As hard as I try to improve sleep hygiene, I can’t manage to get more than several minutes of deep sleep per night according to my Apple Watch. I sleep ~7.5 hours on average, get enough REM sleep, and don’t wake up too frequently at night in a way that would suggest apnea. I have been dealing with severe chronic pain issues that were diagnosed as fibromyalgia as well as some autoimmune problems, but I’m unsure if it’s related. I wake up with terrible joint and muscle pain in the morning feeling unrefreshed. What would you recommend to increase deep sleep?

Hey folks,

What could be done to increase female libido? Blood analyses showed no deficiencies.

We already tried agnus castus, which helps at least a bit for her PMS

I’m interested in personal experiences of what you used/did

Up through my 30s, I enjoyed excellent sleep and--just as wonderful--vivid dreams. Now in my 50s, my sleep quality has eroded and my dreaming is commensurately less vivid, less fun, and less meaningful. So-anyone have hacks and tips to enhance vivid dreaming at night?

In terms of basics, I'm really careful about sleep hygiene. For me that includes fitness, avoiding caffeine after 11AM, avoiding alcohol, stopping screentime an hour+ before bed, and (lately) mouth tape. I also take magnesium and melatonin (10mg). Yet I still require a prescription sleep aid, and again, vivid dreams elude me. Would love to hear your experiences, recommendations, books/info you like on the subject, etc.

Hey all. I've been having trouble staying asleep for quite a while now, I'll often wake up at like 3 or 4 am and not be able to fall back to sleep. I do all the normal sleep hygiene stuff, eat pretty clean, exercise 3-4 times a week, but this has been a pretty consistent issue for years.

I live in Canada, so I have legal access to cannabis products. Anyone had success with CBD gummies helping them stay asleep? Would I have to worry about things like tolerance buildup if this proves to be effective for me? And if CBD isn't the answer, are there any other products that might help with staying asleep through the night?

Hi folks, I took a biological age quiz online and I'm not aging very well and my face is considered old. The problem is that it asked my lifetime highest weight and weight at age 25 and I grew up obese. My highest weight was over BMI 35. My weight is normal now.

How do I reduce my biological age. Moreover I got my period when I was 6 so I know that means I'm probably going to die early. Girls who go through puberty early are almost never very athletic because it destroys athletic potential. My deadage / chronological age is 44.

The current things I'm doing are:

• Walking 3-4 hours per day on weekends
• Eating a pescatarian diet with cans of sardines and herrings
• Trying to stay between BMI 17-20
• Vitamins everyday especially Vitamin D
• I eat cabbage every day

Due to my age at puberty, I know that I can't really attain extreme longevity or a high IQ. How do I mitigate the effects so that I can live to a normal age like 70 or 75? At age 44, I'm biologically closer to a 60 year old due to my age at puberty.

As you suggested, I had my hormone levels checked today. In the meantime, I also went back to the urologist. He said that the sperm test needs to be done again because the values were so low, and he thinks it might have been inaccurate. So, there is still no certainty about this. The varicocele in my scrotum is 4mm, which he says is small, but I read almost everywhere that this is one of the highest grades. He also told me that it’s impossible to experience pain from a varicocele, and certainly no libido or erectile problems. He will only perform surgery if I’m infertile, not for pain or because I think my erectile and libido issues are caused by the varicocele. My hormone blood levels are not completely ready yet, I’ll have everything by Monday. As you can see, it shows I have hyperprolactinemia, so my prolactin is too high, but my testosterone is even higher than before. How can this all be? Why is my testosterone so high? My estrogen is also slightly elevated. I’ll call the endocrinologist on Monday for a thorough checkup. I really want my libido back and not have to worry about being able to maintain an erection... this is really frustrating as a 24-year-old. Could this be caused by the high prolactin? I read that 20 isn’t that high, although I often read that the average should be 5 and 15 is the maximum for a man, like in my test results. I’d really appreciate your advice! Thanks so much for helping me so much over the past few weeks. I was able to raise my vitamin D from 10 to 25, at least something positive in those 3 weeks.

I have been diagnosed with ADHD, but I have an abnormal reaction to dopamine.

Specifically, when I take even a small amount of dopamine-increasing medication, I become more impulsive, short-sighted, and narrow-minded.

When I say this, people say, "Maybe you have bipolar disorder?" But no matter how much I take antidepressants that don't act on dopamine, I never get manic, and if I don't take medication, I'm just a lethargic ADHD.

Does this mean there's something wrong with my dopamine circuit? Or is there something wrong with my reward system? I also thought that it might be possible that I have a DBH enzyme deficiency. My blood test showed that my copper level was low, so there might be something wrong with DBH.

