Cognitive boost, post injury recovery, tendon repair, fat loss, what can’t these new touted Peptides do? They sound like the latest and greatest the health and fitness industry has to offer towards our anti-aging crazed culture. Let’s take a bit of a dive into what these peptides are, what they are mainly used for, and what side effects might be possible.
Amino acids make up peptides, which in turn make up proteins, and ultimately make up muscle. The main role of peptides in the body is signalling. A peptide attaches to a receptor on a cell, and tells the cell to perform a specific task. The body makes thousands of different peptides, for example: you have just eaten, there is a signal sent to release insulin to lower blood sugar. Why this is so interesting is that traditional medicine approaches can be a little more general or systemic. The peptide is more like a lock and key approach.
Peptides can have many different uses. A common one being used in Australia (that you have likely heard of) is Ozempic. This is an ‘approved’ peptide that is prescribed by doctors for medical weight loss, and to treat type 2 diabetes. Other peptides you may have heard of are Retatrutide, BPC-157, TB-500, these are used for tendon healing etc. CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin, MK-677 which may be used for anti-aging, muscle loss prevention, and improved sleep. However, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) restricts many of these from being sold in Australia without a prescription at this time.
Let’s look at why there might be some down sides to these substances; as they all have side effects.
For example Ozempic has a risk of muscle loss, and bone wasting. This is a known trait of the medication, and patients are advised by their doctor to start strength training when they go on the medication. As many of these substances have not gone through proper clinical trials and testing, it is hard to know the long term effects, and side effects. However, possible (reported) side effects of immediate use of these substances have been (but not limited to): dizziness, hot flashes, nausea, copper toxicity, septic shock, water retention etc.
More long-term effects could also be possible, because these peptides promote angiogenesis (new blood vessel growth), there is a theoretical concern that they could accelerate the growth of undiagnosed cancerous tumours by "feeding" them a blood supply.
So what IS the biohack? How can we anti-age, repair and focus effectively?
We can do things that are well researched and have zero to low risk! The body in fact has the building blocks already - the blueprint to healing, sleeping well etc, we just must do the right things in order for these signals to be sent!
Image Source: https://www.everydayhealth.com/diabetes/every-ozempic-side-effect-explained/
These things include (but are not limited to):
Getting a proper sleep (7-9 hours)
Eating right for your activity level and goals
Moving everyday! (180 minutes of moderate + exercise per week)
Loading your bones/tendon/muscles appropriately for your age, ability, sport, goal etc,
Taking care of your mental health
The list goes on!
Before searching for a vial, make sure that you are doing everything possible to encourage the signals that your body is waiting for.