Jason Fried

Founder & CEO at 37signals (makers of Basecamp and HEY). Non-serial entrepreneur, serial author (Getting Real, REWORK, REMOTE, It Doesn’t Have to Be Crazy at Work). Email me at jason@hey.com.

Co-founder & CEO

THE BIG REGRESSION

My folks are in town visiting us for a couple months so we rented them a house nearby.

It’s new construction. It’s amped up with state of the art systems. The ones with touchscreens of various sizes, IoT appliances, and interfaces on everything.

And it’s terrible. What a regression.

The lights are powered by Control4. They require a demo to understand how to use the switches, understand which ones control what, and to be sure not to hit THAT ONE because it’ll turn off all the lights in the house when you didn’t mean to. Worse.

The TV is the latest Samsung which has a baffling UI just to watch CNN. My parents aren’t idiots, but definitely feel like they’re missing something obvious. They aren’t — TVs have simply gotten worse. You don’t turn them on, you boot them up.

The new Miele dishwasher wouldn’t even operate the first time without connecting it to an app. This meant another call to the house manager to have them install an app they didn’t know they needed either. An app to clean some peanut butter off a plate? For serious? Worse.

Thermostats... Nest would have been fine, but these other proprietary ones from some other company trying to be Nest-like are baffling. Round touchscreens that take you into a dark labyrinth of options just to be sure it’s set at 68. Or is it 68 now? Or is that what we want it at, but it’s at 72? Wait... What? Which number is this? Worse.

The alarm system is essentially a 10” iPad bolted to the wall that has the fucking weather forecast on it. And it's so bright! I’m sure there’s a way to turn that off, but then the screen would be filled with the news instead. Why isn't this just the alarm? Worse.

And there's lag and delay everywhere. Everything feels a beat or two behind. Lag is the giveaway that the system is working too hard for too little.

Now look... I’m no luddite. But this experience is close to conversion therapy. Tech can make things better, but not here. I’ve heard the pitches — you can set up scenes so one button can change EVERYTHING. Not buying it. It actually feels primitive, like we haven’t figured out how to make things easy yet. That some breakthrough will eventually come when you can simply knock a switch up or down and it’ll all makes sense.

It’s really the contrast that makes it alarming. We just got back from a vacation in Montana. Rented a house there. They did have a fancy TV — seems those can’t be avoided these days — but everything else was old school and clear. Physical up/down light switches in the right places. Appliances without the internet. Buttons with depth and physically-confirmed state change rather than surfaces that don’t obviously register your choice. More traditional round rotating Honeywell thermostats that are just clear and obvious. No tours, no instructions, no questions, no fearing you’re going to do something wrong, no wondering how something works. Useful and universally clear. That’s human, that’s modern.

AGAIN?

When we measure things, answers usually come as numbers. But there’s a different kind of measurement I have in mind most of the time.

It’s a simple, one-word question: Again?

You can go through rigorous employee performance reviews to try to decide if someone’s doing their job well, or you can simply ask “Knowing what we know now, would we hire this person AGAIN?”

You can load up the calendar with postmortems and data analysis sessions, or you can simply ask “Would we want to do that AGAIN?”

You can attempt to justify to yourself why something made sense on paper, or you can simply ask “Would I make that decision AGAIN?”

Do I want to work with this team AGAIN? Would I want to work at this company AGAIN? Would I want to work on this project or product AGAIN? Would I want to visit this city AGAIN?

At this point, I quietly ask myself “Again?” all the time. When things go right, when things go wrong, when I’m not even sure which way they’ve gone, I’ll ask myself “Again?” The answer is obvious.

What’s great about this is that things that would objectively measure as “wrong” can be absolutely worth it when you ask the question “Again?” With again, you aren’t just measuring outcome, you’re also measuring experience. Experience contains outcome, and a whole lot more.

Maybe that was a flop commercially, but it was worth it broadly, so yes, I’d still do it all over again. Or, wow, that was a smashing success but it really beat me down... Would I do it again? “No” is perfectly valid, and correct, in that case.

Asking “Again?” is one of the simplest things you can do, and it’ll mine some of the richest answers you’ll find. It tells the whole truth in a way that numbers never do.

The original Cuisinart was peak interface/appliance design.

Two perfect paddle buttons.

One for ON that catches and stays down for continual operation.

And one for PULSE/OFF that does exactly what it says. It doesn't stay down, it returns to reset when you let go. Hold it down as long as you want to pulse. Let go and it stops. Or just push it down to disengage ON, and turn it off.

The description may sound a bit convoluted because of the dual purpose PULSE/OFF button, but when you use it it's absolutely obvious. And couldn't be better.

Big flat toggle buttons under satisfying tension. Clear affordances. You push them down, not in. One click catches, one doesn't. You can use them with bare hands, oven mitts, fingers coated in slippery whatever. Doesn't matter. Plenty of surface area.

Outstanding design. It's been all downhill from there.

ANYTHING DESIGNERS

Do designers like Raymond Lowey or Henry Dreyfus exist anymore? Designers who can design anything?

These guys designed locomotives, thermostats, telephones, buildings, ocean liners, company logos, typewriters, vacuum cleaners, floor polishers, product packaging, cars, bottles, aircraft interiors, livery, stamps, radios, tractors, even space station interiors!

The depth, breadth, quality, and taste of their work is astonishing. Where are these people today? Who are these people today? Who's working across so many different industries, mediums, product types, and categories at such a high level?

https://lnkd.in/gKC2UYFt
https://lnkd.in/gd5G-PSJ

What's your longest software relationship?

Basecamp and I have been together since 2008. We've never even discussed seeing other project management tools.

It helped me win student body president at Northwestern. I launched the very first coding bootcamp with it and orchestrated a Chicago mayoral campaign on it. It powered every course I've taught, and every Techstars program I've managed. Now it's how we run customer discovery at Shokuna, with some AI automations I've wired up on top of it.

37signals has been building for the web since 1999. They launched Basecamp  in 2004. And now I'm watching Jason tease "Basecamp 5" like it's a Marvel post-credits scene.

