We are an era when wellness is a booming industry and biohacking trends are flooding social media timelines. From DNA diet programs to cryotherapy rooms, the promise of improved health tends to be packaged in a glitzy, pricey, and overly complex way. But the healthiest individuals, wellness scientist Ritesh Bawri argues, aren't those following the latest hacks; they're the ones who are honing the fundamentals and making it simple.In a time of smartwatches, health apps, gut tests, and never-ending supplement regimens, it's easy to think that the secret to living longer and feeling better is doing more—more treatments, more routines, more products but what if it's just the opposite? What if the people enjoying the most vibrant health are not the ones obsessively tracking every step and blood marker, but those focusing on less—and doing it with intention?Wellness scientist Ritesh Bawri has worked with thousands of individuals worldwide. His conclusion is refreshingly countercultural- health is simpler than we think, and real results come from mastering timeless basics rather than chasing the latest biohacks.Why Biohacking Might Be A Distraction?Biohacking has become a cultural phenomenon. Scroll through social media, and you’ll see influencers touting cryotherapy chambers, red light therapy, nootropic stacks, and glucose monitors as if they’re daily necessities.Bawri understands the appeal. “Human beings are naturally attracted to shiny new objects,” he explains. “This instinct is rooted in our survival, like seeking water that glimmers in the sunlight.” In modern times, that same pull leads us toward the latest gadgets and quick fixes in health but he warns that this search for the next best thing often distracts from what actually matters. “Good health is simple and comes from consistently following what I call the seven pillars of health, or MINDSET,” he says.The Seven Pillars of Health (MINDSET)Bawri’s framework for optimal health is built on these seven fundamentals:Meditation – “A moment to pause and reflect resets your autonomic nervous system, promoting calmness in both mind and body.”Integration – Aligning habits with long-term wellbeing, ensuring lifestyle changes stick.Nutrition – Balanced in both quantity and composition, nourishing the body without overcomplication.Detoxification – Supporting the body’s natural ability to eliminate harmful chemicals and dead cells, rejuvenating itself.Sleep – Aiming for 7–8 hours for memory formation, repair, and hormonal balance.Exercise – Strengthening muscles and bones to counter age-related decline.Tribe – Building and maintaining meaningful social connections, because humans thrive in community.“They’re not trendy—but they work,” says Bawri. Before chasing expensive and unproven shortcuts, he recommends mastering these fundamentals.Also Read: Chia Seeds Are A Great Source Of Nutrition, Expert Explains Why Eating Them 'Dry' Could Kill YouWhy Minimalism in Health Is All That We Need?Minimalism isn’t just an interior design style—it’s a powerful health philosophy. In Bawri’s experience, stripping away unnecessary complexity can profoundly impact weight loss, immunity, gut health, and mental well-being.“When we eliminate the noise—such as ultra-processed foods, chronic stress, and erratic sleep—we allow the body’s natural intelligence to take charge,” he says. This means focusing less on piling on new interventions and more on removing what harms or overwhelms the body.Bawri has seen individuals reverse chronic inflammation, digestive issues, fatigue, and even anxiety without expensive programs or prescriptions. “True health is not cultivated in a pharmacy; it is built through the quiet choices we make every day,” he adds.Modern Medicine vs. Minimalist LivingIt’s important to be clear, Bawri is not anti-medicine. “Modern medicine is crucial,” he emphasizes. “But we often resort to it too soon.” He believes traditional healthcare’s “more is better” approach—more pills, more procedures—can overshadow the body’s inherent ability to heal when given the right environment.He’s seen biomarkers, like blood sugar and cholesterol levels, improve dramatically through non-invasive, personalized lifestyle changes. For him, the future of health isn’t about adding more layers of complexity but understanding our biology and working with it.The Myths Driving Over-MedicalisationBawri points to one pervasive myth: that every symptom demands immediate medical intervention. “We’ve been conditioned to believe that any deviation from perfect—whether it’s fatigue, bloating, or stress—must be addressed right away,” he says.In reality, the body is designed to fluctuate. Energy levels, digestion, and mood naturally rise and fall. “Over-medicalisation begins when we lose faith in that innate intelligence,” he explains.Another damaging myth is that more equals better—more supplements, more diagnostics, more treatments. Many so-called deficiencies are temporary or rooted in lifestyle habits, not true medical conditions. “Before assuming you’re unwell, ask: Am I dehydrated, underslept, or overstimulated?” says Bawri.Knowing When to Act and When to Step Back From "Wellness Hacks"In a wellness market flooded with solutions, it’s easy to buy into fear-driven marketing. Bawri recommends pausing before making health purchases.His advice is to start with observation: track your rhythms, stress patterns, and nutrition without judgment. Then, use those insights to decide what’s necessary. This isn’t about ignoring problems—it’s about making choices based on data and understanding, rather than impulse or trends.“Choosing wisely starts with education, self-reflection, and the empowering realisation that often, less really is more—when it’s the right kind of less,” he says.The Psychology Behind Doing LessPsychologically, doing less can be harder than doing more. Our culture equates effort with value. A packed workout schedule or a long list of supplements feels like proof that we’re “working on our health.” But in reality, relentless effort without rest can create stress, hormonal imbalances, and burnout.Minimalist health approaches challenge that mindset. They invite us to trust the process and accept that sometimes, subtraction—not addition—creates space for healing.Post-pandemic, more people are questioning what health really means. The shift toward home workouts, flexible schedules, and a slower pace revealed that many of our pre-pandemic “musts” were optional—or even harmful.As healthcare costs rise and wellness trends multiply, Bawri’s philosophy offers a grounded alternative. Instead of chasing endless “fixes,” it’s about reclaiming agency over our health by mastering the basics and resisting the noise.If there’s one thing Bawri wants people to understand, it’s this: simplicity is not a compromise—it’s a strategy. “The healthiest people I know aren’t the ones trying everything at once,” he says. “They’re the ones who commit to a few timeless practices and do them well.”Before investing in the latest biohacking gadget or supplement, ask yourself- Am I sleeping enough? Eating whole, balanced meals? Moving regularly? Managing stress? Connecting with people who lift me up? True health, it turns out, might not be about doing more. It’s about doing less—strategically, intentionally, and consistently.Ritesh Bawri is a wellness scientist with a Master’s in Nutrition from Tufts University School of Medicine and is certified in Physiology from Harvard Medical School and is Chief Science Officer of NIRA Balance in India