Before You Start Peptides: A Doctor Answers Your Biggest Questions

Video Description

Ask Dr Froese anything : https://forms.gle/M2BKX5DRJcqeouPd6 Dr. Froese explains peptides: what they are, how they work, safety, legality, dosing, reconstitution, stacking, side effects, long-term risks, best beginner peptides. BPC-157, TB-500, CJC-1295, ipamorelin, Tesamorelin, GHK-Cu, peptide purity, fake COAs, and where people go wrong. Here are the main points discussed: What are Peptides? Peptides are chains of amino acids that act as "text messages between cells," initiating processes like repair, building, or turning functions on or off (0:43-1:05). They are diverse and can assist with various goals, including muscle gain, fat loss, brain health, energy, sleep, and inflammation (1:06-1:17). Legality and Safety: Peptides are "sort of" legal, with some requiring a prescription, but most are not currently prescribable (1:19-1:27). Their safety depends on the specific peptide and its research context; they can be very safe in the right hands but not in the wrong ones (1:28-1:39). Distinction from Steroids: Peptides are not steroids. Peptides are amino acid chains that break down quickly after their job, acting like "engine tuners," while steroids are "hormone takeovers" (1:58-2:17). Long-term Safety and Human Testing: Some peptides are gentle, while others are not, and some are cycled to avoid over-potentiating receptors (2:18-2:32). While some peptides like SS31 and Tesamorelin have good human data, others only have animal or anecdotal (Reddit) data (2:33-2:49). Blood Work and Dosing: The speaker suggests that if one were to use peptides, basic blood work (kidney function, liver function, hormones, IGF-1) would be advisable (2:50-3:06). Dosing requires good math skills for dilutions, and each peptide has specific trial dosing and milligram per vial instructions (3:07-3:37). Stability and Results: Peptides generally remain stable for about 30 days in the refrigerator after mixing, though some may degrade faster (3:39-3:53). While peptides act quickly, visible results for things like injury recovery, muscle gain, or fat loss take time, consistency, exercise, and good habits; they enhance, not replace, effort (3:55-4:19). Administration Methods: Some peptides can be taken orally, with BPC-157 showing good oral activity in animals. However, most are injectable. Some are available as nasal sprays, but certain peptides like TB500 are too large to be absorbed nasally (4:20-4:40). Topical peptides, like GHK-Cu, also exist and are effective (4:41-4:47). Peptide Stacking and Mixing: The video does not recommend specific stacks for beginners, advising to keep things simple rather than using many peptides at once (4:48-5:05). Some peptides work synergistically (e.g., CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin for growth hormone release) (5:07-5:20), while others should not be combined (5:21-5:32). Peptides can often be mixed together in the same vial without interaction, and some pre-blended products exist (5:33-6:17). Side Effects and Cancer Risk: Peptides can have side effects. BPC-157 and TB-500 likely have no side effects (6:21-6:26). Melanotan 2 can cause tanning and new moles (6:27-6:32). Tesamorelin, due to its long action, cannot be used indefinitely (6:34-6:39). Theoretically, some peptides could cause cancer if used inappropriately for a very long time, though no direct proof is mentioned (6:43-6:56). Source Legitimacy and Purity: The peptide market is largely unregulated, and while Certificates of Analysis (COAs) are often shown, they can be faked and do not guarantee purity (6:57-7:38). Doctors often don't prescribe peptides due to a lack of time to learn about them and read the research (7:47-8:01). Favorite Peptide: Dr. Froese's favorite peptides are the mitochondrial peptides, such as Matsi, because cellular energy is fundamental to health (8:04-8:20).