Peptide therapy helps benefit your looks, but it also has many benefits for your health. Read on to learn more.
Peptide therapy is a newer method of reversing the effects of aging on both your appearance and inside your body. Peptides naturally occur in your body, as they’re long chains of amino acids and are the building blocks of protein.
Although peptides get attention for their effects on your skin and are in supplements for this purpose, the real story is found in their benefits for your health. In this blog, Dr. Daniel Rieders of Peninsula Integrative Cardiology in San Ramon, California, provides an overview.
What are peptides?
Peptides are the building blocks of proteins in your body. Some of them include creatine (for building muscle) and collagen (for improving skin elasticity, among other health benefits.)
Your body naturally produces peptides, but the amount made may be less than what you need. You can also get peptides from food sources, such as the following:
- Meat
- Fish
- Eggs
- Oats
- Flaxseed
- Wheat
However, the peptides found in food are usually not enough to significantly boost your peptide levels.
Peptides are very small and easily absorbed by your body because they don’t get recognized as a substance foreign to your system.
The conditions peptide therapy can help
There are peptides used in various anti-aging skin care products, but because supplements aren’t regulated, the amount you get in these products can vary wildly.
Peptide therapy is different because it’s given to you by a doctor in specific amounts. It’s usually administered by IV, allowing it to go straight into your bloodstream rather than being processed by your stomach or liver. However, in some cases, Dr. Rieders injects the peptides beneath your skin.
Peptide therapy is safe and FDA-approved; most people don’t experience side effects.
Some of the physical health conditions that peptide therapy may help include the following:
- Inflammation
- Multiple sclerosis
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Autoimmune diseases
Most patients find that their energy levels get a boost from peptide therapy.
Other benefits of peptide therapy
You can still receive the benefits of peptide therapy even if you don’t have any of the health conditions listed above.
Some athletes use peptide therapy to improve their athletic performance. However, some organizations have rules prohibiting this, so you may want to check if you’re performing at an elite athletic level.
Peptide studies for antimicrobial effects focus on helping with slow wound healing. Some studies look at how the antimicrobial effects may help treat cancer.
People with allergies, particularly if they’re severe or chronic, may also find that their allergy symptoms improve after receiving peptide therapy.
Some of the other peptide therapy benefits include the following:
- Decreased joint pain
- Improved immune function
- Preventing the formation of blood clots
- Slowing down the aging process
- Preventing age-related muscle and bone loss
Peptide therapy has many benefits for your health.
If you are interested in trying peptide therapy, we would love to help you. Contact Dr. Daniel Rieders at Peninsula Integrative Cardiology today or request an appointment online.