Health is not a matter of instant gratification

In a time where almost anything you could want is just a tap away—AI-powered answers in seconds, groceries delivered within the hour, endless content streamed instantly, and real-time validation through likes and shares—it’s no surprise that we’ve come to expect that same level of immediacy from our health. GLP-1 drugs promise rapid weight loss. Telemedicine provides patient care from the comfort of your own couch. At-home diagnostic tests deliver near-instant health insights. Social media and on-demand culture have rewired our brains to crave this kind of instant gratification, trapping many of us in a dopamine loop—that endless cycle of seeking out short-term rewards at the expense of long-term well-being. The consequences of this mindset are much deeper than we realize. In fact, the ripple effect is reshaping how we view our bodies, our health, and what it means to feel good. And it’s taking a toll on our physical and mental health. The health and wellness industry, which should be offering a counterpoint to this culture, has too often played into it, promising overnight results, quick fixes, and immediate transformations. The truth is, our bodies don’t operate on the same timeline as our screens. The disconnect between instant gratification and whole-body health Biological transformation is a slow and intuitive process, one that unfolds over months and years, not overnight. Yet we’ve been conditioned to feel like we’re failing if we don’t see instant results. This gap has real consequences: People abandon solutions that could meaningfully improve their health simply because they haven’t delivered fast enough. In the chasing of short-term wins, we’re ignoring the foundational systems that fuel long-term well-being: our stress response, hormone health, gut microbiome, and the delicate balance of nutrients that power our bodies. The rise of quick-fix wellness has only reinforced this cycle. The common thread? They all offer a dopamine hit—a fleeting sense of progress—without addressing the root causes of why we don’t feel good in the first place. The problem is, quick wins rarely translate to lasting health. When we expect instant results from our bodies, we’re setting ourselves up for disappointment, and that disappointment breeds distrust. We start to believe that our bodies are failing us, when in reality, it’s our expectations that need recalibrating. What’s more concerning is that this mindset is compounding the very issues we’re trying to solve. Stress, fatigue, thinning hair, breakouts, brain fog—these are all signals that our bodies are out of balance, not problems to be hacked. But in the dopamine loop, we treat the symptoms, not the root causes. So the cycle continues. A new mindset: Longevity over quick fixes The most profound health transformations happen when we work with our bodies, not against them. This requires a radical mindset shift—one that prioritizes optimization over instant gratification and rewires the way we measure progress. What if the question wasn’t “How quickly will this work?” but instead “How will this support the future version of me?” This is the mindset of whole-body longevity—the belief that how we feel today is deeply connected to how we’ll feel five, 10, or 20 years from now. It’s about setting your body up to not just feel good right now, but to stay strong and thrive for the long haul. As an industry, we have a responsibility to lead this shift. That means telling the truth about what it really takes to transform your health—that lasting change happens over months, not days. It means designing products that address the root causes of how people feel, not just surface-level symptoms. And it means empowering people to celebrate progress, not perfection, and to understand that feeling better is a journey, not a destination. The future of health is whole-body True wellbeing doesn’t come from quick fixes; it comes from lasting habits. While treatments and medications can offer short-term relief, sustainable transformation requires a deeper, long-term commitment to how we live every day. Whole foods, regular movement, quality sleep, stress management, and mindful choices like reducing alcohol—these aren’t trends; they’re the foundation for clarity, resilience, and longevity. When these habits are supported by science-backed clinical tools, they create the conditions for real, lasting change. Health becomes something we cultivate, not hack. Imagine if we shifted the focus from fast results to long-term vitality. If success was defined not by how quickly we feel better, but by how well we’re preparing our bodies and minds to thrive for decades to come. This is the future of health: slow, intentional, science-driven, and whole-body, because no part of us functions in isolation. As leaders, aligning with this vision means building not just better businesses, but a healthier world. Giorgos Tsetis is cofounder and chairman of N

