What are the health benefits of peptides?

Every peptide plays a specific role in your body and for your health. While researchers are continuing to learn more about peptides and what they do for us, these are some of their top benefits:

1. Enhanced recovery

Peptides can accelerate your body's natural healing processes including promoting (2) tissue repair and muscle recovery, making them a great tool for athletes and individuals looking to recuperate from injuries or intense physical activity.

2. Improved cognitive function

Certain peptides are known for their cognitive-enhancing properties. They can support memory, focus, mental clarity, and have even been shown (3) to improve pathways involved in the development of dementia-related conditions like Alzheimer’s.

3. Anti-aging

Peptides can stimulate the production of collagen, which is essential for maintaining youthful skin, reducing wrinkles, and improving skin elasticity. Because of their powerful anti-aging abilities, (4) peptides - collagen peptides specifically - have become a popular choice in the cosmetic industry for topical products and beauty supplements. In fact, they are so beneficial for your skin, hair, and nail health that I specifically formulated my co-branded beauty supplements with Agent Nateur, holi ( m a n e ) and holi ( y o u t h ), with marine collagen.

4. Immune system support

Certain antimicrobial peptides and antiviral peptides have immunomodulatory properties, (5) and have even been shown (6) to inhibit virus replication and kill off bacteria like S. aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella. 

5. Hormone Regulation

Peptides play a role in hormone regulation, which can be particularly beneficial for individuals with hormonal imbalances with studies looking at their ability to improve low testosterone (7) and other imbalances.

6. Weight Management

If you struggle with metabolic disorders, peptides can be extremely beneficial due to their ability to enhance metabolism, curb cravings, and promote fat burning.

The most popular peptides

With over 7000 different types of peptides, there’s no way that we can cover them all in one article. These are a few of my favorite and well-researched peptides.

1. BPC-157 (Body Protective Compound-157)

BPC-157 is a powerful peptide known for its tissue-healing properties. (8) It can accelerate the healing of muscles, tendons, ligaments, making it a favorite among athletes and those recovering from injuries. Studies also show that it can accelerate (9) wound healing!

2. Collagen

Collagen is the foundation of our body’s structural integrity, making up a significant portion of our skin, bones, tendons, ligaments, and connective tissues, providing strength, flexibility, and stability. As we age, our natural collagen production declines, contributing to the visible signs of aging, joint discomfort, and decreased tissue elasticity. Therefore, collagen is one of the most vital peptides we should be consuming on a regular basis.

3. Spermidine

This peptide is an anti-aging superstar, specifically for its role in promoting autophagy, (10) your body’s cellular self-cleaning process that makes room for healthy new cells.

4. Creatine

As one of the most extensively studied and widely used dietary supplements in the fitness and sports industries, creatine’s primary function is to store and supply energy to cells, especially muscle cells, during activities that require short bursts of energy, like lifting weights, sprinting, and other high-intensity exercises.

5. GHK-Cu (Copper Peptide)

A popular choice for people seeking natural and non-invasive anti-aging tools, GHK-Cu is renowned (11) for its ability to stimulate collagen production, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and enhance skin texture and elasticity.

How to take peptides

There are multiple ways to take peptides depending on the specific peptide and its particular benefit. For example, more common peptides like creatine and collagen can be taken orally in the form of capsules, tinctures, or powders or as an added ingredient to topical creams and lotions. These are readily available and can be found at most health food and vitamin stores. Other ways to get peptides are through subcutaneous injections, nasal sprays, and inhalation but these are less common and typically require more guidance from a doctor familiar with peptide therapy in terms of administration and dosage.

The Takeaway

With so many peptides out there, it can be easy to get overwhelmed. But as with any supplement, don't feel like to you have to jump on the bandwagon just because everyone else is. By listening to your body and carefully considering where you need the most support, peptides can be a great tool to fill the gap in these areas of your health. And to learn more about peptides, listen to my episode of The Art Of Being Well.

As one of the first functional medicine telehealth clinics in the world, we provide webcam health consultations for people around the globe.

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