So now I'm curious: What software has actually stuck for you? Not what IT force-fed you - what you chose, kept choosing, and would mass-email your complaints about if they ever killed it?

Puneet Aggarwal 🤔⛳ 🚀

Founder

I am the founder of Nirogam, a wellness company that sells Ayurvedic products, food ingredients, herbal extracts, essential oils, and more. I have been an online marketer of Ayurveda and supplements since 2000, and have exported to various geographies, including the USA and UK. I am passionate about designing, packaging, and formulating Ayurvedic dietary supplements that address various health issues, such as diabetes, hypertension, prostate, PCOD, and immunity.

I am also an active equity derivatives trader with 16 years of experience in using technical price charts. I advise some clients on their portfolio and teach beginners how to pick winning stocks without charts or fundamentals using volume surges. I have a background in business and commerce, and have completed courses in direct to consumer marketing, organizational leadership, and entrepreneurship. I am always looking for opportunities to learn, grow, and collaborate with others who share my vision of promoting holistic health and wellness. You can reach me at puneet@nirogam.com

Director and Co-Founder, at the Wellness Company selling phytochemicals, food ingredients, herbal extracts, essential oils, Spa supplies, Food and Dietary supplements, Nutraceuticals, and Ayurvedic products.

Puneet Aggarwal

Dating by Dosha

What if your relationship struggles aren't about compatibility?

What if they're about Dosha mismatch?

Riya asked me this recently at the Retreat I was getting Panchakarma at.

"We had everything in common. Same interests. Same goals. Same energy."

I smiled. "Same energy — that's the problem."

Two Pittas in a relationship?
Fire meets fire.
Arguments. Competition. Ego clashes.
Both want to lead. Neither wants to cool down.

Ayurveda has always known:
Opposites don't just attract.
They balance.

Let me break down the Doshas first:

𝗩𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲𝘀:
Creative. Anxious. Spontaneous.
Talkative. Dreamy. Forgetful.
Quick to love. Quick to worry.
Cold hands. Racing thoughts.

𝗣𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗮 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲𝘀:
Ambitious. Intense. Organized.
Sharp-tongued. Focused. Competitive.
Warm-bodied. Strong opinions.
Leaders who don't like being led.

𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗮 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲𝘀:
Calm. Loyal. Patient.
Steady. Nurturing. Slow to anger.
Grounded. Reliable. Resistant to change.
The rock in every storm.

Now here's the dating wisdom:

𝗩𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗮.
Vata is wind — scattered, anxious, always moving.
Kapha is earth — stable, patient, grounding.
Kapha calms Vata's storms.
Vata brings excitement to Kapha's routine.
Perfect balance.

𝗣𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗮 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗮.
Pitta is fire — intense, driven, sometimes burning.
Kapha is water and earth — cooling, soothing, absorbing.
Kapha doesn't fight fire with fire.
Kapha extinguishes conflict with patience.
Pitta finally feels safe enough to soften.

𝗣𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗮 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗮.
Two fires don't make warmth.
They make destruction.
Both want to win. Both want control.
Neither wants to surrender.
Passion? Yes. Peace? Never.

𝗩𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗮?
Tricky.
Pitta's intensity can overwhelm anxious Vata.
Vata's inconsistency can frustrate organized Pitta.
Works only when both are self-aware.

𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗮?
Comfortable. Loyal. Stable.
But sometimes too stable.
No one initiates change.
Relationship becomes routine, not romance.

The ancient wisdom was simple:
Like increases like.
Opposites create balance.

Your grandmother knew this.
She didn't match horoscopes randomly.
She was matching constitutions.

Today's simple action:
Identify your dominant Dosha.
Then notice your partner's.
Are you balancing each other?
Or amplifying the same imbalances?

And if you don't know your Dosha type, head over to https://lnkd.in/gAunPJyS to find out.

Sometimes the "spark" is just two fires burning each other out.
And sometimes the "boring" partner is exactly the medicine you need.

Until then,
Puneet
aka That Ayurveda Guy

⚠️ Disclaimer: I'm not your doctor, just your Undoctor—translating Ayurveda into real life. Use these insights for awareness, not treatment. If you're unwell, seek professional medical guidance.

Puneet Aggarwal (That Ayurveda Guy)

The Ayurvedic Undoctor | Author of ‘A for Ayurveda’ - your 100-day roadmap to understanding your body | Solving chronic health struggles through timeless wisdom | 25+ yrs | Nirogam.com

Why Your Grandfather Ate Less and Lived More

“Should I shift to 2 meals a day?”, Vikram asked.

That’s the most common question I get after someone feels bloated, sluggish, or stuck.

And often, my answer is:
​Yes — but not always.

Let’s start with what Ayurveda teaches.

According to the classics, digestion is ruled by Agni — your inner fire.

Agni works best in rhythm:
🔥 Peaks at mid-day
🔥 Dips in early morning and late evening
🔥 Needs rest between meals to do its job

So what happens when you eat every 2 hours?

Your Agni gets overwhelmed.
Food piles up.
Digestion stays incomplete.
Ama (toxins) builds silently.

That’s where the 2-meal diet becomes powerful.

✅ Who should try 2 meals a day?

Kapha types (heavy, sluggish digestion)
People with low appetite or constant bloating
Those with insulin resistance, PCOS, or fatty liver
Sedentary lifestyle individuals
People above 40 feeling foggy and inflamed
Anyone who snacks mindlessly all day
For them, 2 mindful, well-spaced meals:
✅ Improve Agni
✅ Reduce insulin spikes
✅ Give the gut time to reset
✅ Start fat-burning naturally
✅ Improve clarity and lightness

❌ Who should not blindly follow it?

Vata types with high metabolism and anxiety
Kids, teens, pregnant or breastfeeding women
Athletes or heavy workers
Those recovering from illness or surgery
People with weak immunity or tissue loss
Anyone whose hunger is strong and genuine
For them, skipping meals worsens depletion.
It increases dryness, anxiety, fatigue, and even joint issues.

Ayurveda doesn’t say “less is better.”​
It says “eat when your Agni calls.”

So what’s the safe starting point?

