Peptides Explained: They Might Not Be Magic, But What if They Can Help You Age Better?

Peptides are having a moment, but the real story is bigger than a trend. We sit down with nurse anesthesiologist and peptide educator Mei Mattinson to explain what peptides are in plain language: signaling molecules built from amino acids that act like messengers, telling your cells what to do. When those signals change with age, inflammation, and poor sleep, it can show up as fatigue, slower recovery, mental fog, and visible skin changes, and that’s where the peptide conversation often begins. 

We dig into the peptides people ask about most, including GLP-1 medications for weight loss (like semaglutide) and why some newer options are drawing attention. We talk candidly about bariatric surgery versus weekly injections, why many people regain weight if they stop too fast, and how tapering plus long-term habits can matter as much as the medication. Mei also shares why GLP-1s aren’t only about the scale: visceral fat, inflammation markers like C-reactive protein, and cardiovascular risk show up in the research in ways many people don’t hear about. 

Then we slow down for the part that protects you: safety. Not every peptide has strong human data, and some are still mostly supported by pre-clinical research. We cover why medical supervision and trustworthy sourcing are non-negotiable, and why pathways involving growth hormone, IGF-1, mTOR, and cell growth should be taken seriously, especially if cancer risk is a concern. We end with the reminder we don’t want anyone to forget: peptides can’t replace the basics, so keep prioritizing nutrients, protein, and strength training to support muscle mass and overall health. 

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In Health, 

Shelly

Transcript

What Peptides Really Are

SPEAKER_01 0:00

So it is amazing. Our body is made up of proteins, right? And amino acids are the building blocks of protein. And peptides are actually amino acids. They are chains of amino acids linked together, like two to fifty amino acids. And they exit they tell the cells what to do. It's almost like a key into a lock, telling the cells what to do, activating the receptors, and causing this biological response.

Why Wellness Advice Feels Overwhelming

SPEAKER_00 0:34

Do you get confused by all of the information that bombards us every day on ways to improve our overall health and our overall wellness? Do you often feel stuck, unmotivated, or struggle to reach your wellness goals? Do you have questions as to what exercises you should be doing? What foods you should or should not be eating? How to improve your overall emotional and mental well-being? Hello everyone. I am so excited to welcome you to Words of Wellness. My name is Shelly Jeffries, and I will be your host. My goal is to answer these questions and so much more. To share tips, education, and inspiration around all of the components of wellness through solo and guest episodes. With 35 plus years as a health and wellness professional, a retired college professor, a speaker, and a multi-passionate entrepreneur, I certainly have lots to share. However, my biggest goal and inspiration in doing this podcast is to share the wellness stories of others with you, to bring in guests who can share their journey so that we can all learn together while making an impact on the health, the wellness, and lives of all of you, our listeners. The ultimate hope is that you leave today with even just one nugget that can enhance the quality of your life, and that you will, we all will, now and into the future, live our best quality of lives full of energy, happiness, and joy. Now let's dive into our message for today.

Meet A Peptide Educator Nurse

SPEAKER_00 2:05

Hello, my friends. Welcome back to Words of Wellness. My name is Shelly, and I will be your host. And my guest today is a nurse anesthesiologist, and she's also certified in peptide education. And so she's going to be sharing with us all of her information and knowledge in the area of peptides. And I know this is going to be a great, great conversation. I know for me personally, I will be learning quite a lot. And those of you listening, you might want to take some notes for your own information. And I know this is going to go great. And we've already been talking for a while behind the scenes and we just hit it off right away. So welcome, May, to the show.

SPEAKER_01 2:51

Hi, Shelly. Thank you so much for having me. I'm actually so excited to share about Bet Sides. I know there's a lot of hype and trends out there. And um, and for those who don't know about it, I'm actually excited to share different BEPS.

SPEAKER_00 3:05

Very excited to learn from you because just in our short amount of time we've been talking, I've I've already learned a couple things. And it's interesting to me, and I find this, and you probably find this true as well, it's it's such a hot topic, even though GLP1s, they're a part of our bodies. Peptides are a part of what we we formulate in our bodies, correct? So it's not like it's a brand new product per se, or but it's it's just interesting the attention that it's getting and what it's what it's doing for people, quite frankly. It's bringing people a lot of different results. And I know we can get into that in a minute. And I I'm just excited to hear what you have to share with us today.

