Could This Be The Missing Ingredient In Your Healing?
If you’re struggling with your health, you’re looking for that missing puzzle piece that you just can’t seem to find, no matter how much research you do, or what avenues you explore. I want to bring up one factor you may not have considered yet: peptides.
Peptides are short chains of amino acids that are linked by peptide bonds. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, and while your body makes some of these peptides, others have to be gotten from outside sources. If you want to dig more into the background of peptides, I have a full article on that topic.
The type of peptide that you need to get from another source, however, can differ depending on what your particular health concern is. Let’s look at some common health-related issues and the peptides that could provide a positive step forward in your healing journey.
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Metabolic Health & Peptides
If you’re concerned about your metabolic health, whether you struggle with diabetes, weight loss resistance, or other metabolic concerns, certain peptides may be worth exploring. Studies show that peptides can have positive effects on insulin resistance and obesity. (1).
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) has been found to have effects such as stimulating insulin release, slowing digestion (which could help control blood sugar levels), and improving insulin production over time by boosting insulin-producing cells. (2).
Autoimmunity & Peptides
If you have an autoimmune problem that you’re struggling with, you might be interested to know that research indicates peptides can have a positive effect on your symptoms. (3) Two peptides to look into are Thymosin Alpha-1 and LL-37.
A study on Thymosin Alpha-1 showed its immunomodulatory effects include enhancing T cell function, promoting the production of regulatory T cells, and regulating cytokine production, which will contribute to immune balance and suppressing autoimmune responses. (4)
LL-37 has been studied for similar properties, and shows that it may inhibit pro=inflammatory cytokine production, regulate immune cell activity, and diminish autoimmune responses. (5)
Gut Health & Peptides
Gut issues go far beyond digestive troubles, heartburn, or constipation. Allergies, anxiety, depression, food intolerance, and fibromyalgia, amongst others, may all be connected to a problem in the gut.
Research shows that dietary bioactive peptides enhance your gastrointestinal homeostasis by modulating immune responses, gut microbiota, and the barrier function. (6) Collagen peptides, in particular, may help heal a leaky gut and support overall digestive health. (6,7)
If you want to learn more about gut health, check out my book, Gut Feelings. It will help you understand the connection between what you eat and how you feel, with a plan to reset your relationship with your body and heal gut inflammation.
Skin Health & Peptides
Peptides have become more and more well-known in recent years for their usage in beauty products. If you’re looking for an anti-aging tool, you might want to look into GHK-Cu, which is a copper peptide known for its collagen-stimulating properties. It may reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines while enhancing skin texture and elasticity. (8)
Mood and Stress Management & Peptides
The world can be a pretty stressful place these days. If you’ve tried measures to control your stress levels but are looking for another boost, you might want to look into selank and semax. Selank has been found to reduce social stress, while semax has been found to have neuroprotective, antidepressant, nootropic, and analgesic effects. (9,10)
Brain Health & Peptides
Brain fog is getting more and more common, and there are many ways functional medicine can help. If you’re concerned about the health of your brain, look into the peptide BPC-157. It has been found to help post-stroke recovery, traumatic brain injury, and has neuroprotective effects. (11,12).
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Joint and Muscle Health & Peptides
BPC-157 may be a great tool for those who are suffering from muscle, tendon, and ligament injuries, according to research. (13,14) It has even been shown to increase wound healing. (15) If joint and muscle injury is a concern for you, I’d also suggest you check out Relief, a curated supplement I created to relieve joint and muscle pain, boost detoxification, and calm inflammation.
Another peptide, TB-500 (Thymosin Beta-4), has been studied for its ability to improve athletic performance thanks to promoting the growth of new muscle tissue. (16)
What Will Work For You?
Because you are a completely unique individual, unlike anyone else you’ll ever meet, you need to figure out what works for you. Your bio-individuality is everything when it comes to your health journey and regaining your well-being. That’s why I offer options to work with me and my team for people around the globe, so you can get the personalized touch that the health care world is so often missing today. Interested in learning more? Check out our consultation options.
- Gao, Y., Yuan, X., Zhu, Z., Wang, D., Liu, Q., & Gu, W. (2020). Research and prospect of peptides for use in obesity treatment. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 20(6), 1-1.
- Müller, T. D., Finan, B., Bloom, S. R., D'Alessio, D., Drucker, D. J., Flatt, P. R., ... & Tschöp, M. H. (2019). Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1). Molecular metabolism, 30, 72-130.
