon and rectal cancer](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/colon-cancer-rectal-cancer-polyps/): Colon and rectal cancer: early signs, how it is staged, and treatment by surgery with chemotherapy or radiotherapy where needed. JP Nagar, Bengaluru. - [Colorectal polyps](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/colorectal-polyps/): Colon polyps are small growths in the bowel lining. Most are harmless, and removing them at colonoscopy lowers the risk of bowel cancer. Bengaluru. - [Diverticulitis](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/diverticulitis/): Diverticulitis is inflammation of small pouches in the colon wall. Signs, CT diagnosis, treatment at home or in hospital, and when surgery is needed. - [Fatty liver (MASLD)](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/fatty-liver/): Fatty liver is fat build-up in the liver, linked to weight, diabetes and diet. How scarring is checked with FibroScan and how it is treated. Bengaluru. - [Functional dyspepsia](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/functional-dyspepsia/): Functional dyspepsia is long-standing indigestion with a normal endoscopy: fullness after meals or upper abdominal pain. Causes, tests and treatment. - [Gallbladder stones](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/gallbladder-stones-surgery-in-bangalore/): Gallstones that cause pain are treated by keyhole removal of the gallbladder. Which stones need surgery, the operation and recovery. JP Nagar, Bengaluru. - [Gastric outlet obstruction](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/gastric-outlet-obstruction/): Gastric outlet obstruction is a blockage at the exit of the stomach. Its causes, tests, and treatment by endoscopic dilation or surgery in Bengaluru. - [Gastritis](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/gastritis/): Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining, most often from H. pylori or painkillers. Signs, tests and treatment with Dr. Gaurang Ramesh, JP Nagar. - [Gut-brain axis disorders](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/gut-brain-axis-disorders/): Gut-brain axis disorders such as IBS and functional dyspepsia cause real symptoms with normal tests. How they are diagnosed and treated, step by step. - [H. pylori infection](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/h-pylori-infection/): H. pylori is a stomach bacterium that causes gastritis and ulcers. Signs, breath and stool tests, the 14-day treatment and the test of clearance. - [Hiatus hernia](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/hiatus-hernia/): A hiatus hernia is part of the stomach sliding up into the chest. When reflux care is enough and when keyhole repair is the right answer. Bengaluru. - [Incisional hernia](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/incisional-hernia/): An incisional hernia is a bulge through the scar of an earlier operation. How it is assessed with a CT scan and repaired with mesh. JP Nagar, Bengaluru. - [Inflammatory bowel disease](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/ibd-crohns-ulcerative-colitis/): Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis cause long-term inflammation of the gut. Signs, tests, medicines and when surgery helps. JP Nagar, Bengaluru. - [Inguinal hernia](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/inguinal-hernia-surgery/): An inguinal hernia is a bulge in the groin that does not heal by itself. Keyhole and open mesh repair, recovery and risks explained. JP Nagar, Bengaluru. - [Intestinal obstruction](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/intestinal-obstruction/): Intestinal obstruction is a blockage of the bowel causing cramping pain, vomiting and swelling. It is an emergency. Causes, tests and treatment. - [Intestinal perforation](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/intestinal-perforation/): A perforation is a hole in the stomach or bowel wall. It causes sudden severe pain and needs emergency surgery. Causes, tests and recovery explained. - [Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/ibs/): IBS causes abdominal pain, bloating and a changed bowel habit with normal tests. How it is diagnosed and treated with diet, medicines and gut-brain care. - [Pancreatitis](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/pancreatitis/): Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, most often from gallstones or alcohol. Signs, tests, hospital care, diet and surgery, by Dr. Gaurang Ramesh. - [Piles (haemorrhoids)](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/hemorrhoids-piles/): Piles cause bleeding, a lump or itching at the anus. Most settle with fibre and simple clinic procedures; some need surgery or laser. JP Nagar, Bengaluru. - [Umbilical hernia](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/umbilical-hernia-surgery/): An umbilical hernia is a bulge at the navel. In adults it does not close by itself. When to repair, mesh options, recovery and risks. JP Nagar, Bengaluru. - [Weight loss treatment](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/weight-loss-treatment/): Doctor-led weight loss: finding what drives weight gain, food and strength habits, medicines when they help, and surgery when it is the right answer. ## Tests and endoscopy - [24-hour pH monitoring](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/24-hour-ph-monitoring/): A 24-hour pH study measures how much acid reaches the food pipe over a day and night. It confirms reflux before surgery or when endoscopy is normal. - [Anorectal manometry](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/ano-rectal-manometry-in-bengaluru/): Anorectal manometry measures the muscles and nerves that control bowel movements. Used for long-standing constipation and leakage. A 20-minute test. - [Colonoscopy](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/colonoscopy/): Colonoscopy examines the whole large intestine and removes polyps in the same sitting. When it is needed, how to prepare the bowel and what to expect. - [Upper GI endoscopy](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/endoscopy/): Upper GI endoscopy examines the food pipe, stomach and duodenum in about ten minutes. When it is advised, how to prepare and what to expect afterward. - [FibroScan](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/fibroscan/): FibroScan measures