What are Peptides and What's All the Buzz About?
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Peptides are everywhere right now. Social media can't stop talking about them. You hear about them on the news. You might even have seen them on your skin care labels. But what are peptides? And why should you care? That's what this blog post will answer.
Peptides, Made Simple
A peptide is a small set of amino acids. You can think of amino acids like little building blocks such as LEGO bricks. Snap a few together and you get a peptide. Snap a lot together and you build a protein. That's important because your body is made up of proteins. That's the simple version, of course, but it is the big picture.
Peptides also help with breaking down food and keeping your blood sugar under control. Insulin is a peptide. Doctors have used this well-known peptide for over 100 years to treat diabetes.
Why Is Everyone Talking About Peptides?
Why all the buzz about peptides right now? There are a few reasons. Some skin care products use peptides to help make skin look firmer. Also, some people take peptide shots for muscle strength, better sleep or to lose weight.
Recently, new government rules have made it easier for doctors to write a prescription for some of these shots.
What We Know So Far
A lot of the trendy peptides have not been tested enough to know they're safe. They are not approved by the FDA. The facts we have right now come from small tests done with animals.
However, some peptides, like insulin, do have good research behind them. Another example is GLP-1 drugs used to treat diabetes. Those are FDA-approved.
What If You Want to Try Peptides
Talk to your Baptist Health provider before you try peptides. They can help you sort through what is true and what is hype. They can also make sure peptides are safe for you based on your health history and any other medication you take.
If you have questions about peptides or want to learn more, reach out to your Baptist Health primary care provider. If you do not have a provider, you can find one by visiting our provider directory.
