A Stanford neuroscientist warns chronic cortisol shrinks the hippocampus, hijacks the prefrontal cortex, and locks the body in fight-or-flight.
If I wanted to fix it naturally, I'd do these 8 things every day:
1. Try a whole body sigh.
If you are planning a trip to Sikkim, this post could be helpful. Bookmark this for future reference.
We visited Sikkim in the first week of May 2026, covering Gangtok, Nathu la and Lachung (North Sikkim). Our group had six people, including my parents in their 70s.
(1/n)
1/5
I'm a cardiologist. I've been telling you for months that GLP-1 drugs are rewriting medicine far beyond weight loss.
44% less depression. 47% less substance use disorder. 28.7% weight loss. 86% liver fat clearance.
Now add this.
Cleveland Clinic researchers are presenting data at ASCO next week — the biggest cancer conference in the world — showing that GLP-1 medications may cut cancer progression to metastatic disease by up to 50%.
12,112 patients. Seven obesity-related tumor types. Stages 1 through 3.
This class of drugs keeps getting bigger. And the old walls between metabolic medicine, cardiovascular medicine, and oncology keep coming down.
I recently spent 2 weeks in China.
6 cities: Shanghai, Beijing, Xi’an, Zhangjiajie, Chongqing and Chengdu.
I went there with curiosity.
Like many Indians, I had heard a lot about China through media, social media and conversations. I expected to see progress, maybe discover some business ideas, and understand what the country is actually building.
I came back with a very uncomfortable feeling.
Not because I found a business idea for myself.
But because I saw 100 things that governments can do when infrastructure, tourism, transport, urban planning and civic systems are treated seriously.
I travelled within China by flights, trains, cars and local transport. The infrastructure was honestly stunning.
Clean cities. Smooth roads. High-speed trains. Well-managed traffic. Public spaces that actually feel designed for people. Tourist destinations that are built, maintained and promoted like national assets.
And then I kept thinking about India.
We keep comparing ourselves to China. Our media keeps telling us how India is catching up, how China is restrictive, how we are better in so many ways.
After spending time there and speaking to people, I realised how much of that narrative is just comfort food.
China is not perfect. No country is.
But on infrastructure, execution, tourism, civic discipline and quality of urban life, they are not 5 years ahead of us.
They are decades ahead.
The saddest part for me was the currency.
Everything felt expensive. Not because China was insanely expensive, but because the rupee has weakened so much that even normal spending starts feeling heavy. As an Indian taxpayer, that genuinely hurt.
We pay taxes. We work hard. We talk about becoming a global power.
But where is the quality of life?
Where is the civic sense?
Where is the infrastructure that makes daily life easier?
Where is the tourism vision beyond religious tourism?
I met travellers from other countries who were excited to visit China because they wanted to see its progress. When I asked about India, many had no real desire to visit. Not out of hate. India simply was not on their aspirational travel list.
That should bother us.
Even the so-called “closed internet” surprised me. We are told people there are missing out because they don’t use Google, Instagram, WhatsApp or Facebook.
But China has built its own digital ecosystem. Payments, maps, transport, messaging, shopping, everything works inside their own infrastructure. People did not seem to feel deprived. They seemed adapted.
Again, this is not a hate post.
I love India. That is exactly why this trip bothered me.
Patriotism cannot only be about saying we are great.
Real patriotism is having the courage to admit where we are falling behind.
China made me realise one thing very clearly:
India’s potential is not the problem.
Execution is.
And unless we stop comforting ourselves with comparisons and start demanding better infrastructure, better governance, better tourism, cleaner cities and a higher quality of life, we will keep celebrating the idea of progress instead of actually living it.
Underrated life advice: Have more hobbies and fewer opinions. Learn an instrument. Plant a garden. Build something with your hands. Cook. Paint. Run. The happiest people I know spend less time debating life and more time actually living it.
I recently went to Thailand for vacation and I don’t need a visa for 60 days,
But recently Thailand removed the visa-free status for Indians.
Nobody wants Indians to travel their country.
Do you know why?
Look below👇👇
A Biology Professor Said:
"Your belly is a storage of cortisol waste. Clear it with one routine before bed... and your life will change."
Here's the 9 Minute Fix He Provided 🧵:
Ruppee is gonna be 130-150 by 2027. You can simply make huge gains by keeping funds in USD or USD-peg currencies like Dirham. No point of SIP or NIFTY, whatever bhang bhosda you gain, govt will take away the half in some form of taxation.
This is my quant btw.
Don't drag me o.
But here are some of my Top spy and special agent movies you can check on Netflix.
They are old though but you'd enjoy them
1 SALT
Any movie with Angelina Jolie, trust it to bring a hard story, fast paced action and so many twists
2 BOURNE SERIES
One of the Top spy movies you should see.
Matt Damon embodies a stealth agent who defies the normal CIA movies.
Not a cliche story.
3 MAN FROM UNCLE
Stands out on its own.
From the handsome superman, Henry Cavill giving us all that James Bond vibes, you'd get to see archaic tech and class.
4 SNOWDEN
Said to be based on a real story.
Movie is one of the defying hack and thrilling movie
5 MR AND MRS SMITH
What you get when you pair ex power couples, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.
One of the best couple spy movies
6 MISSION IMPOSSIBLE
Anything with Tom Cruise, trust it to pump you adrenaline and action
7 OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN
Cliche though.
Overflogged story of white house being attacked.
Rescue the President 😒
8 RED 1 and 2
one of the best super packed spy movies.
All veterans from Helen Mirren, Bruce Willis and more
9 SPIES IN DISGUISE
The only animation on the list
Will Smith brings us whst we find when you mix wildlife and action.
10 KINGSMAN
Top of the line action.
British spy
Great graphics.
Different style of fight
Let me know if you enjoy my pick.
A Biology Professor Said:
"Your Belly Is A Storage Of Cortisol Waste. Clear It With One Routine Before Bed.. And Your Life Will Change."
Here's The 9 Minute Fix He Provided:
We plan a break every quarter. Usually coincides with a birthday or an anniversary. Invariably it’s a location abroad, either to visit relatives or pure tourism. We are able bodied, the school isn’t as strict during the KG days, so why not use this leverage to see the world. But the war and the govt appeal to cut down on travel, has thrown a spanner in the works. We were planning Italy, but now where to go in India, especially in this heat. It always ends up being Goa. It’s just muscle memory.
Which locations/property you have visited recently in India, and found it to be worthy replacement of a trip abroad?
Portals:
- Swimming in bodies of water
- Singing and dancing freely while surrounded by other people doing the same
- Sleep
- Dressing up
- Talking to children
- Talking to elders
- Talking to strangers
- Airplanes
- A good makeout session
- Watching bugs move from an eye level perspective
- An everything shower
- Movement (both languid and vigorous)
- Creating art
- Creating life
- Eating a home cooked meal
- Breath
- Reading thoughtful words
- Writing honest words
- Speaking intentional words
- Curiosity
- Fully experiencing a cup of tea
- Tuning in to your 5 (6) senses
- Being without service deep in nature
- Your childhood bedroom
- Now, and now, and now, and now, and now, and now, and now, and ...