liver stiffness and fat in ten minutes, without needles. It shows whether fatty liver or hepatitis has caused scarring. JP Nagar. - [Hydrogen and methane breath tests](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/hydrogen-breath-tests-in-bengaluru/): A hydrogen and methane breath test checks for SIBO and for lactose or fructose intolerance. Preparation, the two-to-three-hour test and what results mean. - [Gut microbiome testing](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/microbiome-testing/): A gut microbiome test reads the DNA of bacteria in a stool sample. What it shows, who it can help, how to prepare, and what it cannot diagnose. - [Oesophageal manometry](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/oesophageal-manometry-in-bengaluru/): Oesophageal manometry measures how the food pipe's muscles work when you swallow. When it is advised, how to prepare and what the 20-minute test involves. ## Surgery - [Anti-reflux surgery (fundoplication)](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/antireflux-surgery/): Keyhole anti-reflux surgery rebuilds the valve at the top of the stomach. Who benefits, the tests needed first, recovery and risks. JP Nagar, Bengaluru. - [Laser procedures for piles, fistula and pilonidal sinus](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/laser-surgery/): Laser procedures for piles, fistula, fissure and pilonidal sinus: how they work, who they suit, recovery, and when conventional surgery is better. - [Laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/procedures/): Laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery for hernia, gallbladder, appendix, reflux and bowel conditions: how it works, recovery, and when open surgery is advised. ## Integrative medicine - [Gut microbiome restoration](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/microbiome-restoration/): A doctor-led plan to rebuild gut bacteria after antibiotics, infection or illness: who it helps, the tests, the steps and where faecal transplant fits. - [Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/vagus-nerve-stimulation-vns-therapy/): Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation uses a handheld device on the neck. What it is used for, what the evidence shows and who should not use it. - [Integrative medicine](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/integrative-medicine/): Functional medicine consultation, nutrition, gut-brain therapies and supporting treatments, led by a gastroenterologist certified in functional medicine. ## Articles: Start here - [My reports are normal. Why do I still feel unwell?](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/normal-reports-still-unwell/): A normal endoscopy, scan and blood test rule out damage, not disordered function. Why gut symptoms continue with normal reports, and what can be done. - [How is the gut connected to the rest of the body?](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/how-the-gut-affects-the-rest-of-the-body/): The gut talks to the brain, liver, immune system and metabolism through nerves, blood and chemical signals. What these links mean for your health. - [Can supplements make up for my diet?](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/can-supplements-replace-a-good-diet/): Supplements can correct a proven deficiency. They cannot supply the fibre and variety of real food. How a gastroenterologist decides when one is needed. - [What can a stool or microbiome test really tell me?](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/what-a-stool-or-microbiome-test-can-tell-you/): Standard stool tests find infection, inflammation and hidden bleeding. Microbiome reports show which bacteria are present, with limits. A doctor explains. - [I have taken acid-blockers for years. What now?](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/long-term-acid-blockers-what-now/): On acid-blockers for years? Who should stay on them, who can step down, how to reduce without rebound, and which tests settle the question. - [Do I really need surgery, or can it wait?](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/do-i-need-surgery-or-can-it-wait/): Which gut and hernia operations are urgent, which are better planned, and which are often not needed. Questions to ask before you agree to surgery. - [When should you see a gastroenterologist?](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/when-to-see-a-gastroenterologist/): A gastroenterologist treats the food pipe, stomach, bowel, liver and pancreas. The symptoms that need one, the warning signs and how to prepare. ## Articles: Gut basics - [Six famous gut "facts", checked against the evidence](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/gut-facts-checked/): Is the gut the size of a tennis court? Do bacteria outnumber our cells ten to one? Six popular gut facts checked against published measurements. - [Gut transit time: how to measure yours at home and what it means](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/gut-transit-time-test/): Gut transit time is how long food takes from mouth to toilet. A simple home marker test, what stool form tells you, and when a clinic test is needed. - [What is the gut? A beginner's guide to your second brain](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/what-is-the-gut-beginners-guide/): The gut is the long tube that digests food, absorbs nutrients, houses most of your immune cells and talks to your brain. A plain-language guide. - [What is gut health, and why does it matter?](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/what-is-gut-health-and-why-does-it-matter-the-comprehensive-guide-to-reclaiming-your-vitality/): Gut health means comfortable digestion, a sound gut lining, balanced gut bacteria and a calm gut-brain connection. What supports it and what harms it. - [What is digestion? How food moves through your body](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/what-is-digestion-a-simple-breakdown-of-how-food-moves-through-your-body/): Digestion breaks food into nutrients the body can absorb. A step-by-step guide from mouth to colon, with timings and what helps or hinders each stage. - [The large intestine: functions, disorders and signs you should not ignore](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/large-intestine-function/): The large intestine absorbs water, houses most gut bacteria and forms