Have early, light dinners. That’s half the battle won.
Wait for true hunger. Not clock hunger.
Start with a 3-meal rhythm. Cut out snacks first.
Then move to 2 meals + herbal tea or spiced water.
Track your energy and stools, not just weight.
2 meals a day isn’t a trend.
It’s a return to rhythm.
But it works best when it’s a choice — not a punishment.

Until then,
​Puneet​
aka That Ayurveda Guy

P.S. Agni doesn’t like confusion.
Train it with consistency.
Feed it with respect.

It will reward you with effortless digestion — and a clear mind.

Curd is not the only probiotic on the plate. 

Ganpat asked me: “Sir, other than curd… is there any other probiotic food?”

He looked genuinely confused.

Because modern nutrition has made “curd” the brand ambassador of probiotics.
Every ad, every diet, every gym trainer says the same thing: Eat curd for gut health.

But Ayurveda isn’t limited to a single bowl of dahi.
We’ve known for centuries — fermentation is not a modern invention.

Here’s what I told Ganpat:

Yes, curd is probiotic. But it’s heavy, heating, and best avoided at night.

Instead…

Takra (Buttermilk): The real Ayurvedic probiotic.
Light. Digestive. Vata-kapha balancing.
Add rock salt + roasted jeera. Or boil it into Khalam, Kerala-style.
Kanji: That deep purple fermented water made with mustard and black carrots.
Cooling. Gut cleansing. A winter wonder.
Sun-dried pickles (not the spicy vinegar ones):
Wild fermented, if made traditionally, with time and sunlight.
Idli / Dosa batter:
Naturally fermented grains that help digestion — if eaten in the right season and quantity.
Arishta / Asava:
Medicinal fermented decoctions in Ayurveda. A different class of probiotics altogether.
And you know what else is probiotic?

Living slowly. Breathing deeply. Eating at the same time every day.​
That nourishes your gut flora more than a branded yogurt shot ever can.

So the next time someone says “Curd is king”…

Tell them Ayurveda had a full court of probiotic options.
Curd was just one minister.

Till next time,

Puneet
aka That Ayurveda Guy

P.S. What’s your favourite probiotic food (other than curd)?
Hit reply and tell me — I’ll share the most underrated ones in the next email.

Khalam - The Vaidya's Own Buttermilk

The Forgotten Buttermilk That Doctors Serve Themselves

I still remember my first Panchakarma in Kozhikode.

They served something after dinner.

It smelled like kadhi. Light. Healing. Gentle.

They called it “Khalam” — boiled buttermilk spiced with turmeric.

When I asked the doctor what it was, he smiled and gave me the recipe.

This drink is more restorative than yellow moong dal.

Lighter than regular buttermilk.

Good for digestion.

Helps reset after intense treatments.

And doesn’t disturb doshas the way heavy dals or fried food do.

Here’s how you can make it (or mix with rice, pour over khichadi, or drink as is):

Recipe: Boiled Buttermilk / Khalam

Ingredients:

1 cup fresh buttermilk (or diluted yogurt + water)
½ tsp turmeric powder (fresh if possible)
A small pinch of black pepper
A little fresh ginger (grated)
A few curry leaves (optional)
Salt to taste
2 cups water
Ghee or coconut oil (½ tsp)

Method:

Dilute buttermilk with water (about 1:1 or slightly more water depending on strength).

Heat the water in a pot. When it just starts to simmer, add turmeric, ginger, curry leaves. Let it boil gently.

Reduce flame, then slowly pour in the diluted buttermilk while stirring continuously, so it doesn’t curdle badly. 

The goal is “boiled buttermilk” — warm, slightly thick, lightly curdled but smooth enough to drink.

Add salt. Add the pinch of black pepper.

Finish with a drop of ghee (or coconut oil) for warmth and assimilation.
Why this works from Ayurvedic lens

Warmed buttermilk soothes Vata and Agni.
Turmeric + black pepper = anti-inflammatory, supports digestion and absorption.

Ginger adds zest, warms up cold digestion.

Dilution + gentle boiling prevent heavy curdling, so it is lighter than full-thick curd or heavy dals.

Ghee finishes it — helping digestibility, nourishing tissues.
How to use

Drink mid-morning or after lunch (not immediately after a heavy meal).
Or pour over khichadi or rice instead of plain buttermilk.

Use when recovering from illness, after heavy treatments (like Panchakarma), or when digestion feels weak.

Not recommended in very high Pitta conditions (heat, inflammation) unless you cool it a bit or reduce turmeric/pepper.

Until then,
Puneet
aka That Ayurveda Guy

P.S. If you try it — start with small amounts. See how your digestion responds. Many patients tell me this drink helped them feel lighter, calmer, more grounded — the kind of reset that no expensive tonic gave.

The Grandma Calendar That Outsmarted Modern Nutritionists 

“चैते गुड़ बैसाखे तेल, जेठे पन्थ असाढ़े बेल।
सावन साग न भादों दही, क्वार करेला न कातिक मही।।
अगहन जीरा पूसे धना, माघे मिश्री फागुन चना।
ई बारह जो देय बचाय, वहि घर वैद कबौं न जाय।”

Grandma didn’t need a nutrition chart.
She had poetry.

Each line — a seasonal code.
Each month — a food to avoid.
Each reason — Ayurvedic precision hidden in rhyme.
Let’s decode it for modern times.

• Chaitra: Avoid jaggery — excess heat
• Baisakh: Avoid oils — summer sluggishness
• Jyeshtha: Avoid long travel — dehydration risk
• Ashadha: Avoid bael — weak monsoon digestion
• Shravan: Avoid leafy greens — parasites & damp soil
• Bhadrapada: Avoid curd — Kapha overload
• Ashwin: Avoid bitter gourd — excess dryness
• Kartika: Avoid buttermilk — joint stiffness
• Margashirsha: Avoid cumin — tissue dryness
• Pausha: Avoid coriander — cooling in peak winter
• Magha: Avoid mishri — slow metabolism
• Phalguna: Avoid chickpeas — heavy, gas-forming

Twelve months.
Twelve dietary don’ts.
A full-year wellness manual — disguised as poetry.

