The Optimistic RPh

08/21/2026

08/10/2026

On deck this week:
- The weekly lifting volume where the longevity benefit appears to top out, and why it is lower than you think
- A randomized trial suggesting one long workout a week can move body fat about as well as three short ones
- Testosterone prescribing just hit an all-time high, while the diagnostic workup behind it has not kept pace

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/5-minute-mens-health-strength-training-ceiling-week-trt-athanassakis-qs2ic

08/04/2026

Buying the right supplement is only half the battle.

Taking it the right way matters just as much.

For iron, several common habits can reduce absorption:

• Taking it with a calcium supplement
• Drinking coffee or tea at the same time
• Taking it with high-calcium foods like milk or yogurt
• Using certain medications, such as acid-reducing therapies, that may affect absorption in some people

That doesn't mean everyone should stop these products.
It means timing matters.

As a pharmacist, I often find that a few small changes improve the effectiveness of a supplement without changing the dose.

Inside RECLAIM, we review your medications, supplements, nutrition, and blood work together so every recommendation fits your situation.

📍Book a RECLAIM Fit Call: reclaimhealth.ca/book

08/03/2026

Taking iron is only useful if your body can absorb it.

A few everyday habits can quietly reduce absorption, including taking iron alongside calcium, washing it down with coffee or tea, pairing it with certain high-fibre foods, or taking it too close to medications that alter stomach acid.

Vitamin C can improve absorption, but the best routine still depends on the form, dose, timing, side effects, medication list, and the reason you are taking iron in the first place.

And please do not keep forcing the same routine if it is causing nausea, stomach pain, or constipation. Sometimes the dose, formulation, or frequency needs to change.

Iron therapy should be deliberate, not a daily chemistry experiment conducted beside your coffee maker.

Save this post for your next dose, and share it with someone who takes iron but has never thought about timing.

08/02/2026

This week's edition: Why soreness tells you almost nothing about whether your workout worked, why body fat percentage predicted s***m count better than BMI did, and why alcohol and cannabis are sedating you, not resting you

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/5-minute-mens-health-soreness-myth-body-fat-vs-s***m-why-michael-xaoxc

07/30/2026

Iron deficiency has a habit of showing up disguised as “I’m just tired.”

Low energy, brain fog, shortness of breath with normal activity, headaches, feeling cold, hair shedding, brittle nails, restless legs, and even craving ice can all be part of the picture. None of these symptoms proves iron deficiency on its own, but the pattern deserves attention, especially with heavy periods, frequent blood donation, restrictive eating, pregnancy, or gastrointestinal issues.

Ferritin, hemoglobin, transferrin saturation, symptoms, and medical history all help tell the story. One normal hemoglobin result does not always mean your iron stores are fine, and blindly taking high-dose iron is not a great substitute for figuring out what is happening.

I’m considering building an online pharmacist-led video series covering iron deficiency, ferritin, anemia, testing, supplementation, infusions, and the common mistakes people make.

Comment IRON if you’d genuinely watch it.

07/26/2026

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/5-minute-mens-health-clomiphenes-libido-gap-overhyped-athanassakis-fdn0c

07/21/2026

Buying magnesium should be simple. Supplement companies have done an impressive job making it feel like you need a chemistry degree and a minor in label archaeology.

The form matters because different magnesium compounds have different absorption, gastrointestinal effects, and practical uses.

Magnesium glycinate is generally well tolerated and is commonly chosen when the goal is relaxation, evening use, or sleep support. It is not a sleeping pill, and the evidence is not strong enough to promise dramatic sleep improvements, but it is often a reasonable option when bowel urgency is not the goal.

Magnesium citrate is better suited to constipation support. It draws water into the bowel, which can help loosen stools. That also means it may be the wrong choice if you already have diarrhea or a sensitive stomach.

Magnesium oxide is inexpensive and contains a relatively high percentage of elemental magnesium, but it is not absorbed as well as many other forms. It can still be useful for antacid or bowel-support purposes, but it is rarely my first choice when the goal is restoring magnesium status.

Price is also a poor quality marker. A more expensive bottle may simply have better marketing. Look for the appropriate form, the actual elemental magnesium dose, realistic claims, and credible third-party testing.

People with significant kidney impairment should speak with a healthcare professional before supplementing. Magnesium can also reduce the absorption of certain antibiotics, bisphosphonates, and thyroid medications when taken too close together.

The best magnesium is the one that matches your goal, medications, bowel tolerance, and clinical context.

07/21/2026

Buying magnesium shouldn’t require a chemistry degree.

The form matters, the dose matters, and the giant number on the front of the bottle is often doing more work than the supplement.

Comment MAGNESIUM and I’ll send you my free pharmacist-created Magnesium Buying Guide.

07/19/2026

Topics this week are: Ten years of data putting a hard number on what untreated sleep apnea does to the brain, an implanted device that beat CPAP on blood pressure and blood sugar, and the Pentagon just mandated testosterone screening for the entire military over 30, and the Endocrine Society is not having it

Welcome to The RECLAIM Report, my weekly newsletter where I break down evidence-based men's health, performance, hormones, sleep, body composition, and longevity in five minutes or less. No miracle hacks.