stool. Its functions, common disorders, and the signs you should not ignore. - [The small intestine: digestion and nutrient absorption explained](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/small-intestine-function-nutrient-absorption-guide/): The small intestine completes digestion and absorbs almost every nutrient. Its three parts, what each absorbs, and the signs that absorption is failing. - [What is the gut lining? Your internal barrier explained](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/gut-lining-internal-shield-explained/): The gut lining is a one-cell-thick barrier that absorbs nutrients and keeps bacteria out. What weakens it, what 'leaky gut' means, and how it repairs. - [What is gut motility? Why slow or fast digestion causes symptoms](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/what-is-gut-motility-why-slow-or-fast-digestion-causes-symptoms/): Gut motility is the muscle movement that carries food through the digestive tract. Why slow or fast movement causes symptoms, and how it is tested. - [What is the enteric nervous system? Your body's second brain explained](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/what-is-the-enteric-nervous-system-your-bodys-second-brain-explained/): The enteric nervous system is the network of nerve cells in the gut wall that runs digestion. How it works, how it talks to the brain, and what upsets it. ## Articles: Symptoms and conditions - [Gas problem in the stomach: causes, relief and warning signs](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/gas-problem-in-stomach/): Gas, belching and bloating come from swallowed air and from food fermented in the bowel. What relieves gas, which foods cause it and when to see a doctor. - [Stomach pain: causes by location, and when to worry](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/stomach-pain-causes-by-location/): Where abdominal pain is felt points to its cause: upper, lower, right, left or around the navel. Common causes at each site and the signs of an emergency. - [Loose motions (diarrhoea): home care and warning signs](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/loose-motions-diarrhoea-home-care/): Most loose motions settle in two to three days with ORS and light food. What to eat and drink, which medicines to avoid, and the signs that need a doctor. - [Chest pain: is it acidity, gas or the heart?](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/chest-pain-acidity-or-heart/): Acidity and heart pain can feel alike. The features that point to each, why you cannot be sure at home, and when chest pain needs an emergency ECG. - [Stomach ulcer (peptic ulcer): symptoms, causes and treatment](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/stomach-ulcer-peptic-ulcer/): A peptic ulcer is a sore in the stomach or duodenum, usually from H. pylori or painkillers. Symptoms, tests, treatment, diet and danger signs. - [Low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria): symptoms, tests and what is true](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/low-stomach-acid-hypochlorhydria/): Low stomach acid is real but uncommon. Its causes, its effect on vitamin B12 and iron, why it does not cause acid reflux, and the facts on home tests. - [Gastroparesis (slow stomach emptying): symptoms, diet and treatment](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/gastroparesis-slow-stomach-emptying/): Gastroparesis is slow emptying of the stomach without a blockage. Symptoms, causes including diabetes, the emptying scan, diet and treatment options. - [Chronic diarrhoea: loose motions for more than four weeks](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/chronic-diarrhoea-causes-tests/): Loose motions for more than four weeks are chronic diarrhoea. The causes seen in India, the blood and stool tests that separate them, and warning signs. - [Amoeba, giardia or Blastocystis on a stool report: what it means](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/stool-test-amoeba-giardia-blastocystis/): A stool report showing amoeba cysts, giardia or Blastocystis does not always mean an infection that needs medicine. How to read it, and when to treat. - [Laxatives explained: which type, how to take it, and is long-term use harmful?](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/laxatives-explained/): Isabgol, osmotic and stimulant laxatives work in different ways. Which to start with, whether daily use is harmful, and when a laxative is not the answer. - [Life after gallbladder removal: diet, digestion and loose stools](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/life-after-gallbladder-removal-diet-digestion/): You can digest food normally without a gallbladder. What to eat after the operation, why some people get loose stools, and which symptoms need a doctor. - [Surgery for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease: when it is needed and what it involves](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/surgery-for-ulcerative-colitis-crohns/): When medicines are not enough for ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, surgery has a defined role. The operations, the pouch, stomas and recovery. - [Malabsorption: when the gut does not absorb food properly](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/malabsorption-symptoms-tests/): Greasy stools, weight loss, anaemia or low vitamin B12 can mean food is not being absorbed. The causes seen in India, the tests and the treatment. - [Painkillers and the gut: ulcers, bleeding and the bowel](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/painkillers-and-the-gut/): Anti-inflammatory painkillers injure the stomach and the small intestine. Who is most at risk, what an acid-blocker does and does not protect. - [Heartburn with a normal endoscopy: reflux, a sensitive food pipe, or functional heartburn](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/heartburn-normal-endoscopy/): Heartburn that continues despite acid-blockers, with a normal endoscopy, has three explanations. How pH monitoring tells them apart and what treats each. - [IBS after a stomach infection: post-infectious IBS](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/post-infectious-ibs/): About one in ten people develop IBS after food poisoning or a gut infection. Why it happens, what to rule out in India, how long it lasts and what helps. - [Bile acid