“ई बारह जो देय बचाय, वहि घर वैद कबौं न जाय।”
The home that follows these twelve never needs a doctor.

Before dieticians, there were poets.
Before calories, there was rhythm.
Before trends, there was Ritucharya.

Today’s pause:
Notice your season.
Notice what nature is asking you to slow down on.
Ayurveda didn’t complicate health — it made it lyrical.

— Puneet
aka That Ayurveda Guy
P.S. Ask your grandmother about this couplet. She’ll probably smile — and agree.

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not your doctor, just your Undoctor—translating Ayurveda into real life. Use these insights for awareness, not treatment. If you’re unwell, seek professional medical guidance.

This ancient verse exposes most doctors as frauds. 

"I wrote this for doctors, but every patient needs to know this too."

That's what I told myself after meeting Rohit.

A young BAMS graduate who discovered something profound.

About what real healing actually means.

Rohit was reciting Sanskrit verses for marks.

Just another academic requirement.

Another checkbox in medical school.

Another "boring" shloka to memorize.

Three years later, sitting with his 47th chronic patient that month.

Something clicked.

That "ceremonial" verse wasn't poetry.

It was a complete blueprint for transformation.

Most doctors treat symptoms.

Some doctors treat diseases.

But that ancient shloka describes healers who transform human beings.

The difference is everything:

Symptoms go away temporarily

Diseases get managed

Human beings get healed completely

When someone comes with headaches:

Regular doctors ask about pain intensity

Healers explore sleep, stress, relationships, eating patterns

They see the whole picture

When fatigue is mentioned:

Regular doctors order blood tests

Healers investigate physical health AND sense of purpose

They understand connections

"Ragādi rogān satatānuśaktān āśeṣa kāya prasṛtān aśeṣān

autsukya mohārati tān jaghāna yo'pūrva vaidyāya namo'stu tasmai" ~ Ashtanga Hridayam

Translation: Salutations to that incomparable physician who destroys diseases arising from attachment, which constantly afflict and spread throughout the body, removing anxiety, delusion, and suffering.

This isn't about prescribing herbs and leaving.

This is about becoming someone who changes lives.

Someone who sees that physical pain and emotional exhaustion are connected.

Someone who heals the root, not just the branches.

Today's healing revolution:

Whether you're a doctor or patient

Ask the deeper questions

Look for the whole story

Seek transformation, not just symptom relief

Share this with a doctor or patient who needs to hear it.

Let's raise the standard of healing together.

Until then,

Puneet

aka That Ayurveda Guy

P.S. The most successful healers don't just have knowledge about diseases. They understand human suffering. That combination creates the "apoorva vaidya" (incomparable physician) this ancient verse describes.

The most intelligent food in your kitchen? It’s not quinoa.

"Is there one food in Ayurveda that helps memory, fertility, and digestion?"

I get this question often.

And while trendy answers float around — avocados, walnuts, whey —
the Ayurvedic answer is older, simpler, and deeply respected.

Ghee.

That golden, fragrant, slow-cooked elixir.

Not just for your rotis.
But for your brain. Your gut. Your immunity. Your reproductive system.

One of my patients, a new mother, told me she felt scattered and foggy.
"Too much on my plate," she said.
We didn't add supplements.
We added ghee.

A teaspoon in her morning rice.
A drizzle on her moong dal soup.
Within weeks, her memory sharpened. Her periods became regular again. She felt held.

Because ghee doesn’t just feed your body.
It nourishes your Ojas — your essence, your radiance, your resilience.

Charaka didn’t mince words:

शस्तं धीस्मृतिमेधाग्निवलायुः शुक्रचक्षुषाम्​
​बालवृद्धप्रजाकान्तिसौकुमार्यस्वरार्थिनाम्

Śastaṁ dhī-smṛti-medhā-agni-bala-āyuḥ-śukra-cakṣuṣām,​
​bāla-vṛddha-prajā-kānti-saukumārya-svara-arthinām

Translation:
Ghee is ideal for improving intellect, memory, digestion, strength, longevity, fertility, vision — and benefits the young, the elderly, those wishing for children, beauty, gentleness, and sweet speech.

So next time you chase “superfoods”…
Don’t forget the original one.

A spoonful of ghee is a spoonful of intelligence.
Not just on your tongue — but deep into your tissues.

Until then,
Puneet
aka That Ayurveda Guy

P.S. One reader switched from olive oil to ghee for her sautéed veggies. She wrote, “My skin stopped flaking. My sugar cravings went down. I feel warm from the inside.” That’s what happens when your tissues are finally fed the right way.

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not your doctor, just your Undoctor—translating Ayurveda into real life. Use these insights for awareness, not treatment. If you’re unwell, seek professional medical guidance.

What's your blood group?

Everyone knows.

Now ask: What's your Prakriti?

Blank stare.

This is the gap I want to close.

Imagine a world where knowing your dosha is as normal as knowing your blood type.

Where you don't just carry it in a medical file.
You wear it. Like a badge. Like a T-shirt.

"I'm Vata-Pitta."
"He's Kapha-dominant."
"She's pure Pitta — don't mess with her deadlines."

Sounds strange?

It shouldn't.

Because the moment you own your Prakriti — really own it — everything shifts.

The language between people changes.

You stop judging the slow friend. He's Kapha. That's his rhythm.
You stop resenting the impatient boss. She's Pitta. That's her fire.
You stop blaming yourself for overthinking. You're Vata. That's your air.

Self-awareness stops being a concept.
It becomes a lived identity.

And here's where it gets practical:

When you wear your dosha, you eat differently.

You don't just grab what's trending.
You ask: "Does this suit my constitution?"

A Vata doesn't chase cold smoothies.
A Pitta doesn't pile on the chilies.
A Kapha doesn't drown in dairy.

Ahara becomes personal. Conscious. Aligned.

प्रकृतिं यान्ति भूतानि निग्रहः किं करिष्यति
~ Bhagavad Gita

"All beings follow their nature. What can suppression achieve?"

You can't fight your nature.
But you can understand it.
Honor it.
And finally — live in sync with it.

My dream?

Every Indian knows three things about themselves:
Name.
Blood group.
Prakriti.

