In the modern fitness era peptides have really risen in popularity. They are used as a fast-track solution to gaining muscle mass, strength, and accelerate recovery time. However, many don’t realize the potential health risks that lie behind them.
A peptide is a strand of two or more amino acids. These amino acids work together to create signals throughout the body. These can be used to treat cancer, diabetes, and other diseases. They can also improve skin, muscle mass, cognitive function.
The first peptide I will discuss is HGH. According to Health Lines Courtney Gilbert, HGH is most commonly used for burning body fat, replacing muscle mass, but has a few shocking side effects. This peptide causes abnormal bone growth, also known as Acromegaly. Without proper treatment, it can lead to the risks of Type-2 diabetes due to insulin resistance. Lastly, this peptide causes joint pain, swelling, and nerve issues. It’s best to think twice before you take this peptide.
The next peptide is IGF-1. This promotes a speedy recovery time and can improve muscle density. Despite these flashy benefits, they do not tell you that there is a risk of cancer due to rapid cell division within your body. Eric Topol of Ground truth reports that IGF-1 disrupts the normal hormone balance, and scientists are still unaware of its long-term effects.
The third peptide is GHRPs. This is often used to help gym goers bulk, as it increases users’ appetites to help consume more food. This peptide causes extreme hunger and can allow for fat buildup on your body. Users can gain a tingling or numbness in certain areas and also have hormonal imbalances.
CJC-1295is a peptide that prolongs hormone release to allow for sustained muscle growth. It also supports fat loss and improves users recovery time. However, this peptide can lead to fatigue, mood swings, and can reduce our bodies natural hormone production.
The last peptide is BPC-157. This promotes an acceleration of healing of muscles, tendons, and ligaments. It may reduce inflammation and help prevent training injuries. Although these benefits sound great, there is a lack of human research and it has not been out long enough to determine the long-term side effects. We could not know the risks until years after taking this peptide.
While peptides may be a fast solution to gaining muscle in a short period of time, many are unregulated and sold online without quality control. These sellers could be putting anything into these because most are not FDA approved. It is important that you do your research before you start injecting peptides.