diarrhoea: a commonly missed cause of loose stools](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/bile-acid-diarrhoea/): Bile acid diarrhoea causes watery, urgent stools, often after meals or after gallbladder removal. How it is recognised, tested for and treated. - [Faecal calprotectin: the stool test for gut inflammation](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/faecal-calprotectin-test/): Faecal calprotectin is a stool test for gut inflammation. What a normal, borderline or high result means, and which other stool markers are reliable. - [Excessive burping: why it happens and what helps](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/excessive-burping-belching/): Constant burping usually comes from air drawn into the food pipe, not gas made in the stomach. The two kinds of belch, the causes and what works. - [Gut problems in pregnancy: acidity, nausea, constipation and piles](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/gut-problems-in-pregnancy/): Acidity, nausea, constipation and piles are common in pregnancy. What helps, which medicines doctors use, and the warning signs that need same-day care. - [Cannabis and the gut: the vomiting syndrome, and what trials show in Crohn's disease, colitis and IBS](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/cannabis-and-the-gut/): How cannabis (ganja, bhang, CBD oil) affects the gut: the vomiting syndrome in regular users, what trials show in Crohn's, colitis and IBS, and the law. - [The thyroid and the gut: constipation, bloating and tablets that are not absorbed](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/thyroid-and-gut-health/): How thyroid disease slows or speeds the bowel, why coeliac disease and gastritis travel with it, and what stops thyroid tablets from being absorbed. - [What is constipation? Causes, symptoms and when to see a specialist](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/what-is-constipation-causes-symptoms-when-to-see-a-specialist/): Constipation means hard stools, straining or incomplete emptying. Its three main types, what to try first, and the tests that find the cause. - [Abdominal bloating and distension: causes, mechanisms and when to see a gut specialist](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/abdominal-bloating-and-functional-distension-causes-mechanisms-when-to-see-a-gut-specialist/): Bloating is a feeling of fullness or pressure; distension is a visible increase in girth. Their causes, the tests that help and treatments that work. - [What is acid reflux? A beginner's guide to heartburn](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/what-is-acid-reflux-gerd-symptoms-treatment-india/): Acid reflux is stomach contents flowing back into the food pipe, causing heartburn. A simple guide to symptoms, triggers, first steps and warning signs. - [What is inflammation in the gut? Early signs you should not ignore](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/gut-inflammation-early-signs-treatment/): Gut inflammation shows as persistent diarrhoea, blood or mucus, night-time stools and weight loss. Its causes, the tests that confirm it and treatment. - [What is SIBO? Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth explained](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/what-is-sibo-symptoms-treatment-india/): SIBO is an excess of bacteria in the small intestine, causing bloating, gas and loose stools. Who gets it, how a breath test diagnoses it, and treatment. - [Gut inflammation and its role in chronic disease](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/gut-inflammation-chronic-disease-development/): Long-term, low-grade inflammation is linked with diabetes, heart and liver disease. Where the gut fits in, what is proven, and what lowers inflammation. - [Acidity home remedies: what helps, what does not, and when to see a doctor](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/acidity-home-remedies/): Which home remedies for acidity have evidence behind them, which only soothe, and which can make reflux worse. A gastroenterologist's honest guide. - [Mucus in stool: causes, what is normal and when to worry](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/mucus-in-stool-causes-when-to-worry/): A little mucus in the stool is normal. More of it can come from IBS, infection, piles or colitis. What to look for and when to have it checked. - [IBS diet chart (Indian): what to eat and avoid, day by day](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/ibs-diet-chart-indian/): An Indian diet chart for IBS: foods that are usually well tolerated, common triggers, a three-day sample menu, and how to adjust it for your symptoms. - [Grade 1 fatty liver: what it means, whether it is serious, and what to do](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/grade-1-fatty-liver-meaning-reversal/): Grade 1 fatty liver on ultrasound means mild fat in the liver. It is common and usually improves with weight loss. Which tests to have and what to change. - [Acidity medicines explained: antacids, H2 blockers and PPIs](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/acidity-medicines-explained/): Antacids, alginates, H2 blockers, proton pump inhibitors and newer acid blockers: how each acidity medicine works, how to take it and when to stop. - [IBS treatment at home: what works and what does not](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/ibs-treatment-at-home-what-works/): Home treatment for IBS that has evidence: soluble fibre, regular meals, peppermint oil, exercise and yoga. What is known about Ayurveda and homeopathy. - [IBS types: IBS-C, IBS-D and IBS-M, and how treatment differs](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/ibs-types-ibs-c-ibs-d-ibs-m/): IBS is grouped by stool pattern into IBS-C, IBS-D, IBS-M and IBS-U. How to tell your type from a stool chart, and how the tests and treatment differ. - [IBS and IBD: what is the difference?](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/ibs-vs-ibd-difference/): IBS is a disorder of gut function with normal tests. IBD is inflammation that damages the bowel. How to tell them apart, and which tests settle it. - [Silent reflux (LPR): throat symptoms without heartburn](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/silent-reflux-lpr/): Silent reflux (laryngopharyngeal reflux) is blamed for throat clearing, hoarseness and a lump feeling