Because health isn't just about what you eat.
It's about knowing who's eating.

If you don't know your Prakriti yet — find out: https://lnkd.in/gAunPJyS

Until then,
Puneet
aka That Ayurveda Guy

P.S. Next time someone asks "What's your type?" — don't think zodiac. Think dosha.

Your dinner isn’t late. It’s inflammatory. 

Last week, Tanuj messaged me at 10:14 PM:

“Just finished dinner. Hope this late meal doesn’t mess with my weight.”

I told him—
Forget the weight.
You just set your pitta on fire.

In Ayurveda, 10 PM to 2 AM is the time when Pitta dosha dominates.

And what does Pitta do best?

🔥 Digest, metabolize, transform.

But here’s the thing:
That Pitta is meant to cleanse your inner system, not your biryani.

If you’re asleep during this time, your body sends the Pitta energy inward—
→ repairing tissues,
→ removing toxins,
→ supporting liver detox,
→ sharpening memory.

But if you eat late…
The whole system gets hijacked for digesting food.
Not restoring you.

Think about this:
Why do we feel heaviest and most sluggish when we eat dinner after 10 PM?
Because the body wanted to clean house.
You gave it another load of dishes.

That’s why Ayurveda says:
​Eat dinner before sunset, or at least by 7 PM.​
So that by Pitta hour, the stomach is empty, and the body can get to work on you.

Late dinner = Foggy brain, bloated gut, shallow sleep.

"निशा भोजनमत्यन्तं रात्रौ चानविपाचितम्।
आमवृद्धिकरं प्रोक्तं गुरुत्वाय च देहिनाम्॥"

— Night meals, especially those not digested well, increase ama (toxins), and bring heaviness to the body.

P.S.​
The best health upgrade isn’t a new supplement.
It’s eating 2 hours earlier. Try it for a week.

Let your dinner cool down before Pitta heats up.

Your tongue is a live Google Map of your insides (and it shows traffic jams)

Deepak stuck his tongue out at me.Not rudely.
I’d asked him to.He looked embarrassed.
His tongue had a yellow coating at the back, cracks down the center, and red inflamed edges.
“Normal? No,” I said.“But incredibly informative? Yes.”

Here’s what most people don’t know:
Your tongue is a diagnostic billboard.
No lab. No needles. No waiting.

What the coating tells you (your digestion report card)
Look at the top of your tongue.
That layer isn’t supposed to be thick.
Thin white coating → mostly normal, mild Kapha
Thick white coating → undigested food, sluggish digestion
Yellow coating → excess heat, Pitta imbalance, liver stress
Brown/black coating → toxin buildup (Ama)
No coating, dry tongue → Vata depletion
The thicker the coating, the more your digestion is struggling.

It’s undigested food trying to exit the body.

What cracks reveal (your stress history)
Cracks don’t appear overnight.
They show long-term strain.
One shallow center line → normal
Deep center crack → chronic stress, anxiety, nervous overload
Multiple cracks → dehydration over time
Cracks on the sides → weak digestive fire
Think of cracks like dry soil — they show where the system has been drained.

Color = dosha imbalance

Healthy pink → balanced
Red or inflamed → Pitta (heat, acidity, inflammation)
Pale or whitish → Kapha or low vitality
Purplish/dark → circulation issues, Vata imbalance
Bright red tip → mental overwork, emotional stress

Different parts of the tongue reflect different systems:
Tip → heart & lungs
Middle → stomach & spleen
Back → intestines & colon
Sides → liver & gallbladder
Red edges often mean liver stress.

Coating only at the back often points to colon sluggishness.

Thin, pointed tongue → Vata
Medium, balanced tongue → Pitta
Thick, rounded tongue → Kapha
Teeth marks on edges → weak digestion, excess moisture
Those teeth marks mean the tongue is swollen — your body isn’t processing fluids properly.

Tongue inside. Skin outside.
Your tongue is the internal report.
Your skin is the external display.
Inside always shows up outside. Always.
Your simple action

Tomorrow morning, before brushing or eating:
Look at your tongue
Notice coating, color, cracks, shape

Do this for 3 days
Heavy dinner → thicker coating
Stressful day → red tip
Light food + good sleep → clearer tongue
Your body is talking every day.
The question is —
are you listening?

P.S. Deepak didn’t need medicine.
He needed earlier dinners, less spice, and cooling foods.
Two weeks later, his tongue was pink and clear.

His words:“I can’t believe my tongue changed.”
It does.Every night.What is yours telling you today?

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not your doctor, just your Undoctor—translating Ayurveda into real life. Use these insights for awareness, not treatment. If you’re unwell, seek professional medical guidance.

We sell supplements. But you shouldn’t need them.

Don’t waste money fixing what you keep breaking daily.

Strange thing to say for someone running an Ayurvedic supplement company like Nirogam.com?

Let me explain.

The real pillars of health in Ayurveda are:
Ahara.
 Vihara.

 Only then – Oushadha.

Diet.
 Lifestyle.
 And only then — medicine.

But what have we made it today?

Pop a capsule.

 Skip the basics.

 Feel good for 2 weeks.

 Then spiral again.

That’s not Ayurveda.

 That’s desperation packaged in plastic.

Most people don’t need more ashwagandha.

 They need more discipline.

 More daal.

 More daylight.

They don’t need 5 supplements.

 They need 5 things off their plate.

 And 1 proper poop.

Supplements were never meant to be a lifestyle.

 They’re a crutch.

 A correction.

 A catalytic push when you’re far off-track.

We’ll gladly go out of business the day people master their ahara and vihara.

 But till then — we’ll keep formulating, not marketing.

 We won’t sell what your neighbour takes.

 We design only what your imbalance demands.

That’s why we don't sell gimmicky gummies, flavoured churnas, or sleep lattes.

 We sell corrections — for real chronic issues.

And if you're taking ashwagandha every day without knowing why —
 you’re not healing.

 You’re just guessing.

Ayurveda doesn’t guess.

 It diagnoses.

If your health stack doesn’t start with your kitchen — you’re not stacking health.

You’re stacking bills.