Jun 13, 2025 - 01:00

Health is not a matter of instant gratification

In a time where almost anything you could want is just a tap away—AI-powered answers in seconds, groceries delivered within the hour, endless content streamed instantly, and real-time validation through likes and shares—it’s no surprise that we’ve come to expect that same level of immediacy from our health. GLP-1 drugs promise rapid weight loss. Telemedicine provides patient care from the comfort of your own couch. At-home diagnostic tests deliver near-instant health insights. Social media and on-demand culture have rewired our brains to crave this kind of instant gratification, trapping many of us in a dopamine loop—that endless cycle of seeking out short-term rewards at the expense of long-term well-being.

The consequences of this mindset are much deeper than we realize. In fact, the ripple effect is reshaping how we view our bodies, our health, and what it means to feel good. And it’s taking a toll on our physical and mental health. The health and wellness industry, which should be offering a counterpoint to this culture, has too often played into it, promising overnight results, quick fixes, and immediate transformations. The truth is, our bodies don’t operate on the same timeline as our screens.

The disconnect between instant gratification and whole-body health

Biological transformation is a slow and intuitive process, one that unfolds over months and years, not overnight. Yet we’ve been conditioned to feel like we’re failing if we don’t see instant results. This gap has real consequences: People abandon solutions that could meaningfully improve their health simply because they haven’t delivered fast enough. In the chasing of short-term wins, we’re ignoring the foundational systems that fuel long-term well-being: our stress response, hormone health, gut microbiome, and the delicate balance of nutrients that power our bodies.

The rise of quick-fix wellness has only reinforced this cycle. The common thread? They all offer a dopamine hit—a fleeting sense of progress—without addressing the root causes of why we don’t feel good in the first place.

The problem is, quick wins rarely translate to lasting health. When we expect instant results from our bodies, we’re setting ourselves up for disappointment, and that disappointment breeds distrust. We start to believe that our bodies are failing us, when in reality, it’s our expectations that need recalibrating.

What’s more concerning is that this mindset is compounding the very issues we’re trying to solve. Stress, fatigue, thinning hair, breakouts, brain fog—these are all signals that our bodies are out of balance, not problems to be hacked. But in the dopamine loop, we treat the symptoms, not the root causes. So the cycle continues.

A new mindset: Longevity over quick fixes

The most profound health transformations happen when we work with our bodies, not against them. This requires a radical mindset shift—one that prioritizes optimization over instant gratification and rewires the way we measure progress. What if the question wasn’t “How quickly will this work?” but instead “How will this support the future version of me?”

This is the mindset of whole-body longevity—the belief that how we feel today is deeply connected to how we’ll feel five, 10, or 20 years from now. It’s about setting your body up to not just feel good right now, but to stay strong and thrive for the long haul.

As an industry, we have a responsibility to lead this shift. That means telling the truth about what it really takes to transform your health—that lasting change happens over months, not days. It means designing products that address the root causes of how people feel, not just surface-level symptoms. And it means empowering people to celebrate progress, not perfection, and to understand that feeling better is a journey, not a destination.

The future of health is whole-body

True wellbeing doesn’t come from quick fixes; it comes from lasting habits. While treatments and medications can offer short-term relief, sustainable transformation requires a deeper, long-term commitment to how we live every day.

Whole foods, regular movement, quality sleep, stress management, and mindful choices like reducing alcohol—these aren’t trends; they’re the foundation for clarity, resilience, and longevity.

When these habits are supported by science-backed clinical tools, they create the conditions for real, lasting change. Health becomes something we cultivate, not hack.

Imagine if we shifted the focus from fast results to long-term vitality. If success was defined not by how quickly we feel better, but by how well we’re preparing our bodies and minds to thrive for decades to come.

This is the future of health: slow, intentional, science-driven, and whole-body, because no part of us functions in isolation. As leaders, aligning with this vision means building not just better businesses, but a healthier world.

Giorgos Tsetis is cofounder and chairman of Nutrafol.