without heartburn. How it is confirmed and treated. ## Articles: Food and the gut - [GERD diet chart (Indian): what to eat and avoid with acid reflux](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/gerd-diet-chart-indian/): An Indian diet chart for GERD and acidity: foods that usually suit, common triggers, meal timing, a three-day sample menu and what the evidence supports. - [A 7-day Indian diet plan for gut health (vegetarian and non-vegetarian)](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/gut-health-diet-plan-indian/): A 7-day Indian diet plan for gut health with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options: fibre from many plants, daily fermented food and regular meal times. - [Food allergy, food intolerance and coeliac disease: the difference, and how each is tested](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/food-allergy-vs-food-intolerance/): Food allergy is an immune reaction within minutes. Food intolerance is a digestive problem hours later. How each is tested, and what IgG panels miss. - [Digestive enzymes: who needs them, and who does not](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/digestive-enzymes-who-needs-them/): Digestive enzyme tablets and syrups help people whose pancreas makes too little enzyme, and lactase helps with milk. For ordinary gas they are unproven. - [Diet in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease: an Indian food guide](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/ulcerative-colitis-crohns-diet-indian/): What to eat with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, in remission and in a flare, in Indian meals. What trials show on diets, turmeric and milk. - [Ultra-processed food and the gut: emulsifiers, sweeteners and what to do](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/ultra-processed-food-emulsifiers-gut/): What ultra-processed food is, how to spot it on an Indian label, what trials show about emulsifiers and sweeteners and gut bacteria, and simple swaps. - [Lectins, nightshades and oxalates: do you need to avoid them?](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/lectins-nightshades-oxalates/): Lectins, nightshades and oxalates are blamed for leaky gut and inflammation. What studies show, who needs care, and how Indian cooking handles them. - [Diverticulitis diet: what to eat during an attack, after it, and to prevent the next](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/diverticulitis-diet/): What to eat during a diverticulitis attack, how to return to fibre afterwards, whether nuts and seeds are allowed, and the habits that lower the risk. - [Food intolerance blood tests (IgG panels) and hair tests: are they worth it?](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/food-intolerance-test-igg/): IgG food intolerance blood tests and hair tests are widely sold. What they measure, why allergy societies advise against them, and what works instead. - [Resistant starch and cooled rice: what it does for the gut](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/resistant-starch-cooled-rice/): Resistant starch feeds gut bacteria that make butyrate. What cooling rice does, how much it changes, who benefits, and how to store cooked rice. - [Histamine intolerance: symptoms, foods and how it is diagnosed](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/histamine-intolerance/): Histamine intolerance: flushing, headache, itching or loose stools after certain foods. How it is diagnosed and how it differs from a food allergy. - [A2 milk: is it easier to digest than regular milk?](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/a2-milk-digestion/): A2 milk contains only the A2 form of a milk protein. What trials show for bloating and loose stools, who might try it, and what it cannot do. - [Turmeric and curcumin for ulcerative colitis: what the trials show](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/turmeric-curcumin-ulcerative-colitis/): Two controlled trials tested curcumin as an add-on to standard medicine in ulcerative colitis. What they found, the doses used, and the liver warning. - [A food and symptom diary for gut problems: how to keep one and how to read it](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/food-symptom-diary-for-gut-problems/): How to keep a two-week food, symptom and stool diary, how to read it, what studies say it can and cannot show, and when to stop keeping one. - [The low FODMAP diet: a step-by-step guide](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/the-low-fodmap-diet/): The low FODMAP diet reduces fermentable carbohydrates to ease IBS symptoms. What FODMAPs are, the three phases, Indian food swaps, and who should avoid it. - [Understanding gluten: its effect on the gut and when a temporary break might help](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/understanding-gluten-its-impact-on-gut-health-and-why-a-temporary-break-might-help/): Gluten is a protein in wheat, barley and rye. Who needs to avoid it, why you must test for coeliac disease first, and how to run a proper trial break. - [A guide to dairy: benefits, risks and alternatives for gut health](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/ultimate-guide-to-dairy-benefits-risks-and-healthier-alternatives-for-improved-gut-health/): Is dairy good or bad for the gut? What milk, curd and paneer provide, who has trouble with them, how to test your own tolerance, and good alternatives. - [Gluten sensitivity in India: coeliac disease, wheat intolerance and diagnosis](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/gluten-sensitivity-india-symptoms-diagnosis/): Coeliac disease affects about 1 in 100 people in northern India and is often missed. Symptoms, who should be tested, diagnosis and the gluten-free diet. - [Why milk causes bloating: understanding lactose intolerance in India](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/why-milk-causes-bloating-understanding-lactose-intolerance-in-india/): Lactose intolerance causes gas, bloating and loose stools after milk. Why it is common in Indian adults, how it is confirmed, and how to manage it. - [What is fibre? Why your gut needs it every day](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/what-is-fibre-why-your-gut-needs-it-every-day/): Fibre is the part of plant food that reaches the colon undigested. Types, benefits, good Indian sources, how much