Friends have been asking me about my peptide protocol so I thought I would share what I’ve learned right here. If you don’t already know, peptides are not drugs - rather, they’re naturally occurring proteins made in the body that help regulate just about everything - from healing and hormone balance to sleep and cognition. What I love about them is that they are natural, safe, highly targeted, and can be delivered in multiple ways: subcutaneously (injected), sublingually, with a nasal spray, taken orally, or even applied topically. A lot of them can be cycled or micro-dosed – you really need to learn about the most efficient ways to take them. I think this is obvious but please note: I’m writing from my own personal experience and research and am certainly not in the position to tell anyone what to put into their body as we are all so bio individual. If you’re curious about trying peptides, please seek out a practitioner who knows all the protocols and can get them safely because I’m sure there are plenty of shade balls who sell them online. I’ve been working with Dr. Jessica Cho at Wellness in Century City and I’ve been both following her lead and educating myself with an ever-growing roster of wellness podcasts and industry seminars. I’m obsessed with this space and think peptides are going to play a huge role in the future of medicine and wellness.
Okay! My curiosity started because I’m peri-menopausal but am not a candidate for HRT due to my familial breast cancer history (I know that the latest research debunks the dated idea that HRT causes breast cancer but my oncologist still didn’t recommend them for me). I was hoping that I could find a peptide that could regulate hormones through a different pathway (yes, there is one), and quell any symptoms I might face (they can do that too!). Truly, there are so many out there and you’ll really want some guidance before Chat GPT’ing which ones to take (you can use Chat to support any recs from your doctor). Like anything, there are risks involved and you certainly do not want to jump on this train if you are pregnant, breast-feeding, or have had cancer (any lingering damaged cells could be encouraged to grow with reparative peptides or as mentioned below, with growth factors). So again, please seek out a professional to create a personalized program.
My first-hand experience:
Sermoralin: My weight training journey started a few years ago but I’m not one of those girls who gets super toned after doing one set of deadlifts. Yes, it’s definitely changed my body composition but let’s just say that noone comments on my biceps at a dinner party. So, when I learned about Sermoralin through Dr. Cho I was pumped. (!) Like its buffing cousins Ipamoralin and Tessamoralin, it stimulates the pituitary gland to release growth hormone which in turn increases muscle mass and kick starts metabolism - which obviously sounds like a dream. I used this in the form of a nasal spray (prescribed by Cho), so t. steroid vibes. However, after learning a bit more, I came to the conclusion that a growth hormone releasing peptide is not for me, as my family has a history of cancer and I didn’t want to stimulate any unnecessary growth of something that might be brewing in my body, if that makes sense. Would I recommend? I would proceed with caution for this category of peptides although I imagine that for the right candidate and with consistent use, it would be an includible compliment to a lifting routine.
BPC-157: This is probably the most common peptide as it’s known to heal the gut, help with tissue repair and regeneration. From everything I hear, it’s amazing for athletes and those who work out like a mother fucker. I was more interested in it for its anti-inflammatory properties and gut repair mechanisms. The best part is that this specific peptide is stable and can be absorbed in the stomach if you take it orally (as we know, a lot of supplements get destroyed in the gut), and a few incredible companies such as Lvlup Health and Healthgevity offer a great oral BPC-157. In fact, Lvlup Health has a revved up version called Ultimate GI Repair that apparently fixes your gut whether you’re having gastro-issues, inflammation or post anti-biotics. Did I feel any different? No. But I’m told that peptides are a slow burn and need to be taken consistently over time.
GHK-CU: Gather round, children, because this is “The Beauty Peptide.” It’s a copper binding peptide that’s known to rejuvenate skin by promoting collagen and elasticity and it’s also supposed to improve hair growth. It has anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory benefits which creates an optimal environment for really, everything. For this one, I take sublingual oral strips from InstaMed or I also use a topical solution from AuroWellness. Dr. Nayal Patel who created the formula found a way to ensure that it has a 93% absorption rate (the most I had ever heard about was 9%). Here’s the thing; when applied topically, it can’t be layered with certain actives like vitamin c or retinol because it basically deactivates, so it needs to pretty much stand alone. Okay, so does it work? Well, as a beauty writer of 25+ years, I will say that it’s hard to measure skin improvement unless you take before and after pictures or are part of a clinical trial. And truth be told, some things do technically work but results are not dramatic making it hard to track when you are looking at yourself every day. So, I just follow the science. And there are plenty of studies to back up this beauty peptide. So yes, I recommend, but use with consistency.
GLP-1 Agonists: These are the weight loss peptides - the most popularized being Ozempic (…ever heard of it!?) I started micro-dosing a Tirzepatide twice a month over a year ago for my PCOS and I have to say, it’s been amazing for me. Has it changed my appetite? Nope. But I’m not taking enough for any weight loss benefits, nor am I interested in that. But it’s completely regulated my blood sugar and has quelled inflammation which can be chronic if you have PCOS (a common metabolic condition that 10% of women have). For me, this has been game-changing but if you want weight-loss action as well, up the dose and increase to once a week. I heard that Retatrutide might be an even better option as it works on three pathways as opposed to two, but I need to research that further. In the end, I don’t recommend using too much of these GLP-1’s unless you lift weights like a beast and everything you put in your mouth is nutrient-dense, protein-forward and antioxidant rich. Otherwise, you could end up malnourished, lose your hair, and have ozemp-face. I’ve seen it happen! The end.
Update: A few weeks ago in Vienna, a few Danish guys who work for the Ozempic parent company were sitting next to us at dinner (true story). One of them analyzes all the clinical trials and told me that they are currently testing these peptides for neuro-protective qualities (they believe that they won’t be able to reverse cognitive decline but may be able to prevent it).
Epitalon: I heard so much about this peptide and was pronouncing incorrectly for so long (it’s epITalon). It’s hailed for longevity benefits for its ability to lengthen telomeres which can extend the lifespan of cells and delay the on-set of age-related disease. This applies to me as I recently found out that I have a copy of the Alzheimer’s gene and I am not psyched about it. And while improving longevity is tricky to measure, an immediate benefit is Epitalon’s ability to restore melatonin levels to improve sleep quality and regulate circadian rhythms. And smaller studies even suggest that it can help inhibit metastasis (again, of anything that might be brewing in the body). Since these benefits all speak to me, it was a no-brainer to give it a go. Plus – at twenty injections twice a year, it felt pretty low-lift. And so far….I like it! I’m sleeping way, way better and my cells are lookin’ really bangin’. Highly recommend.
Here are some more peptides that I’m excited about:
Mots-C: Regulates cellular metabolism, improves insulin sensitivity, and adapts to stress – sounds good for us PCOS girls.
Dihexa: This can be taken orally and is all about improving brain function, creative thinking and improving focus. This one has a lot of buzz – I might try.
Thymosin Alpha 1: Regulates immune function, enhances natural killer cell function – this could be amazing for all my traveling so I don’t get sick.
Semax: Improves memory, focus and cognition – might quell my Alzheimer’s paranoia, and help me work better.
Selank: Anxiety and stress relief (would it get me off my Lexipro?) My wellness doctor offers a Semax/Selank nasal spray.
PT-141: Heightens libido because….why not?
GLOW peptide: this is just a peptide stack of GHK, Thymosin and BPC but wrapped up together, and it’s a powerful for skin health and body repair.
I cannot recommend enough working with a practitioner who can help inform and educate you! I also really love Lifeforce and Joi and Blokes and for great tele-health options.