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Explore expert conversations on hormones, metabolism, weight loss, peptides, gut health, and longevity. Get practical insights to help you feel better, age stronger, and take control of your health.
In this episode, Dr. Cassie Smith sits down with our host, Joe Miller, founder of First Optimal, to discuss the powerful connection between gut health, hormones, metabolism, and overall wellness. We talk about root causes, advanced testing, sustainable lifestyle changes, and why your symptoms may be telling you more than your lab results.
When you stop a glucagon-like peptide-1 medication, its appetite, fullness, digestion, and blood sugar effects gradually fade. Hunger and food cravings may increase, gastrointestinal side effects may improve, and weight regain becomes more likely. This does not mean everyone regains all the weight they lost. It does mean that stopping without a maintenance strategy can […]
Author: Joe Miller, Founder of 1st Optimal Medically reviewed by: Franchell Hamilton, MD, FACS, FASMBS, DABOM Quick Answer: A 2026 systematic review found that testosterone therapy was associated with improvements in sexual desire, libido, sexual satisfaction, and satisfactory sexual experiences in women. The strongest evidence came from randomized clinical trials involving postmenopausal women. Results in […]
You step on the scale after a week of eating well, training consistently, and doing everything you thought you were supposed to do. The number is unchanged. Or worse, it went up. So naturally, you assume the plan is failing. But what if your waist is smaller? What if your clothes fit better? What if […]
Peptides are having their moment. They’re being promoted for faster recovery, better sleep, improved metabolism, stronger muscles, younger-looking skin, mitochondrial health, gut repair, hormone support, and even longer life. Depending on who you follow online, peptides are either the next major chapter in precision medicine or a refrigerated box of expensive optimism. The honest answer […]
You feel exhausted even after sleeping. Your sex drive has dropped. Workouts hit harder and recovery takes longer. Muscle is more difficult to maintain. Maybe your mood, motivation, focus, or erections have changed. So you get your testosterone checked. The result comes back “normal.” Case closed? Not necessarily. A normal total testosterone result does not […]
Some women can continue hormone therapy after age 60 or 65. The better question is not “What age should women stop?” It’s “Is hormone therapy still appropriate for this woman, with her symptoms, health history, risk factors, labs, and goals?” For many years, women were often told to stop hormone therapy automatically at age 60 […]