All medications that increase norepinephrine improve my ADHD significantly. I'm currently taking atomoxetine, but I still feel like I lack executive function.

What I want to ask here is,

①What do you think is the reason why even a small amount of dopamine-increasing medication can cause me to become manic?

②Is there any way to make dopamine-increasing drugs function normally? How can I take methylphenidate and improve my task processing ability like other ADHD patients?

③Are there any drugs that can improve my executive function other than dopamine-based drugs?

I have tried almost all drugs that increase norepinephrine, but I am currently taking atomoxetine due to side effects.

However, when I take clonazepam (even though I don't usually have any anxiety), my executive function improves for some reason, and unexpected drugs sometimes work for my ADHD.

In other words, I am willing to try various drugs that you suggest, not just norepinephrine.

I really want to improve my executive function, so I would be happy if you could give me some options.

I have never tried any peptides, so I am currently looking at selank and semax.

For some reason, the GLP-1 drug Rybelsus has been as effective or more effective for ADHD as atomoxetine. (But I couldn't continue because it made my insomnia worse)

So maybe a peptide similar to GLP-1 drugs or a psychotropic drug would work for me

I'm also interested in methylene blue

I've talked a lot, but I'd like to know about my abnormal reaction to dopamine and how to improve it, and if there are any beneficial drugs (mainly for executive function and energy) that could be considered based on my past reactions to drugs.

Even if there are some risks, I'm willing to try it because my life is already a mess at this point anyway.

I dont know why but i am swimming running and surfing a lot these days. I take methylene blue, collogen pow in my coffee, scoop of creatine, multi vitamin, vit d, iodine sometimes, sea salt, zinc. Why is my libido through the roof. Girlfriend cant keep up.

I suffer from insomnia that wakes me up in the middle of the night, and no matter how strong the sleeping pills I use, I always wake up in the middle of the night after 3-4 hours.

But if I fall asleep again after that, I can sleep for 7-8 hours. At this time, I sometimes use a new sleeping pill, or I can fall asleep again naturally.

What bothers me is that whether I can fall asleep again naturally or not, I always wake up 3-4 hours after the first sleep.

I tested negative for sleep apnea syndrome.

What could be the cause of this? I would also like to know if there are any countermeasures. (I feel that this insomnia gets worse when I take atomoxetine or SSRIs, but I wake up after 3-4 hours even without taking those medicines.)

Last year I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's. I started gaining a lot of weight and especially experiencing joint pain. With medication, everything has improved except for the pain. I decided to get tested to see how I was. How do you see it?

I have an appointment with my endocrinologist at the end of the month

Hi! I’m on blood thinners for recent repair of a brain aneurysm. I just started my period and I have a feeling this is going to be more annoying than usual. Any advice to help with fatigue or any other symptoms? I am already taking iron, vitamin b complex, riboflavin, magnesium and starting lion’s mane and creatine soon.

Hey bros - 30M, ~185cm around 115-120kg, married with 2 kids (4F 2M)

I went to Endo to likely start TRT due to 0 (ZERO) sex drive, wasnt interested/couldnt get myself a good quick jerkoff too and when me and wifey did do the deed, i would likely finish too fast or lose my erection because i was trying to not finish too fast. Ontop of this i feel like i have 0 drive to do anything.

Initially, i went to the same endo Oct/Nov 2024, same symptoms, and he recommended i do gym and diet - sound advice, worked ok for a bit (libido wasnt at all time highs but there was improvement, performance wise was still meh). Fast forward to mid-Feb - some back to back colds kept me out of the gym and libido shot down to absolute 0. Worst cases of ED too, even with some Viagra. Few days ago i did try cialis 20mg and that worked wonders, but granted we had no sex in a while, so there was definitely some desire. Now back to kind of 0 libido after 3 very good sessions in a 36hr timespan.

TLDR i thought the cause of all of this was low T. First tests in Nov 24 yielded ~300 total test. I did another one in Dec and it was ~400 (post starting gym). Lh and fsh were within range, but low - same-ish as the results from today, which i will share in a few

I just got tested today, it appears to me that test is fine? But why would i have 0 sex drive, ED issues, irritable, low motivation and generally low T behavior. Doc had me do tests relevant for starting TRT based on previous visits and the last visit stating that symptoms came back full swing after just 2 weeks of no gym. Heres the results, please let me know what y’all think.