you need and how to add it without gas. - [Sugar, gut health and the link to metabolic disease](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/sugar-and-gut-health-link-to-metabolic-diseases/): Excess sugar affects the gut, the liver and metabolism. How fructose drives fatty liver, what sweeteners do to gut bacteria, and ways to cut down. - [Gut infections: which foods help recovery, and what needs a doctor](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/how-to-combat-gut-infections-naturally-using-antimicrobial-foods/): Most gut infections settle in a few days with fluids and light food. What to eat, what garlic and turmeric can and cannot do, and the signs to act on. - [Why you should include fermented foods in your diet](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/why-you-should-include-fermented-foods-in-diet-gut-wellness/): Curd, buttermilk, idli, dosa and kanji are fermented foods. What fermentation does, what the research shows for gut bacteria, and who should take care. - [Gut health supplements: which ones have evidence?](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/gut-health-supplements-which-work/): Probiotics, prebiotic fibre, digestive enzymes, glutamine, peppermint oil and herbal gut supplements: what trials show, who may benefit and what to avoid. ## Articles: Gut bacteria - [The gut microbiome explained in simple words](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/gut-microbiome-explained/): The gut microbiome is the community of trillions of microbes in your intestine. What it does, what a healthy one looks like, and what harms or helps it. - [How to improve your gut microbiome](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/how-to-improve-gut-microbiome/): Eight evidence-based ways to improve gut bacteria: plant variety, fibre, fermented foods, sleep, movement and careful use of medicines. What adds little. - [How to restore gut bacteria and gut health after antibiotics](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/how-to-restore-gut-bacteria-after-antibiotics/): After antibiotics, most gut bacteria return in one to two months. What helps recovery, whether to take probiotics, what to eat and when to see a doctor. - [An Indian diet for the gut microbiome](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/indian-diet-for-gut-microbiome/): An Indian gut microbiome diet: the everyday foods that feed gut bacteria, a sample day for vegetarians and non-vegetarians, and what to limit. - [Is curd a probiotic?](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/is-curd-a-probiotic/): Home-set curd contains live bacteria and is good for the gut, but it is not a probiotic in the strict sense. How curd, yoghurt and probiotic curd differ. - [Low Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium or Faecalibacterium on a microbiome report: what it means](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/microbiome-report-akkermansia-bifidobacterium/): What it means when a gut microbiome report flags Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium or Prevotella as low or high, and what to do about it. - [Medicines that affect gut bacteria: antibiotics, acid-blockers and others](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/medicines-that-affect-gut-bacteria/): Acid-blockers, diabetes tablets, painkillers and laxatives change gut bacteria as well as antibiotics. What studies show, and why not to stop treatment. - [Is SIBO over-diagnosed? What a breath test can and cannot show](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/is-sibo-over-diagnosed-breath-test/): Breath tests for SIBO are easy to do and easy to misread. What a positive result means, why false positives happen, and when the test changes treatment. - [A baby's gut bacteria: caesarean birth, breastfeeding and early antibiotics](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/baby-gut-microbiome-caesarean-breastfeeding/): How caesarean birth, breast milk and early antibiotics shape a baby's gut bacteria, what evens out with time, and what parents can and cannot change. - [A child's gut after the first year: bacteria, constipation and tummy pain](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/child-gut-health-after-first-year/): How a child's gut bacteria mature between ages one and five, what food and antibiotics do, and the evidence on constipation, tummy pain and probiotics. - [Methane, constipation and "methane SIBO": what a methane-positive breath test means](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/methane-constipation-imo/): Methane on a breath test is linked with constipation and slow transit. What makes methane, what IMO means, when to test and how it is treated. - [The mouth-gut connection: gums, mouth bacteria and the bowel](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/mouth-gut-connection/): Mouth bacteria travel to the gut every day. What studies show about gum disease, bowel inflammation, acid-blockers and bowel cancer, and what to do. - [What are probiotics? A complete guide](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/what-are-probiotics/): Probiotics are live microbes with a proven health benefit. What they are, where the evidence is strong, where it is weak, and how to use them sensibly. - [Postbiotics explained: short-chain fatty acids and gut health](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/postbiotics-gut-healing-india/): Postbiotics are inactivated microbes or their components that benefit health. How they differ from probiotics, and what short-chain fatty acids do. - [Prebiotics, gut bacteria and the facts about 'detox' products](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/gut-health-detox-prebiotics-india/): Prebiotics are fibres that feed beneficial gut bacteria. Indian food sources, what they do, who should go slowly, and the facts about 'detox' products. - [Gut dysbiosis: meaning, symptoms, causes and treatment](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/gut-dysbiosis-immune-system-disease-risk/): Gut dysbiosis is an imbalance in gut bacteria. What it means, the symptoms linked with it, how it is tested and treated, and how it affects immunity. - [The role of gut bacteria in obesity and weight regulation](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/exploring-the-role-of-gut-microbes-in-obesity-and-weight-regulation/): Gut bacteria