Until then,

 Puneet
 aka That Ayurveda Guy

P.S. Ayurveda doesn’t fail. Your inputs do.

2 years ago. Me and Raghav had a conversation, and we recorded this podcast talking about the same point. Do listen in - https://lnkd.in/gs5nEUFY


⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not your doctor, just your Undoctor—translating Ayurveda into real life. Use these insights for awareness, not treatment. If you’re unwell, seek professional medical guidance.

I wrote a book on Ayurveda.

But I don't want Ayurveda students to read it.
I don't want Ayurveda doctors to read it either.

Strange thing for an author to say?

Let me explain.

A for Ayurveda was written for one kind of person:

The curious outsider.

The one who's heard "Vata-Pitta-Kapha" a hundred times
but still can't explain what it actually means.

The one who nods politely when someone says "balance your doshas"
while secretly thinking: "This sounds wise… but also weirdly vague."

The one who wants to believe
but keeps bumping into explanations that feel like riddles.

If that's you — I have something for you.

I'm giving away 10 signed copies this week.

No catch.
No repost required.
No "tag 3 friends" nonsense.

Just one thing 👇

Comment with ONE honest question about Ayurveda.

The kind you've never asked out loud because:
– it might sound ignorant
– it might sound disrespectful
– it might expose that you don't really "get it"

Examples (don't copy these):
– Why does every Ayurvedic answer start with "it depends"?
– Is dosha just a fancy word for body type?
– Why do results take months when modern medicine works in days?
– If Ayurveda is so powerful, why is it explained so poorly?

Honest confusion gets you in.
Polished performance gets you out.

I'll pick 25 questions that deserve a real answer.
Signed copies go out next week.

This isn't a promotion.
It's an experiment in clarity.

Drop your question below. 👇

Until then,
Puneet
aka That Ayurveda Guy

P.S. If you've ever walked away from an Ayurveda conversation more confused than when you started — this book was written for that exact feeling.

Your Kid Isn’t ADHD. He’s Just Eating Like a Mad Scientist.

“My child’s always distracted.”
“He doesn’t listen.”
“She can’t focus for more than 3 minutes.”

It’s not always attention deficit.
Sometimes, it’s digestion deficit.

When children are fed:
• Milkshakes after spicy meals
• Cheese-loaded pizza with cola
• Fish fingers with chocolate milk
• Banana and curd in the same meal
• Rasam with ice cream chasers

…it’s not food.
It’s chaos in the gut.

In Ayurveda, this chaos is called Viruddha Ahara — incompatible combinations.
Even when each item is healthy on its own, the wrong pair can become toxic.

Charaka says:

“Anupam amisham (meat from marshy animals) + milk or black gram = incompatible”
“Fish + milk = incompatible”
“Radish + milk = incompatible”
“Sour fruits + milk = incompatible”
“Green veggies + milk = avoid”
“Jaggery + fish = wrong combo”
These aren’t minor mismatches.
They lead to:
• Brain fog
• Skin conditions
• Poor immunity
• Behavioral swings
• Weak digestion

Your child is not lacking attention.
They are being fed conflicting instructions — through their plate.

Before supplements,
Before therapists,
Before new gadgets and labels…

Fix the food combinations.
Make meals simple again.
Let their gut and brain talk in peace.

Until then,
Puneet
aka That Ayurveda Guy

P.S. A mother once removed just 3 things: banana-curd, milk post-sour fruits, and jaggery after fish.
In 2 weeks, her son’s skin cleared.
In 4, he started sleeping better.
In 6, his teacher asked: “What changed? He’s suddenly focused.”

It wasn’t discipline.
It was digestion.

The fluid intelligence running through your veins..."My joints feel stiff and my skin is so dry."

Anjali complained during our morning walk.

She was drinking plenty of water.

But her body wasn't retaining the fluidity it needed.

Your body is mostly water.

Not just H2O sitting in cells.

But flowing intelligence.

Lubricating, connecting, softening everything.

Without water element, you'd be brittle bones grinding together.

With balanced water, everything glides smoothly.

"Āpaḥ sneha bandha dravatva pradāyakam" ~ Charaka Samhita

Translation: Water provides moisture, cohesion, and fluidity.

Where water element lives in your body:

Your saliva begins digestion

Your plasma carries nutrients everywhere

Your lymph removes waste and toxins

Your joint fluid prevents friction and wear

When water is balanced:

Skin stays supple and hydrated

Joints move smoothly without cracking

Digestion flows without constipation

Emotions remain fluid, not stuck

When water goes out of balance:

Too little: dryness, constipation, rigid thinking, cracking joints

Too much: swelling, water retention, excess mucus, emotional overwhelm

Stagnant: congestion, heaviness, unclear thinking

Modern life disturbs water element:

Air conditioning creates artificial dryness

Excessive coffee and tea deplete fluids

Sedentary lifestyle creates stagnant lymph

Processed foods lack natural moisture

Today's water-balancing action:

Sip room temperature water throughout the day

Add natural fats (ghee, oils) to help retain moisture

Move your body to keep fluids circulating

Notice where you feel dry or stagnant

Share your fluid observation with me.

Let's restore your natural flow.

Until then,

Puneet

aka That Ayurveda Guy

P.S. Anjali added a teaspoon of ghee to her meals and started gentle movement breaks. "My skin improved, but more surprisingly, my mood became less rigid," she reported. "I didn't realize emotional flexibility was connected to physical fluidity." Water element connects everything.

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not your doctor, just your Undoctor—translating Ayurveda into real life. Use these insights for awareness, not treatment. If you’re unwell, seek professional medical guidance.

Why Ayurvedic practitioners stay silent while wellness influencers get famous

Last week, a senior Vaidya told me:
"This girl on Instagram — she discovered turmeric six months ago. Now she has 2 million followers teaching 'ancient healing secrets.'"

His face was somewhere between disgust and despair.

"She's not even a doctor. She's selling courses."

I asked him: "So why don't you share your knowledge online?"

He looked at me like I'd suggested he start dancing on reels.

"I'm a practitioner. Not a performer."

And there it is.

The reason wellness influencers dominate while real practitioners fade into obscurity.