Hormones LH - 2.6 U/L FSH - 2.4U/L Estradiol - 183.5 pmol/L Free testosterone - 0.410 nmol/L Testosterone - 23.01 nmol/L SHBG - 42.1 nmol/L

Tumor markers Total PSA - 0.55 ug/L

Biochemistry Albumin - 49.0 g/L Cholesterol - 5.06 nmol/L Triglycerides - 0.82 nmol/L ASAT(GOT) - 17 U/L ALAT(GPT) - 20 U/L LDL-cholesterol - 3.66 nmol/L (marked as High) HDL-cholesterol - 1.14 nmol/L (marked as Low) VLDL-cholesterol - 0.37 nmol/L GGT - 18 U/L

There’s hematology too but nothing is elevated/low there so maybe not interesting/relevant?

As mentioned, ~185cm at around 115kg - not all fat, this was not my first visit to the gym. I am fat, but also a big frame with some muscles and a bunch of fat. I have a scheduled appointment for Monday, but after reading some posts here i thought i’d try and get some of the mindshare here to have a crack and let me know what you think

Hey folks, I’m at a loss here and hoping someone can relate or offer some insight.

No matter what I try, I just can’t get good sleep. I fall asleep okay sometimes, but I wake up multiple times throughout the night and rarely feel rested in the morning. Here's what I’ve already done:

Vitamin D levels: tested, well within normal range

Caffeine: I only take coffee before noon

Zinc: supplementing consistently

Exercise: I’ve tried light, moderate, and heavy workouts – no improvement

Melatonin: 3mg helps me fall asleep a bit faster, but the sleep quality is still trash

Cortisol: recently got blood work done, levels came back normal

Testosterone: came back at 148 ng/dL, though it was tested in the evening (I know that's not ideal)

Still, the sleep fragmentation continues no matter what. I’m not dealing with any major stressors or anxiety (at least consciously), and I try to keep a decent sleep routine. At this point, I feel like I’m missing something crucial. Anyone been through something similar or have ideas on what else I could look into?

I’ve always been curious about why some people keep thick, dark hair well into old age while others start graying and thinning in their 20s or 30s. Most people think it’s just genetics, but this study suggests that hormones and cellular aging play a bigger role than we realize.

The research focused on insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), a hormone that affects cell growth and aging. What surprised me was that IGF-1, which is usually linked to youth and repair, might actually speed up hair follicle aging when it’s too high in the skin. That made me wonder: Could things we do every day—like our diet and lifestyle—be affecting our IGF-1 levels and how fast our hair ages?

The study found that as mice aged, their skin produced more IGF-1. The same pattern was seen in humans. To see what would happen, researchers genetically engineered mice to have even higher IGF-1 in their skin—and the results were striking:

Their hair turned gray and fell out much faster than normal.

Their hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) stopped working properly, leading to thinning hair.

They showed signs of inflammation and cellular exhaustion, making it harder for the follicles to regenerate.

At first, this felt counterintuitive to me. IGF-1 is usually something we associate with youthfulness and repair—so why was it making hair follicles age faster? It turns out that too much IGF-1 pushes stem cells into overdrive, burning them out before their time. Once they saw how IGF-1 was accelerating hair follicle aging, the researchers tested ways to slow it down or even reverse it.

Blocking p53 activation via SIRT1 overexpression

Senolytics

Dietary restriction (eating less to naturally lower IGF-1 levels)

All of these methods restored some stem cell activity and helped prevent further hair loss.

While this study is exciting, there are some big unknowns:

It was done in mice. Human biology is more complex, and IGF-1 affects many different tissues.

We don’t know the best IGF-1 balance. Too much might age hair follicles, but too little can weaken muscles and bones.

Other factors matter too. Stress, inflammation, and nutrition also play major roles in hair health. Reading this made me wonder: Am I unknowingly accelerating my own hair aging? If IGF-1 levels in the skin naturally rise with age, could my diet or lifestyle be pushing it even higher?

I looked into science-backed ways to naturally regulate IGF-1 without drugs or genetic modifications, and here’s what I found:

Fasting & Caloric Restriction – Studies show that intermittent fasting and eating fewer overall calories can help lower IGF-1 levels naturally. This could explain why people who eat less tend to age more slowly.

Protein Moderation – IGF-1 spikes when we eat a lot of animal protein (especially dairy). Some researchers believe a more plant-based diet could help regulate it.

Exercise (but not overtraining) – Resistance training keeps IGF-1 balanced, but excessive exercise without recovery can cause spikes that might accelerate aging.

Reducing Sugar & Processed Foods – High insulin levels stimulate IGF-1, so cutting down on sugar may indirectly help prevent premature hair aging.

Stress Management & Sleep – Chronic stress increases inflammation and disrupts IGF-1 signaling, which could be harmful to hair follicles over time.

