The gut garden — trillions of microbes produce short-chain fatty acids that soothe colon nerves. Dysbiosis can trigger IBS flares.

Six-colour plate rule — daily greens, yellows and purples feed different bugs; sambar counts as double.

Fermented heroes — overnight-soaked dosa batter, homemade curd and pickled amla increase Lactobacilli counts in two weeks.

When to test — persistent bloating warrants a colonoscopy to rule out IBD or cancer; Dr Chandu performs this under CO₂ for comfort.

Probiotic caveats — choose ≥ 10 billion CFU multi-strain; cycle every 3 months to avoid monoculture dominance.