SPEAKER_01 3:50

Yes, yes, absolutely. So peptides are signaling molecules, they're basically messengers that tell your cells what to do. And I said, and as I said, there's hypes and trends out there, but peptides aren't new. They're actually being studied for decades. And just to give you context, there are like 60 FBA-approved peptides out there. There are 140 plus that are on clinic pre-clinical trials, and 500 plus are being studied. So it is amazing. Our body is made up of proteins, right? And amino acids are the building blocks of protein. And peptides are actually amino acids. They are chains of amino acids linked together, like two to 50 amino acids. And they exit they tell the cells what to do. It's almost like a key into a lock, telling the cells what to do, activating the receptors and causing this biological response. So what happens when we get old? Aging, inflammation, poor sleep, our natural peptides decline. And that's where we started to feel like slowing down, feeling fatigue, and feeling like that mental fag, and our skin starting to sog or wrinkles, those have something to do with the number of peptides in our body. So as it's as it as the peptides go down, our body starts to age as well. And it could also cause some metabolic problem at the end.

SPEAKER_00 5:30

You know, we can slow down the aging process for sure. But I immediately think of like collagen, for example. We know that that starts to decline like in our mid-20s, and muscle mass, you know, our our the density of our muscles starts to starts to decline. Now, again, we can we can slow all of that process down and we can help the body by you know taking the collagen and doing the strength training. And this is just sounds so similar. And I find it fascinating that this hasn't been shared. I hadn't heard about peptides till just like a year ago. Like, why? You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01 6:07

Yeah, it has definitely exploded. Like your JLP, which is that semaglutide, Vanjaro, Wegovi, that you hear, you know, you heard of them. You feel like it just boomed in the past two years. But actually, like your semaglutide has been in the market for 20 years. Your zephotide has been in the market for seven years. I think it's because just more and me more people are sharing how they feel, how it changed their lives, how they feel healthier with the help of peptides.

SPEAKER_00 6:39

Well, and I also think too now that maybe I would have heard about it in in college, but I just didn't really pay much attention. It was just one of those things that I kind of glossed over because I'm sure there it had to have been mentioned at some point in time, I would think.

SPEAKER_01 6:55

Yeah, I I would be honest with you, I haven't really heard about it much. Maybe because I didn't really care during my younger years, because I feel like invisible, like, no, I will not age, you know, it will take a while. But when you get to that age when you're 40 years and above, and you look at the mirror and you're like, oh, my skin is starting to wrinkle. There's gotta be something out there, and then you start buying different like products that you can put on your face, and you're like, it has to start in the inside, yes, then rather putting everything right on your face, and this is where peptides can

Peptides For Skin Healing Brain

SPEAKER_01 7:32

help. Like, there are peptides for almost everything, like peptides for weight loss. We talk about the GLP. Now there are peptides for the collagen production. As we get older, our collagen drops down, and there's GHK copper. And as we get older, we start to feel a lot of injury, right? And then I mean we experience injury, and then the healing process slows down. There are peptides that help that, like your BPC TB500. And then for people that get sick, right? Like cold during the flu or cold season, like you feel like you're the first person who gets sick because your immune function declines. There is a peptide for that called timestine alpha 1. And there are people like as they age, they feel like, oh, I feel like I'm having mental fog. Like I started putting my carcass in the fridge. That's actually eight. Putting the carcass in the fridge are is in the trash, you're starting to, you know. I mean, there are other factors that cause that, like hormonal problem. But there are peptides for that. There is like dihexa, there is several cerebral lines, CMAx, people with anxiety. You have another peptide for that. It's called slunk. There are so many that I can mention, but these are a few of the popular peptides that people use out there. And one, I have to mention this, people under GLP, they lose their muscle mass. You know, you also lose bone density. There is a growth hormone peptide that will help you with that. Of course, I mean, you still need strength training and protein intake, but those are peptides that would help you build muscle. So there are several that can help you with slowing down the aging process.

SPEAKER_00 9:13

It's so amazing because I know that that's been a big concern just from my perspective in the work that I do, the the loss of muscle, like you're saying.

SPEAKER_01 9:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 9:24

And you see some people that have the paralysis of the stomach. And I know that's probably rare, but it happens. And so I think it's interesting to know that there's actually a peptide to help and counteract the side benefits of one other peptide, you know? Yes, that's fascinating.

SPEAKER_01 9:41

Yes, definitely. And you know, as a nurse anesthetist, I work in bariatric surgery for about a year and a half. So I have done a lot of them. Like in a day, we will do like 10 bariatric surgeries, just like boom, boom, boom, nonstop. And you see, it changed, it changed a lot of lives of people that have lost a lot of weight. But I've also seen people with complications from that surgery. And that gives and these peptides, like the GLP, is giving them an option not to go to that route. I mean, right now we have um three different peptides for, I mean,

GLP-1 Weight Loss Versus Surgery

SPEAKER_01 10:20

three different GLPs for weight loss. We have that semaglutide, there's epitite, and now the new drugs called retatrutide. So the studies show that these drugs it's still in the phase three clinical trials, but these studies showed 28% of weight loss in 80-week study. So it's almost like equivalent on people who you know who had bariatric surgery. Wow. So these GLPs are taken once a week, which is not as bad as putting yourself under knife, under the knife.