influence how much energy we extract from food, appetite and inflammation. What studies show about weight, and what it means in practice. - [Gut health and skin conditions such as acne and eczema](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/the-relationship-between-gut-health-and-skin-disorders-like-acne-and-eczema/): The gut and the skin are linked through the immune system, diet and gut bacteria. What is proven for acne, eczema and rosacea, and what is still uncertain. - [Probiotics in India: a doctor's guide to choosing one](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/best-probiotics-in-india/): How to choose a probiotic in India: reading the label, matching the strain to the problem, what the evidence supports and when you do not need one. - [Candida overgrowth in the gut: symptoms, tests and treatment](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/candida-overgrowth-gut-symptoms-treatment/): Candida is a yeast that lives harmlessly in most people's gut. When overgrowth is real, how it is diagnosed and treated, and what the candida diet lacks. - [Faecal microbiota transplant (FMT) in India](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/fecal-microbiota-transplant-fmt-india/): A faecal (fecal) microbiota transplant treats C. difficile infection that keeps returning. The evidence, the risks and its availability in India. - [Gut bacteria, type 2 diabetes and PCOS](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/gut-bacteria-diabetes-pcos/): Gut bacteria differ in type 2 diabetes and PCOS. What studies show about fibre, a common diabetes medicine and probiotics, and what it means in practice. - [Leaky gut: symptoms, tests and treatment](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/leaky-gut-symptoms-tests-treatment/): Leaky gut means a gut lining that lets through more than it should. What is established, what is not, whether tests are reliable and what helps the lining. - [The organic acids test (OAT): what a urine metabolite test can and cannot show](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/organic-acids-test-oat-urine/): An organic acids test measures by-products of metabolism in urine. What it is validated for, how functional medicine uses it, its limits and autism claims. - [SIBO diet and preventing relapse](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/sibo-diet-and-preventing-relapse/): SIBO often returns after antibiotics. What to eat during and after treatment, which diets have evidence, and how to lower the chance of a relapse. ## Articles: Gut, brain and sleep - [The gut-brain axis explained](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/gut-brain-axis-explained/): The gut-brain axis is the two-way link between the gut and the brain, through nerves, hormones, immune signals and gut bacteria. A doctor's guide. - [Anxiety and stomach problems: why stress upsets the gut](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/anxiety-and-stomach-problems/): Anxiety and stress can cause real stomach pain, nausea, loose stools and bloating. How the gut-brain link works, what helps, and when to get checked. - [IBS and anxiety: how they are linked, and what helps both](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/ibs-and-anxiety/): About four in ten people with IBS have symptoms of anxiety. Why the two travel together, which treatments help both, and where yoga and exercise fit. - [The gut microbiome and mental health](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/gut-microbiome-and-mental-health/): Gut bacteria are linked with depression and anxiety in studies, but cause is unproven. What trials of diet, probiotics and other treatments show so far. - [Globus: the feeling of a lump in the throat](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/globus-lump-in-throat/): Globus is the feeling of a lump in the throat when nothing is there. How it differs from true swallowing difficulty, its causes, tests and treatment. - [Polyvagal theory and nervous-system retraining for IBS: what is tested and what is not](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/polyvagal-theory-nervous-system-retraining-ibs/): Polyvagal exercises and limbic retraining are promoted for IBS. Which methods have trial evidence, which are untested, and how I use them with patients. - [Childhood stress and adult gut problems: what the studies show and what helps](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/childhood-stress-and-gut-problems/): Difficult childhood experiences are more common in adults with IBS. What the studies show, why the link is not destiny, and how it changes treatment. - [Brain fog and the gut: what is known, what to test and what helps](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/brain-fog-and-gut-health/): Brain fog with bloating, constipation or reflux: what studies show in coeliac disease, IBS, SIBO and liver disease, and which tests are worth doing. - [10 ways to stimulate your vagus nerve](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/ways-to-stimulate-the-vagus-nerve/): Ten ways to activate the vagus nerve, from slow breathing to cold water, with a doctor's note on which have good evidence and who should take care. - [Vagus nerve stimulation for migraine: how it works and what the evidence shows](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/discover-vagus-nerve-stimulation-for-migraine-relief-with-arka-healths-exclusive-gammacore-technology/): Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation is a handheld device used for migraine and cluster headache. What trials show, who it suits and who should avoid it. - [What is the vagus nerve? The gut's direct line to the brain](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/what-is-the-vagus-nerve-the-guts-direct-communication-pathway-to-the-brain/): The vagus nerve carries signals between the brain and the gut, heart and lungs. What it does for digestion, what affects it, and how to support it. - [How sleep affects gut health, and why you need good rest](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/how-sleep-affects-gut-health-and-why-you-need-good-rest/): Poor sleep worsens reflux, IBS and appetite control, and is linked with less diverse gut bacteria. How sleep and the gut affect each other, and what helps. - [Gut-directed hypnotherapy and CBT for