It seems as though peptides became the modern cure-all when it comes to overall health, immune system, skin health, muscle building and losing weight. But all these claims can’t possibly be true? Can peptides really bring about so many benefits?
This is exactly what we’re going to explore in today’s article. We’ll go over each of these beneficial claims and see if they hold true. But first, let’s talk about the chemical composition of peptides and see what they are.
What Are Peptides?
Peptides are short strings of amino acids, usually between 2 and 50 in length. Amino acids are tiny molecules used by our body to produce proteins (as well as peptides) and, in turn, are involved in bones and muscle building and repair, the production of hormones and enzymes.
So, what makes peptides superior to proteins? We can’t speak in absolutes here since our body needs both proteins and peptides but peptides can be broken down more easily (since they contain shorter strings of amino acids), our body can absorb them quicker, our skin can absorb them easier as well as our intestines, which helps them enter our bloodstream.
Of course, we get peptides through our diet, as they naturally occur in:
- Meat
- Fish
- Eggs
- Milk
- Soy
- Wheat etc
And this is where supplementation also comes.
Peptide Uses and Benefits
Just like we already said, peptides are involved in many different processes that naturally occur within our body. Processes such as:
- Immune system response
- Blood pressure regulation
- Reducing inflammation
- Antioxidant processes etc
In the following paragraphs, we’re going to tackle the lesser known/studied peptides effects such as:
- Muscle building
- Losing weight
- Skin care
- Immune system regulation
- Slowing down the aging process
- Wound healing
Peptides For Muscle Building
In recent years peptides usage saw a steep rise in the bodybuilding industry. But are there any studies corroborating these claims? We came across one from 2015 where the aim was to determine the effect of taking peptide supplementation in combination with physical exercise.
There were two groups of people – one who were “prescribed” exercise with post-exercise peptides supplementation and the placebo group. Results showed the group that took post-exercise peptides saw larger improvements in muscle mass, weight loss and overall strength.
But which are the best peptides for muscle building to take? The ones we found impact muscle growth the most are:
- Tesamorelin
- CJC-1295
- Hexarelin
- TB-500 and
- Sermorelin
Peptides For Weight Loss
Though peptides saw a massive increase in usage in bodybuilders, it was nothing compared to weight loss. Originally, one of the best performing weight loss peptide, Semaglutide, was developed to treat diabetes 2. But one of the more noticeable “side effects” was increased weight loss in patients.
Of course, Semaglutide acts as appetite inhibitor, appetite suppressant and it overall makes you feel less hungry. So, no surprise it led to a significant weight loss in patients who were taking it.
Some other peptides commonly used for weight loss are:
- Tesamorelin
- CJC
- Ipamorelin and
- AOD 9604
Skin Care Peptides
Like we said at the beginning of the article, peptides are built up of shorter amino acid strings, which is why skin can absorb them easier. This is why more and more skincare products increasingly feature peptides as one of their main ingredients.
How do peptides work for the skin? Our body produces collagen naturally, making our skin firm, radiant and less wrinkly. Unfortunately, as we age, collagen production decreases and our skin begins to suffer.
The bad thing about collagen molecules is that they are too big to be absorbed through the skin. This is where peptides come in! Once they get through the skin, they penetrate deep, stimulate cells to produce more collagen and elastin, making our skin tighter, healthier and younger-looking!
Immune System Regulation
This might be one of the surprising peptide effects but one in particular, Thymosin Alpha-1, showed promising results in helping strengthen the immune system response and restoring the immune function.
Taking Thymosin Alpha-1 will activate different T cells of our immune system and help our body fend off infections and improve general wellness.
Other benefits of Thymosin include:
- Speeding up the recovery process after injury
- Tumor growth suppression
- Potential autoimmune disease treatment
Anti Aging Peptides
Research shows you can use peptides to fight off the most common signs of skin aging such as:
- Sagging skin
- Wrinkles
- Dull appearance etc
Some of the most used ones are:
- Epitalon – the good thing about Epitalon is that it can replace/supplement some natural components we lose with aging, thus improving the overall appearance of our skin
- Argireline – studies conclude that Argireline helps with both weight loss as well as the condition of the aging skin.
- Matrixyl – Matrixyl is known for reversing the signs of aging, repairing old saggy skin, helping damaged tissue recover faster and rejuvenate your skin in general.
Final Words On Peptides
We started this article off by asking a simple question – do peptides live up to their newly found fame? And the conclusion is simple – they do!
There are a lot of different types of peptides, offering a wide range of benefits from something as simple as skin rejuvenation to a more serious condition such as slowing down tumor cells. Whichever the case, you should consult your doctor first. Make sure you get prescribed the right type of peptide, in the right dosage, to avoid side effects and make the best of your peptide therapy!