SPEAKER_00 10:57

So well, and I totally agree with you on that because I think that was a big concern. I I know a couple people, and I've I've actually worked with them as clients who had had the surgery, and then I there was someone else who was considering it, and it and it always was such a concern to me because I had heard nothing but kind of negative stories about it and just just the results and and and what it does to your body, and you know, again, not being able to get the proper nourishment because you can't hardly eat, just all of the things. And I know in some cases it's a lifesaver. But right in this instance, like you're saying, if you can do something to get similar results or get you on the right path where you're not having that surgery, that that's huge.

SPEAKER_01 11:46

It is it is definitely huge. And you know, if the thing with these peptides, if it does cause complication, you can stop anytime. Right. You know what I mean? And get your body back to how it was.

SPEAKER_00 11:59

Okay, so the question about that, if someone stops, because this is what I have heard too, is that in red, then when you stop, then your body goes back to how it was prior.

SPEAKER_01 12:11

Yes, um, there are definitely studies that says people who stop taking um the GLP medication, they will gain their weight back. That's why it's very important to taper the medication. Like you slowly cut the medication in lower dosage until you're completely off. And during that period of tapering from medication, you also have to teach yourself, teach yourself how to eat the way you want to eat after the medication is off, and also um create that routine where you do your strength training and exercise. So I mean it's easy for me to say that because it requires discipline, but if you really wanted it off, then you have to go through that process. However, there are people that prefer to stay on a very low dose just for uh just for maintenance. Because there's a lot of yeah, yeah, and there are a lot of studies have shown that this medication is actually not just for weight loss. I know a lot of before and before and after photos kind of overshadow the benefits of this medication. And I just want to give some examples. Like people under people taking this medication has dramatically decreases the visceral fat. Now, these are the fat that wraps around your organ. These are actually very dangerous fat because they're metabolically active. They actively release cytokines and inflammatory signals that communicate with the other parts of your organs, making your inflammation markers go up. So when you go to the doctor and have your blood check, you'll see your C reactive protein, which is your inflammatory markers that commonly check in the doctor's office, is high. Now, in this study with semaglutide, it decreases by 44% for people taking semaglutide. So this hepatite, I think it's more than it was like 60%.

SPEAKER_00 14:17

It's so it's so fascinating because uh the wellness company that I've been with that we were talking about earlier, we have individuals who have lost 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 pounds, which is insane, through the nutrition. And um, one of the things that we talk about a lot, and I've been sharing for many years just in educating my students, is exactly what you're saying. The visceral body fat is where that dangerous extra belly fat that you know we need a little bit to protect our organs, but too much starts to be dangerous. So, you know, it's it's definitely, I really think it's more beneficial for someone who is obese or experiencing health issues, that they really need to do something like now. Because, like you're saying, you have to commit, same thing with the nutrition, you have to commit and think long term. It's not something that happens overnight. But I feel this is just my initial thought process with this, is that for those who really truly are dangerously overweight and are at risk, or maybe they're already experiencing some different diseases associated with being overweight, that this really comes into play and can be very beneficial.

SPEAKER_01 15:41

Exactly. And not to mention, when you are overweight, your cancer risk is high. Yeah. Like, as lots of research studies shows there, like there are 13 obesity-related cancers out there. And it's there was a 1.6 million studies on people that took GLP users compared to people that doesn't take GLP. They found that these people that take GLP users have decreased risk of this 13 obesity cancer, you know, related cancer, which makes sense. And another thing that I really want to um add is FDA actually approved GLP medication as part of cardiovascular regimen. In a study, it shows that people who take GLP has a 20% decrease in stroke, heart attack, and other metabolic problems. These are the people that already have our cardiovascular risk and have diabetes. So I thought that was pretty impressive how it helps with people who, you know, who are already at risk for for this condition.

SPEAKER_00 16:54

That is really impressive. So I'm I'm just again, I'm just I'm a newbie at all of this and I'm learning. But my question would be we we all have the peptides in us. So all these different peptides, like you referred to in the beginning, well, we have there's like how many again?

SPEAKER_01 17:14

I think there was like 7,000 peptides, but but there are still yet to uncover. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:19

Wow. So do we have all of them? And just basically with the natural aging process, all of them start to decline. So depending on what we're dealing with, I guess, at different phases of life. And like you're saying, I mean, if there is one to help people who have cardiovascular issues, that's huge.

