Dr. Susan Carter, MD: Endocrinologist & Longevity Expert

Metformin over the counter: Why it requires a script and how to get one safely

Dec 08, 2025 · 11 min read

Metformin is prescription-only in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. because it alters mitochondrial energy metabolism and relies on kidney clearance, so reduced renal function can increase the risk of lactic acidosis (dangerously high blood acidity). If you’re pursuing it for weight management or longevity, here’s how clinicians evaluate labs and prescribe it safely through ...

Masturbation MET value and BMR: What research says

Dr. Susan Carter, MD: Endocrinologist & Longevity Expert

Dec 07, 2025 · 13 min read

Most men burn roughly 15–40 kilocalories during a 10–15 minute masturbation session (about 2–3 METs, closer to slow walking than a workout), and it does not meaningfully increase basal metabolic rate BMR. That small burn can still affect stress and sleep, so here’s what the research shows and how to think about it in a ...

Men’s biomarker reports: What BMI ‘normal’ band means

Dr. Susan Carter, MD: Endocrinologist & Longevity Expert

Dec 07, 2025 · 13 min read

Wearables, lab panels, and health apps are turning midlife checkups into data streams. Here is how smarter report optimization in men can turn those numbers into better energy, libido, and long-term health. “Most men now have more health data than their doctors had 20 years ago. The real win is not more testing, but turning ...

The worst foods for gut health and how they disrupt your entire system

Dr. Susan Carter, MD: Endocrinologist & Longevity Expert

Dec 06, 2025 · 9 min read

Ultra-processed foods high in added sugar, artificial sweeteners/additives, and unhealthy fats can shift your microbiome toward dysbiosis in as little as 24 hours, erode the protective mucosal barrier, and let bacterial toxins leak into the bloodstream to fuel systemic inflammation. Here’s the clinical evidence for which foods do the most damage—and how to rebuild a ...

Can low testosterone cause joint pain?

Dr. Susan Carter, MD: Endocrinologist & Longevity Expert

Dec 06, 2025 · 13 min read

Low testosterone can contribute to joint pain by increasing chronic inflammation and weakening the muscle, bone, and cartilage support that stabilizes joints, and studies have linked low levels to about double the risk of developing osteoarthritis. If aching knees or stiff shoulders come with fatigue, lower libido, or shrinking strength, it’s worth seeing how hormones ...