You've probably heard about peptides. Maybe from a biohacker podcast, maybe from someone at the gym, maybe from Instagram ads promising to "reverse aging" or "heal injuries overnight."
There's a lot of hype around peptides. Some of it is justified - peptides can be genuinely helpful for specific purposes. But a lot of it is marketing nonsense designed to separate you from your money.
Let me give you the straight story on what peptides actually are, which ones have real evidence behind them, and how to think about whether they make sense for you.
What Are Peptides, Anyway?
In the simplest terms: peptides are short chains of amino acids.
Your body is full of peptides. They're basically small proteins that send signals to your cells telling them what to do. Think of them as text messages between different parts of your body.
Some peptides tell your body to produce growth hormone. Others tell it to heal tissue, reduce inflammation, or produce more collagen. When we use peptide therapy, we're giving your body extra copies of these "messages" to amplify certain effects.
Here's the important part: Peptides aren't like testosterone or thyroid hormone where we're replacing something you're deficient in. Instead, we're using them to enhance or optimize processes that are already happening in your body.
The Peptides We Actually Use (And Why)
There are hundreds of peptides out there. Most of them are either unproven, overhyped, or only used in very specific medical scenarios. Here are the ones that have the best evidence and real-world results:
What It Does:
Sermorelin stimulates your pituitary gland to produce more growth hormone naturally. Think of it as telling your body to turn up its own growth hormone production, rather than injecting growth hormone directly.
What It's Good For:
- Improved sleep quality - Many people report deeper, more restorative sleep
- Better recovery - From workouts, injuries, general daily stress
- Body composition - Modest improvements in muscle mass and fat loss over time
- Skin quality - Improved elasticity and appearance (collagen production)
- Energy levels - Not immediately, but many report better sustained energy
Realistic Expectations:
This isn't injectable growth hormone. The effects are more subtle. You won't wake up jacked after a week. But over 3-6 months, many people notice they're recovering better, sleeping deeper, and their body composition is improving even if diet and exercise haven't changed much.
How It's Used:
Subcutaneous injection (tiny needle, barely noticeable) before bed, typically 5 nights per week. Some people do it every night, some cycle it.
Cost:
Typically around $200/month depending on dosing.
What It Does:
NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) is technically a coenzyme, not a peptide, but it gets grouped with peptide therapy. It's involved in energy production in every cell of your body. As you age, NAD+ levels decline.
What It's Good For:
- Energy production - Cellular energy, not caffeine-like stimulation
- Mental clarity - Better focus, clearer thinking
- Cellular repair - DNA repair mechanisms, mitochondrial health
- Metabolic health - May improve insulin sensitivity
- Anti-aging effects - At the cellular level (legitimate research here)
Realistic Expectations:
Some people feel an immediate energy boost. Others notice more subtle improvements over weeks - better mental clarity, easier to get through the day without crashing. The anti-aging benefits are more theoretical based on animal studies, but the energy and cognitive benefits are real for many people.
How It's Used:
We offer it as subcutaneous injections. IV infusions are available elsewhere but are expensive and time-consuming. The injectable form is more convenient and still effective.
Cost:
Injectable NAD+: $150-200/month depending on frequency and dose.
What It Does:
Glutathione is your body's master antioxidant. It neutralizes free radicals, supports detoxification (especially in the liver), and helps with cellular repair.
What It's Good For:
- Antioxidant protection - Fights oxidative stress
- Immune function - Supports overall immune health
- Detoxification - Helps liver process toxins
- Skin brightening - Some people report more radiant skin
- Recovery support - Especially if you're exposed to environmental toxins or stress
Realistic Expectations:
The benefits are more preventive and supportive than dramatic. You might notice better recovery, fewer sick days, or improved skin tone over time. It's often used alongside other therapies rather than as a standalone treatment.
How It's Used:
Subcutaneous injection, typically 1-3 times per week.
Cost:
$125-150/month depending on frequency.
What It Does:
BPC-157 (Body Protection Compound) promotes healing and tissue repair. It's derived from a protein found in stomach acid and has shown remarkable healing properties in animal studies.
What It's Good For:
- Injury healing - Tendons, ligaments, muscles
- Gut healing - May help with leaky gut, IBS, inflammation
- Joint pain - Anti-inflammatory effects
- Wound healing - Faster recovery from cuts, bruises, surgical sites
Realistic Expectations:
This is where the evidence gets a bit thinner - most studies are in animals, not humans. That said, anecdotally, many people report significant improvements in healing from injuries. If you've got a nagging injury that won't heal, BPC-157 might be worth trying for a few weeks.
Important Note:
BPC-157 is not FDA-approved for human use. It's used "off-label" based on animal research and anecdotal human experience. This is an important distinction.