IBS](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/gut-directed-hypnotherapy-cbt-for-ibs/): Brain-gut therapies such as CBT and gut-directed hypnotherapy reduce IBS symptoms in trials. What they are, who they suit and what a course involves. - [Low-dose antidepressants for IBS and gut pain](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/low-dose-antidepressants-for-gut-pain/): Why low doses of antidepressant medicines are prescribed for IBS and functional dyspepsia: how they calm gut nerves, the evidence and the side effects. ## Articles: Liver and metabolism - [Fatty liver grade 2 and grade 3: what the report means](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/fatty-liver-grade-2-and-grade-3/): Grade 2 or 3 fatty liver on ultrasound means more fat, not necessarily more damage. What the grade misses, the tests that show scarring, and what to do. - [Fatty liver diet chart (Indian): what to eat and what to avoid](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/fatty-liver-diet-indian/): An Indian diet for fatty liver: fewer sugary drinks and refined carbohydrates, more vegetables, pulses and protein, with a sample day and clear targets. - [Understanding the role of the liver in digestive health](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/understanding-the-role-of-the-liver-in-digestive-health/): The liver makes bile, processes every nutrient absorbed from the gut and clears waste. How it works, signs of liver trouble and how to protect it. - [The gut-liver axis and its role in metabolism](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/the-gut-liver-axis-and-its-crucial-role-in-metabolism/): The gut and liver are linked by the portal vein and by bile. How gut bacteria and the gut lining influence fatty liver, and what protects both. ## Articles: Functional and integrative medicine - [What is functional medicine? Meaning, approach and evidence](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/what-is-functional-medicine/): Functional medicine looks for the causes behind a long-term condition in food, gut, hormones, sleep and stress. How it works, its evidence and its limits. - [What is integrative medicine? Meaning, examples and how it differs](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/what-is-integrative-medicine/): Integrative medicine combines conventional treatment with complementary approaches that have evidence, such as nutrition, yoga and mind-body therapy. - [Holistic gut health: what it means, and what has evidence](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/holistic-gut-health/): Holistic gut health means treating the gut together with food, sleep, stress, movement and gut bacteria. What that involves and where the evidence is firm. - [Functional medicine tests: which are worth doing?](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/functional-medicine-tests-which-are-worth-it/): Stool, microbiome, breath, organic acid, hormone and food sensitivity tests: what each can show, where the evidence is thin, and how to decide. - [The 5R approach to gut health: what each step means and what the evidence supports](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/the-5r-approach-gut-health/): The 5R approach (remove, replace, reinoculate, repair, rebalance) is a functional medicine framework for gut care. What each step means and the evidence. - [Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) for Crohn's disease and IBS: what the trials show](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/low-dose-naltrexone-for-crohns-ibs/): Low-dose naltrexone is used off-label for Crohn's disease and IBS. What the trials show, including the 2026 trial that found no benefit, and its place. - [BPC-157 and KPV for the gut: what is known, what is not, and what I tell patients](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/bpc-157-kpv-peptides-for-gut-health/): BPC-157 and KPV are sold as gut-healing peptides. What animal and human studies show, their legal status, the risks of online vials, and my advice. - [Mould, mycotoxins and the gut: what is established, what is disputed and what I do](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/mould-exposure-mycotoxins-and-the-gut/): Damp buildings and mould toxins in food: what is established, what is disputed about gut and brain symptoms, and what a urine mycotoxin test can show. - [Staying well after gut treatment: follow-up, early warning signs and preventing relapse](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/staying-well-after-gut-treatment/): IBS, SIBO and reflux often return after treatment. What studies show about relapse, which gains last for years, and how follow-up keeps you well. - [IBS demystified: the gut from a functional medicine perspective](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/gastrointestinal-tract-from-a-functional-medicine-perspective/): How functional medicine looks at the gut in IBS: digestion, the gut lining, gut bacteria, immunity and the nervous system, and the order of treatment. ## Service lists - [Conditions](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/conditions/): Every condition I treat, from reflux, IBS and fatty liver to hernias, gallstones, piles and bowel cancer, with links to a plain-language page on each. - [Tests and endoscopy](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/tests/): Endoscopy, colonoscopy, manometry, pH study, breath tests, FibroScan and functional testing: what each test answers and when it is advised. JP Nagar. - [Surgery](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/surgery/): Keyhole and open surgery for hernia, gallbladder, reflux, bowel, anorectal and weight-related conditions, by a surgical gastroenterologist in JP Nagar. ## Optional - [Articles](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/blog/): Plain-language articles on reflux, IBS, bloating, fatty liver, probiotics, food and the gut-brain connection, reviewed by a gastroenterologist. - [Privacy Policy](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/privacy-policy/): How guthealthdoctor.in collects, uses and protects your personal information, and the rights you have under India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act. - [Disclaimer](https://new.guthealthdoctor.in/disclaimer/): The content on guthealthdoctor.in is general education and not medical advice. Who writes it, how to use it, and what to do in an emergency.