In this article you will learn:
What peptides are and why they're valuable in the anti-aging field
How to incorporate them into your routine and what the considerations are
My own experience and take on peptides
The Details:
You aren’t a true BodyHacker until you find yourself sitting in the kitchen preparing an
intramuscular injection of a peptide to stimulate growth hormone levels (legally) and wondering to yourself, “What the fuck am I actually doing here?”
This was me several years ago when I got myself a month of sermorelin injections, having to prepare (and administer) them at home even though I absolutely hated needles. It was a fun experience and although it doesn’t really tempt me anymore these days, it was worth the time and money to experiment and see at least how far I was willing to go in my curiosity (or craziness?) to attain optimal health.
Sermorelin belongs to a special class of compounds called peptides, which basically are
strings of amino acids (the building blocks of everything) and serve as special chemical messengers for a variety of impressive effects. Sermorelin stimulates the pituitary to secrete more growth hormone naturally, and it has been well researched for its therapeutic anti-aging effects.
Like sermorelin, there are many other peptides out there that can be ingested, injected or put into your body somehow. Each come with their own powerful effects, as well as considerations - and usually a hefty price tag. This is the case with most fringe and experimental therapies, and my goal here in this article is less to vouch for anything and more to educate and give you tools to decide for yourself.
All in all, there are countless peptides, and some have been isolated (like sermorelin) to
produce specific effects. You can ingest, inject or use them topically, and in general peptides signal cells to do important things like make more energy or repair themselves. Generally speaking, intramuscular injections were the gold standard for using peptides (because you avoid the harsh environment of the stomach), but this is also changing as new products come out that are more biovailable.
Peptides have a wide application, but the science is very new and they are not regulated substances yet. When you buy peptides, they will often say “For Research Use Only” as this area of anti-aging and health is still very experimental. Nevertheless, if you suffer from a specific and difficult condition, finding a professional that can treat you with peptides may be worth the investment. They are not cheap, and my personal recommendation is that you don’t embark on this journey alone unless you want
to do a lot of reading and research - or spend a lot of money on someone who can do all of that for you.
Back when I ordered my vials of sermorelin in hopes of increasing my growth hormone
naturally, peptides were pretty hard to come by. I felt like I was trying to buy some illegal drugs, and with how expensive they were it certainly felt like it. This was around 2009, but since then a lot of things have changed. Today I get bombarded with Facebook ads from companies selling “pure” peptides, so getting them is much easier than ever before. I think this area of health is promising, but again you are dealing with cell signaling, hormones and higher-level processes.
Any time you mess with the fundamental mechanics of your body, there are consequences that are hard to predict. It’s attractive because you can get faster results, but the research isn’t there yet on the long-term use of these things and what it does to our aging process despite all the beneficial things we can see in the short-term.
Nevertheless, if using peptides is something you’re interested in, a good place to start are the peptides Sermorelin, Ipamorelin, CJC-1295, BPC-157 and Thymosin Beta 4. These peptides are well researched and all contribute to repair of your tissues in various ways, production of growth hormone and balancing your immune system. A great resource to learn more about peptides is the International Peptide Society and there are several blogs and forums of user accounts when it comes to treatment windows, combinations (some peptides you have to use with others for maximum effect) and what specific peptides to use for certain conditions.
For me personally, I hate injections and oral peptides get broken down in your digestive system - so they’re mostly useless. Peptides are also every expensive, require decent understanding to use and can create noticeable changes in your body because they mess with higher level processes. I’m grateful that I don’t have any chronic diseases or serious issues, so my motivation is low to explore this fringe therapy. You may be in a different boat, so it may be worth taking a look at if that’s the case. Keep your body as healthy as possible through what you’ve learned so that the peptides can work even better, work with a professional or do your homework thoroughly, and most importantly, learn to use a needle.