How It's Used:
Subcutaneous injection near the injury site or systemic injection, daily for several weeks.
Cost:
$150-250 for a typical course (4-6 weeks).
What It Does:
Thymosin Beta-4 promotes cell migration and tissue repair. It's naturally produced in your body in higher concentrations when you're injured. Supplementing it may accelerate healing.
What It's Good For:
- Injury recovery - Especially soft tissue injuries
- Flexibility - Some people report improved range of motion
- Chronic pain - May reduce inflammation and pain
- Athletic recovery - Faster bounce-back from intense training
Realistic Expectations:
Similar to BPC-157, the human evidence is limited but anecdotal results are promising. Often used in combination with BPC-157 for injury healing.
How It's Used:
Subcutaneous injection, typically 2-3 times per week for several weeks.
Cost:
$200-300 for a typical course.
The Ones We Don't Use (And Why)
There are a lot of peptides out there that sound amazing but either don't work as advertised or aren't worth the money. Here are a few:
Melanotan II: Marketed for tanning and libido. Can cause dangerous side effects including increased blood pressure and potential links to skin cancer. Not worth the risk.
AOD-9604: Marketed as a fat-burning peptide. The evidence is weak, and results are inconsistent. You're better off with diet, exercise, or weight loss medication if fat loss is the goal.
Ipamorelin/CJC-1295: Growth hormone releasing peptides. Similar to Sermorelin but with a less favorable side effect profile in some users. Sermorelin is generally our preferred option.
How to Think About Peptides
Here's my framework for deciding whether peptides make sense:
Peptides are NOT a replacement for the basics. If your diet is garbage, you're not sleeping, and you're not exercising, peptides aren't going to save you. Fix the fundamentals first.
Peptides are optimization tools. They work best when you're already doing the right things and want to get that extra 10-20% improvement.
Peptides are specific solutions. Match the peptide to your goal. Want better sleep and recovery? Sermorelin makes sense. Healing an injury? BPC-157 or TB-500. Want more energy? NAD+.
Peptides require patience. Most benefits build over weeks or months, not days. If you're looking for instant results, you'll be disappointed.
Common Questions
"Are peptides safe?"
Generally yes, when used appropriately under medical supervision. The peptides we use have been around for years and have good safety profiles. That said, we monitor you, adjust doses as needed, and watch for any issues.
"Do I have to inject them?"
For most peptides, yes. Oral peptides are broken down in your digestive system before they can work. The injections are subcutaneous (into fat, not muscle) and use very small needles. Most people find them easy and painless after the first few times.
"Can I just take oral NAD+ or glutathione supplements?"
You can, but absorption is significantly lower. Injectable forms are much more effective. If you want to try oral first, NAD+ precursors like NMN or NR are worth considering, but they're not as potent as injections.
"How long until I see results?"
Depends on the peptide and what you're trying to achieve. NAD+ might give you energy boost within days. Sermorelin takes weeks to months. Healing peptides like BPC-157 may show benefits in 1-3 weeks for acute injuries.
"Can I combine peptides?"
Yes. Many people use Sermorelin + NAD+ together, or add Glutathione for additional support. We'll help you design a protocol that makes sense for your goals.
"Do I take them forever?"
Not necessarily. Some people use peptides cyclically - 3 months on, 1 month off. Others use them for specific purposes (healing an injury) and then stop. Some use them long-term as part of their health optimization routine. It depends on your goals.
What to Expect When You Start
If you decide to try peptide therapy, here's the typical process:
- Consultation: We discuss your goals and which peptides make the most sense.
- Education: We show you how to properly inject (it's easier than you think).
- Start low: We begin with conservative doses and adjust based on how you respond.
- Monitor: Check in after a few weeks to see how you're tolerating it and whether you're seeing benefits.
- Adjust: Fine-tune doses or combinations based on your results.
The Bottom Line on Peptides
Peptides aren't magic. They're not going to transform your life overnight or replace the need for proper sleep, nutrition, and exercise.
But when used strategically - for the right purposes, at the right time - they can be valuable tools for optimization, recovery, and longevity.
Good candidates for peptide therapy:
- You've already dialed in diet, exercise, and sleep but want that extra edge
- You're recovering from an injury and want to accelerate healing
- You're experiencing age-related decline in recovery, energy, or sleep quality
- You're interested in proactive longevity strategies
- You're willing to be patient and consistent
Not good candidates:
- You're looking for a quick fix without changing lifestyle habits
- You want dramatic results in days or weeks
- You're not willing to do injections
- You're unwilling to invest both time and money
"Peptides are powerful tools, but they're tools for optimization, not magic bullets. Think of them as the cherry on top of an already solid health foundation."