Atul Gawande writes bestsellers. Doctors like him translate complex medicine into stories people actually want to read.

But most practitioners with similar depth?

They'd rather quote Charaka Samhita than write a single LinkedIn post.

The excuses I hear:
→ "Sharing personal insights feels unscientific"
→ "Admitting failures is risky"
→ "Writing about the human side is too soft"
→ "Marketing is beneath me"

Meanwhile, someone with a weekend certification and good lighting is explaining YOUR life's work to YOUR potential patients.

And getting it half wrong.

The irony?

Traditional practitioners call content creation "selling out."
But staying silent isn't humility.
It's handing the microphone to people who don't know what they're talking about.

You can be the world's greatest chef.
But if you never leave the kitchen, the waiter gets all the credit.

Worse — a waiter who can't even cook.

This knowledge isn't in any textbook.
Can't be taught in Instagram reels.
Won't survive in PDFs.

When practitioners retire, their wisdom retires with them.

Forty years of pattern recognition. Gone.
Thousands of case insights. Gone.
Lessons that could help millions. Gone.

To every practitioner reading this:

You don't need to dance.
You don't need filters.
You just need to write like you talk to patients.

The world has enough influencers.
It's starving for teachers.

— Puneet
aka That Ayurveda Guy

P.S. That senior Vaidya? Still refuses to post. Still complains about influencers every time I see him. I've stopped arguing. Some people prefer being right over being heard.

The Right Food at the Wrong Time Is Still Wrong

“I eat khichdi with ghee every night — it’s nourishing, right?”

Meera asked, confident.
“Yes,” I said.
“But also… no.”

In Ayurveda, food isn’t everything.
Timing is an ingredient too.

Moong dal and ghee are healing foods.
But eaten at night — when digestion slows —
they become heavy, coating the system instead of nourishing it.

Why?
Because midday (10 AM–2 PM) is when your digestive fire (Agni) burns strongest.

Food eaten then transforms fully into energy and vitality.
Outside this window, even good food half-digests —
creating ama (toxins) instead of ojas (vitality).

Ayurveda teaches:
A healthy meal depends on what you eat, when you eat, and how well you digest.
So don’t just upgrade ingredients.
Upgrade your timing.
Eat your heaviest, most nourishing meals at midday.
Let dinner be light and simple.
Because even the best food won’t help
if your inner fire is already asleep.

Today’s simple action:
Notice when your hunger feels sharp and clear —
that’s your real mealtime.
—
Puneet
aka That Ayurveda Guy
P.S. One client moved her khichdi from dinner to lunch.
Within a week, bloating eased, sleep improved, and mornings felt lighter.
Same food. New timing.

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not your doctor, just your Undoctor—translating Ayurveda into real life. Use these insights for awareness, not treatment. If you’re unwell, seek professional medical guidance.

Your body fluids are tattling on you (and you're ignoring them)

Meera walked into my consultation wiping her palms on her jeans.
"I don't know why I sweat so much. It's embarrassing."

I asked her one question: "Does your sweat smell sweet or sour?"
She looked at me like I'd asked her to solve calculus.
But here's what most people miss.
Your tears aren't just sadness leaving your body.

Your sweat isn't just cooling mechanism.
Your saliva isn't just mouth lubricant.
They're your body's report cards.

And they're graded by the Water element—Jala Mahabhuta.Think about it.

When you cry, are your tears hot or cool? Thick or watery?
When you sweat, does it smell sweet, sour, or pungent?
When you spit, is your saliva ropy and thick, or thin and foamy?

Each answer reveals which dosha is dominating your Water element right now.

Hot tears with burning eyes? Pitta's overheating your water.
Sticky, ropy saliva in the morning? Kapha's making your water sluggish.
Dry mouth with scanty saliva? Vata's evaporating your water reserves.

Water element doesn't just sit in your bladder waiting to become urine.

It's in every cell.It's your plasma (Rasa Dhatu).It's your lymph.It's your synovial fluid cushioning your joints.It's your cerebrospinal fluid protecting your brain.

When your Water element is balanced, these fluids flow smoothly.

Your joints don't crack.Your skin glows without cream.Your eyes stay naturally moist.Your digestion produces the right amount of saliva to break down food.

But when Water is imbalanced?

Either you're retaining it (swollen ankles, puffy face, weight that won't budge).Or you're losing it (dry skin, constipation, joints that sound like bubble wrap).

Most people try to fix this with more water.Wrong move.
It's not about quantity.It's about quality and circulation.

Cold water? Slows down your digestive fire and makes Kapha worse.
Too much water? Dilutes your digestive enzymes.
Wrong timing? Drinking while eating washes away the enzymes you need.

The ancient texts knew this.

"जलं जीवनम्" ~ Ayurvedic principle
"Water is life"—but only when it's in the right form, temperature, and timing.

Here's your Water element check-in for today:

Look at your tongue in the mirror.
Is it coated? (Water stagnation—Kapha excess)
Is it dry and cracked? (Water depletion—Vata excess)
Is it red with yellow coating? (Water overheating—Pitta excess)
Then check your sweat today during any activity.

Does it smell? What does it smell like?
Does it evaporate quickly or stay sticky?These aren't random.They're messages.

Your action for today: Notice one body fluid.Just observe.
Your saliva when you wake up.
Your sweat if you exercise.
Your tears if emotions arise.Don't judge. Just notice.

Disclaimer: I’m not your doctor, just your Undoctor—translating Ayurveda into real life. Use these insights for awareness, not treatment. If you’re unwell, seek professional medical guidance.

Your first sip in the morning decides your day. 
“Isn’t warm water boring?”
Ravi asked me once.
He preferred his fancy lemon-honey detox drink.

I told him —
You’re not starting your day with flavor.
You’re starting it with signal.

And warm water sends the oldest signal your gut understands:
“Wake up gently.”

Not shock.
Not flush.
Just flow.

Every night, your digestive system slows down.
Agni rests.
The channels (srotas) stay dormant.
When you wake, your job isn’t to attack your body with stimulants.
It’s to invite it back to rhythm.

