“You are what you eat” -My parents would warn me during my growing up years as a picky eater who would often end up choosing unhealthy diets. However, it took my journey through medical school and residency to properly help me comprehend the importance of that small phrase. Growing up in India, a country with nearly a billion population and an enormous healthcare burden, I witnessed that gastrointestinal diseases comprised a major percentage of illnesses affecting not only my family and friends but also many of my patients - from every day seemingly simple yet troubling afflictions such as reflux diseases, diarrhea, and constipation to complex ailments like ulcerative colitis, hepatitis, and GI cancers. It helped me realize that gastrointestinal health is a core component of overall general physical health with significant effects on mental, emotional, and quality of life. During my residency in the United States and currently as a hospitalist, I continued to witness the pl...