You're probably reading this at your desk

And your third chai is getting cold.

Here's a number that should stop you mid-scroll. In a McKinsey Health Institute survey of more than 30,000 employees across 30 countries, 59% of Indian workers reported burnout symptoms. That was the highest of any country surveyed. The global average was 22%.

So Indian employees are reporting burnout at almost three times the global rate.

It gets worse for younger workers. The same research found that people aged 18 to 24 and non-managers had higher burnout rates than their seniors.

You already know the fixes: sleep more, eat better, log off. But when real life gets in the way, many professionals turn to supplements. So we picked one doctor-founded formula, Health Reset by Immunosciences, and asked a simple question: what does the research actually say about what's inside?

Some answers surprised us. Some will surprise you.

The 30-second burnout check

Tick every one that sounds like your week:

• You hit snooze at least twice most mornings

• Your energy crashes around 3 PM

• You reply to work messages after 10 PM

• Lunch happens at your desk, if it happens at all

• You feel "tired but wired" at bedtime

• Weekends feel like recovery, not rest

Three or more? You're not lazy. You're running on empty, like most of your colleagues. Screenshot this and send it to the friend who ticked all six.

12 ingredients, 2 capsules, 1 doctor-founded brand

Immunosciences was founded in 2020 by Dr. Deepika Krishna. The brand says each product goes through about 14 months of research and testing before launch.

Health Reset packs  12 ingredients into a daily dose of two vegetarian capsules. They fall into four teams:

Now for the research.

The 3,000-year-old herb that cut stress hormone by 27.9%

Ashwagandha is an old Ayurvedic herb. It also has one of the most quoted modern stress studies behind it.

In a 2012 double-blind trial in Hyderabad, 64 adults with chronic stress took either ashwagandha root extract or a placebo for 60 days. The ashwagandha group's results:

• Cortisol down 27.9%. Cortisol is the body's main stress hormone.

• Perceived stress down 44%, measured on a standard stress questionnaire.

The placebo group's cortisol fell by under 10%, according to a breakdown of the trial.

Why you should care: When cortisol stays high, it's linked to poor sleep, sugar cravings and that "tired but wired" feeling at midnight.

The fine print: That trial used 600 mg a day. Health Reset contains 25 mg, as one part of a wider blend. Don't expect the trial's results from this dose alone.

The 2000% kitchen trick your nani already knew

Turmeric is a superstar ingredient with one big problem: your body barely absorbs it.

In a 1998 study published in Planta Medica, volunteers took 2 grams of curcumin, turmeric's active compound. Their blood levels of curcumin stayed undetectable or very low.

Then researchers added just 20 mg of piperine, the compound that gives black pepper its bite. Curcumin absorption jumped by 2000%. That's twenty times more.

So every nani who added a pinch of kali mirch to haldi doodh was onto something.

The bonus most people miss: Piperine has also been shown to raise blood levels of CoQ10 after supplementation. Health Reset contains curcumin, CoQ10 and piperine together. That makes black pepper extract a smart supporting player in this formula.

The fine print: The 2000% figure came from a small study with high doses. Later studies have generally found smaller absorption boosts.

Your cells have a battery. It drains with age.

Every cell in your body contains tiny power plants called mitochondria. They need Coenzyme Q10 to turn food into usable energy.

Your body makes CoQ10 on its own, but production slows as you get older. Common cholesterol medicines called statins can lower it further. That's why CoQ10 has become a staple for heart health and energy. Most studies use 100 to 300 mg a day. Health Reset contains 50 mg.

Next on the team is spirulina, a blue-green algae sometimes called "pond scum with a PhD." It's rich in protein, iron and B vitamins. It also contains phycocyanin, a blue pigment that acts as an antioxidant. At 100 mg here, it's a nutrient boost rather than a meal replacement.

A berry from Ladakh, brain fat, and 3 plants your nani knew

Sea buckthorn: the tough little berry. This bright orange berry grows in the freezing cold deserts of Ladakh and Lahaul-Spiti, where few crops survive. It contains vitamin C, carotenoids and omega-7, a fatty acid that is rare in food. Early studies point to antioxidant and skin benefits. Larger trials are still needed.

DHA: what your brain is built from. DHA is an omega-3 fat and a key building block of the brain. Vegetarian diets, common across India, often contain very little of it. Health Reset adds a small amount. If brain health is your main goal, you'll want more omega-3 from food or a dedicated supplement.

Three desi plants with a long history:

• Talispatra: A Himalayan fir leaf used in Ayurveda for cough and breathing. A timely pick for anyone breathing city smog every winter.

• Betel leaf: Yes, the paan leaf. It was traditionally chewed after meals to help digestion, and lab studies show antimicrobial activity.

• Dandelion: A plant long used in folk medicine to support the liver and digestion. Human evidence is still limited.

To be clear, the evidence for these three comes mostly from traditional use and lab studies, not big human trials.

Myth vs fact: screenshot this

Read this before you start

Talk to your doctor first if you:

• are pregnant or breastfeeding

• take blood thinners, or medicine for diabetes, blood pressure or thyroid

• have a thyroid, autoimmune or neurological condition

• have surgery coming up

How to get the most out of it

Take two capsules a day with a meal. Some fat in the meal helps your body absorb CoQ10, curcumin and DHA. Give it four to eight weeks before you decide how it's working.

Then stack the free wins:

1. Seven hours of sleep on most nights

2. One proper lunch away from your desk

3. A 20-minute walk every day

4. No screens for 30 minutes before bed

The bottom line

India's professionals are reporting burnout at nearly three times the global rate. No capsule fixes a broken work culture. But a well-designed blend of adaptogens, energy nutrients, antioxidants and Indian botanicals can be one helpful part of a smarter routine. Go in with realistic expectations, protect your sleep, and give it time.

Know someone who replies to emails at midnight? Send them this.

This article is for information only and is not medical advice. Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Sources

• McKinsey Health Institute burnout findings, reported by DT Next

• McKinsey survey demographics, reported by People Matters

• Ashwagandha 2012 trial, reported by FoodNavigator-Asia

• Ashwagandha trial placebo results, Ubie Health

• Shoba et al. 1998, piperine and curcumin, PubMed

• Piperine monograph, including CoQ10 research

• EFSA Journal: Annona muricata risk assessment

• Health Reset product listing, Tata 1mg

• GlobalSpa feature on Immunosciences