- Schall, N., Page, N., Macri, C., Chaloin, O., Briand, J. P., & Muller, S. (2012). Peptide-based approaches to treat lupus and other autoimmune diseases. Journal of autoimmunity, 39(3), 143-153.
- Garaci, E., Favalli, C., Pica, F., Sinibaldi Vallebona, P., Teresa Palamara, A., Matteucci, C., ... & Rasi, G. (2007). Thymosin alpha 1: from bench to bedside. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1112(1), 225-234.
- Bao, X., & Wu, J. (2021). Impact of food-derived bioactive peptides on gut function and health. Food Research International, 147, 110485.
- Abrahams, M., O’Grady, R., & Prawitt, J. (2022). Effect of a daily collagen peptide supplement on digestive symptoms in healthy women: 2-phase mixed methods study. JMIR Formative Research, 6(5), e36339.
- Lande, R., Gregorio, J., Facchinetti, V., Chatterjee, B., Wang, Y. H., Homey, B., ... & Gilliet, M. (2007). Plasmacytoid dendritic cells sense self-DNA coupled with antimicrobial peptide. Nature, 449(7162), 564-569.
- Dou, Y., Lee, A., Zhu, L., Morton, J., & Ladiges, W. (2020). The potential of GHK as an anti-aging peptide. Aging pathobiology and therapeutics, 2(1), 58.
- Leonidovna, Y. A., Aleksandrovna, S. M., Aleksandrovna, T. A., Aleksandrovna, B. O., Fedorovich, M. N., & Aleksandrovna, A. L. (2021). The Influence of Selank on the Level of Cytokines Under the Conditions of “Social” Stress. Current Reviews in Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology Formerly Current Clinical Pharmacology, 16(2), 162-167.
- Levitskaya, N. G., Glazova, N. Y., Sebentsova, E. A., Manchenko, D. M., Vilensky, D. A., Andreeva, L. A., ... & Myasoedov, N. F. (2008). Investigation of the spectrum of physiological activities of the heptapeptide Semax, an ACTH 4–10 analogue. Neurochemical Journal, 2(1), 95-101.
- Vukojević, J., Milavić, M., Perović, D., Ilić, S., Čilić, A. Z., Đuran, N., ... & Sikirić, P. (2022). Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 and the central nervous system. Neural Regeneration Research, 17(3), 482-487.
- Sikiric, P., Seiwerth, S., Rucman, R., Kolenc, D., Batelja Vuletic, L., Drmic, D., ... & Vlainic, J. (2016). Brain-gut axis and pentadecapeptide BPC 157: Theoretical and practical implications. Current neuropharmacology, 14(8), 857-865.
- Pevec, D., Novinščak, T., Brčić, L., Šipoš, K., Jukić, I., Starešinić, M., ... & Sikirić, P. (2010). Impact of pentadecapeptide BPC 157 on muscle healing impaired by systemic corticosteroid application. Medical science monitor, 16(3), 81-88.
- Gwyer, D., Wragg, N. M., & Wilson, S. L. (2019). Gastric pentadecapeptide body protection compound BPC 157 and its role in accelerating musculoskeletal soft tissue healing. Cell and tissue research, 377, 153-159.
- Seiwerth, S., Milavic, M., Vukojevic, J., Gojkovic, S., Krezic, I., Vuletic, L. B., ... & Sikiric, P. (2021). Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 and wound healing. Frontiers in pharmacology, 12, 627533.
- Zhu, T., Park, H. C., Son, K. M., Kwon, J. H., Park, J. C., & Yang, H. C. (2014). Effects of thymosin β4 on wound healing of rat palatal mucosa. International journal of molecular medicine, 34(3), 816-821.
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BY DR. WILL COLE
Dr. Will Cole, DNM, IFMCP, DC is a leading functional medicine expert who consults people around the globe, starting one of the first functional medicine telehealth centers in the world. Named one of the top 50 functional and integrative doctors in the nation, Dr. Will Cole provides a functional medicine approach for thyroid issues, autoimmune conditions, hormonal imbalances, digestive disorders, and brain problems. He is also the host of the popular The Art of Being Well podcast and the New York Times bestselling author of Intuitive Fasting, Ketotarian, Gut Feelings, and The Inflammation Spectrum.
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