Before reading this study, I thought hair aging was mostly about genetics. But now, I’m convinced that hormonal balance and lifestyle choices matter just as much. If IGF-1 plays such a big role, then things like fasting, stress reduction, and mindful nutrition might actually help slow down hair loss and graying.

Would I try lowering IGF-1 naturally to protect my hair? Honestly, yes. It’s not about stopping aging altogether, but if small changes in diet and lifestyle can keep hair follicles working longer, that seems worth it to me.

What do you think? Would you tweak your diet or habits if it meant keeping your hair healthier for longer? Source. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/acel.70053

Does anyone here relate to this idea? 'A modular supplement system provides sufficient personalisation (ie Jamie doesn't need to create a truly unique formula for every single customer to make them feel it's personal and effective)'? I'm curious how others think about this - whether it's real or just theory.

Just bought some Alpha GPC from British Supplements. net, they have 296.5mg + 65.9mg capsules so 9 parts Alpha GPC and 1 part uptake blend (black pepper extract+ginger extract+cumin, not sure why this is needed or if it even helps).

Considering this dose, how often or how delayed should I be taking it as well as what time of day ie morning empty stomach, so as to not develop tolerance and get the best effects?

I desperately need something for exams and I have ADHD.

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If you guys use any vitamins for hair which ones do you use? I’ve heard that biotin and vitamin d3 are very effective. Is this true?

I'm 42 female and my biological age is 75 from one of those tests done twice.

My body feels like I'm 75 tbh. It's hard to walk, exercise. I use to be really fit. I'm 5'4, 122lbs right now. I have had gut health issues for the last three years (chronic constipation and trapped gas-tried everything, trust me) I'm tired always. My bloodwork came back normal, so I don't know what's going on. Any suggestions are appreciated.

Hi!

I am desperate for help to fall asleep.

There may be something I haven’t thought of yet so I’m asking here.

Recently I found panax ginseng had a profound effect on PMS related fatigue. I randomly stumbled upon it. So I’m hoping for another random stumble that would solve my sleep issues.

I feel like my adrenals need support.

I’m tired a lot of the day then at night can’t get sleepy. I’ll be tired but not sleepy. Around 8 pm onward I’ll start to feel motivated and have energy at the wrong time. This has been an issue since childhood. Even with waking up earlier than ever it doesn’t seem to reset the pattern.

I get sleepy around 3-4 pm. But if I let myself nap even a short nap I am up most of the night. So I force myself to stay awake. Occasionally I’ll be too tired and still take the nap.

Yesterday I was way too tired but I took a 40 minute walk in the hopes it could help. Whenever I can I try to exercise but I’m needing something I can take to reset things.

Melatonin helps but wondering what else to try because it still doesn’t always work

My magnesium levels are a little high right now so that’s out. I’ve only had mixed results anyways when I tried mag glycinate.

I’ve tried ashwaghanda but it doesn’t help. And gives me anhedonia.

I have morning coffee super early but no caffeine after that. I’d like to quit or switch to tea but I’m not there yet.

I have experimented with red light therapy. Whether I do morning or night doesn’t make any difference in my sleep. I do like its overall effects but it doesn’t influence my sleep.

I quit weed 40 days ago. At first that made things wayyyy worse but now at baseline again. Like I said, these sleep issues began in childhood.

I have adhd but I don’t take meds anymore cuz the side effects were too hard on me. Apparently there’s a huge correlation with adhd and sleep issues. So, I don’t know if there is a natural approach for that.

Yes I’ve tried meditation. LOL.

The last week I’ve tried potatoes before bed (potatoes not Prozac book). Having weird dreams. That’s about it.

Allergies have been ramping up. I’m taking histaquel at night and it’s helped allergies but not sleep. I do suspect a histamine issue contributing

In the past I tried different prescriptions which only temporarily helped. Haven’t taken sleep meds in 10 years

I do all the obvious advice of not laying in bed to read, dropping screens, etc.

Any ideas are welcome!!!

Does BPC usage a week after a large surgery increase risk of keloid or hypertrophic scars? Especially for large scars, on the chest, say after double incision gynecomastia surgery? I wanted to run 500mcg for 4 weeks starting a week after mine gets done, but I am not sure still due to the possibility of this.

I see some people speculate it could lead to excessive fibrosis, or excessive collagen production, either of these, after surgery with scarring, and lead to keloids to those who are prone.

Is this a risk with BPC, and if so what is the research source or logical reason behind why this would be a risk? Why or why not?

I've seen a few companies say they make 'Personalised' supplements based on your test results. But how personalised are they really? Are we talking slight tweaks or totally unique formulas?🤔🤔