That’s why Ayurveda begins every dinacharya with a cup of ushna jala — warm water.

“Dīpanaṁ pācanaṁ kaṇṭhyaṁ laghūṣṇaṁ bastiśodhanam” ~ Ashtanga Hridayam
​Warm water stimulates digestion, clears toxins, lightens the body, and strengthens the throat.

It’s not detox.
It’s digestion prep.

You wouldn’t start your car without warming the engine.
Why start your stomach cold?

Lemon and honey aren’t wrong.
But without warmth, they’re just confusion in a cup.

Your gut wants a friend, not a fight.

So tomorrow morning —
Skip the trends.
Boil plain water.
Sip slowly.
Feel your body thank you before breakfast.

That’s not boring.
That’s alignment.

Until then,
​Puneet​
aka That Ayurveda Guy

P.S. One reader told me she replaced her chilled detox drink with warm water for just 5 days.
Her bloating disappeared.
“Turns out,” she said, “I didn’t need a cleanse. Just warmth.”

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not your doctor, just your Undoctor—translating Ayurveda into real life. Use these insights for awareness, not treatment. If you’re unwell, seek professional medical guidance.

Your burps are trying to tell you something (listen up)

Sunita burped halfway through our consultation.

She covered her mouth, mortified.

I smiled. "Don't apologize. Your body just gave me a diagnosis."

She looked confused.
"Was it a sour burp or a bitter burp?"
Here's what nobody tells you.

Your digestion talks.Constantly.

Through burps, farts, bloating, timing, sounds.
Most people ignore it or feel embarrassed.

But these are clues your body is BEGGING you to notice.

Let me decode the messages.
BURP DECODER:

Burp tastes sour? That's Pitta. Too much acid, too much heat.
Burp tastes bitter? That's bile reflux. Your liver is overwhelmed.
Burp smells like rotten eggs? That's fermentation. Food is rotting in your gut instead of digesting.

No burps at all? That's Vata. Everything's dry and stuck.

BLOATING CLOCK:
Bloated right after eating? Your Agni (digestive fire) is weak. You ate more than you can handle.
Bloated 2-3 hours after eating? Wrong food combination. Something in that meal is fighting.
Bloated by evening even if you ate light? Vata accumulation. Your nervous system is stressed.
Wake up bloated? You ate dinner too late. Your body couldn't process it overnight.

FART QUALITY REPORT:

Silent but deadly? Pitta imbalance. Heat is cooking things wrong internally.
Loud and frequent? Vata disturbance. Too much air, anxiety, or raw/cold foods.
No farts? Kapha blockage or severe Vata constipation. Things aren't moving.
Smell like sulfur? Protein isn't digesting. Cut back on meat, eggs, or beans temporarily.

HUNGER TIMING:
Hungry every 2 hours? Pitta is too high. You're burning through food too fast.
Never hungry? Kapha excess or Ama buildup. Your digestion is clogged.
Hungry but can't eat much? Vata disturbance. Irregular appetite from stress.
Starving at night but not hungry in morning? You're eating at the wrong times. Reverse it.

STOMACH SOUNDS:
Gurgling and rumbling? Vata or weak Agni. 
Quiet stomach? Could be good (strong digestion) or bad (completely blocked).
Sounds get worse when stressed? Your gut and mind are directly connected.

BOWEL MOVEMENT REPORT:
Floats? Too much fat or undigested food.
Sticks to toilet? Excess Kapha or Ama. Sticky, toxic waste.
Loose/urgent? Pitta excess or weak Agni from cold foods.
Dry and hard? Vata. You're dehydrated and need healthy fats.
Multiple times daily? Either excellent Agni or disturbed Vata/Pitta.

Once every 2-3 days? Kapha or Vata constipation. Things are stuck.

Here's the principle:
"अग्निः सर्वरोगहेतुः" ~ Charaka Samhita
"Weak digestion is the root of all disease."
Your digestive clues aren't embarrassing.
They're telling you exactly what's wrong before it becomes a diagnosis.

Your action for today:

Notice ONE digestive signal today.
A burp. A bloat. A bathroom trip.
Just notice: When? What did I eat? How did I feel before/after?
That's data.That's your body teaching you its language.

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not your doctor, just your Undoctor—translating Ayurveda into real life.

The internal fire that turns food into you

"Why am I always hungry but never satisfied?"

Priya asked while ordering her third snack of the afternoon.

Her digestion was confused.

Her internal fire was sputtering.

Your body contains actual fire.

Not metaphorical warmth.

Real transformative heat.

Without it, food stays food instead of becoming you.

Think of your digestive system as a wood stove.

Food is the wood.

Agni is the flame.

When the fire burns right, everything transforms cleanly.

When it sputters, you get smoke instead of heat.

"Agniḥ sarva pācanaṃ karoti śarīre" ~ AH

Translation: Fire performs all transformation in the body.

Where fire element lives in your body:

Your stomach transforms food into nutrients

Your eyes perceive light and color

Your skin regulates temperature

Your mind processes experiences into understanding

When fire is balanced:

Hunger arrives on schedule

Food digests completely

Vision stays sharp

Thinking remains clear

When fire goes out of balance:

Too strong: constant hunger, acid reflux, irritability

Too weak: no appetite, heaviness after eating, brain fog

Irregular: sometimes ravenous, sometimes repulsed by food

Modern life disturbs your fire:

Eating without hunger

Snacking constantly

Ice-cold drinks dousing digestive flames

Irregular meal timing confusing the fire's rhythm

Today's fire-tending action:

Eat only when truly hungry (stomach growling, not clock watching)

Avoid cold drinks with meals

Add warming spices to kindle gentle heat

Skip one unnecessary snack to let your fire reset

Share your fire observation with me.

Let's tend your internal flames properly.

Until then,

Puneet

aka That Ayurveda Guy

P.S. Priya stopped her constant snacking and started eating only when genuinely hungry. "I realized I'd been drowning my digestive fire for years," she said. "Now it burns steady instead of sputtering all day." Your fire doesn't need more fuel - it needs proper tending.

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Puneet Aggarwal

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The Battle

Jason Fried

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Jason Fried's LinkedIn Performance

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