SPEAKER_01 17:40

It's definitely, definitely, totally read. So the moment you're born, these peptides are in you. And to give you context for GHK copper, the peptide that helps with your collagen synthesis, hair regrowth, healing repair, and for your immune system as well. For example, at the age of 20 years old, your GHK copper is about 200 nanograms per milliliter. At the age of 60, it drops down to 80 nanograms per milliliter. And that's where you see saggy skin, wrinkled skin. And this scientists uh hypothesize that the GHK copper level could be one of the culprits while our skin aged. The other thing is the other thing is growth hormone. Growth hormone is really important in our body for several reasons. Um, after age 30, your growth hormone declined by 1% every year. So that's a lot. So that's why when you get older, you need to supplement with growth hormone. But exogenous hormone is a little riskier compared to a peptide hormone. The reason being is because when you put peptide hormone in your peptide, what it does is just stimulate your pituitary gland to release growth hormone. It's almost like telling your pituitary gland, like, hey, remember when you were 20 years old? Come on, release that growth hormone. And it also follows that feedback mechanism where if there's too much growth hormone released, your brain, your brain would just like reduce or slow down the production

Evidence Limits And Safety Concerns

SPEAKER_01 19:20

of that growth hormone. So they follow the feedback mechanism. So it modulates rather than stimulating the overproduction of the hormone. So it is, I thought it's pretty amazing in that aspect. However, most of these peptides are pre-clinical studies. A lot of these are done in animal study. So that's why we have to be careful on giving ourselves the peptides because we don't know what will be the implication 20 years from now. However, there are peptides as I said that has been studied for long, long years, you know, like your GLP has been studied for 20 years. There's a robust human data on that one. Testomorlin is a growth hormone-releasing hormone peptide that also have huge human data. However, GHK copper, BPC157, thymosin alpha 1, thymosine alpha 1 has also good data, but the others uh more on animal study. But a lot of people are trying it. There's great, amazing anecdotal reports on how they feel about it, and people are using it without sometimes proper guidance. So, but now um there's a lot of physicians that prescribe it. So I really, really encourage everyone to do it under medical guidance.

SPEAKER_00 20:43

I love that you say that because I actually did a solo episode one day just talking about that very thing, is not to bash people who are using any of the GLP ones, but to make sure they're having it done under medical supervision. Because what you find, and I'm sure you see this, I know I was getting two, three, four emails a day about ordering it. Like anybody could just order it and you don't know the source, you don't truly know where it's coming from, and that's very concerning. And so that's the main, such a main really important message to get across to listeners and to anybody, like you're saying, is make sure you're you're being guided by a medical professional so that you're doing it in the in the safe in a safe manner.

SPEAKER_01 21:32

Yeah, I absolutely. I there are theory out there that they could potentially, you know, potentially cause cancer. I mean, like they're all teary because they based on their mechanism of action. Like, for example, the growth hormone releasing hormone peptide, it activates the release of IGF 1. And IgF1 is a hormone not To stimulate mTOR pathway, which basically can cause cell proliferation. So cell growth, unwanted cell growth, and that includes tumor. So for people who have active cancer, history of cancer, or even family history of cancer, should take, you know, should really have medical guidance and take this a huge consideration before starting peptides.

SPEAKER_00 22:31

Well, and thank you for bringing that up to you, because it's one of those where you have to really make sure does the benefit outweigh the risk?

SPEAKER_01 22:37

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 22:39

And I think that it's huge that you share, share that that's a possibility. Like you're, I love that you're being just upfront and honest about here's here they are, here's what they do. However, there are just there's some information that still we just don't know about. And I think, you know, through all the years, you know, I've seen that. I and I say I have because I'm I have a few more years on you, May, but that's okay. But seeing certain products that would come out, like back, I don't even know if it was the 80s, I don't even remember when it was, 90s, when there were fin or diet pills and it was all the rage. And then find out it gets pulled off the market because they find there's risks. And, you know, so I think it with anything, you have to be cautious. And, you know, hopefully everything will turn out fine and there won't be any concerns, but you still have to be aware of the fact that sometimes if it sounds really good, sometimes it's too good to be true. But hopefully, you know, again, when we're approaching this from a healthy standpoint from someone who has the the knowledge who can guide us, I think that's the really, really important message to get out to the listeners today is it it can be very beneficial, but you have to make sure you're you're getting the proper guidance from someone who is trained medically.

SPEAKER_01 24:03

Totally, totally agree. Um, the other thing, while these peptides are amazing, I don't want your viewers, viewers to neglect the part where nutrients is very important. Because peptides are signaling molecules, but without fuel, it doesn't do its job. So you still need those omega-3s, those vitamin B's, the vitamin C's, and all the nutrients that your body needs. It needs something in order to function. So you still need that.

SPEAKER_00 24:35

Thank you. Thank you for bringing that up because that's that's so huge. And being able to still nourish your body, and then also going back to what you were talking about earlier about you know losing some muscle mass. I mean, that's another really key component here is to continue, or if you're not yet doing so, the strength training and have that part of your routine because that's very concerning. We don't want anyone you losing any muscle mass at all. So, again, that just goes hand in hand also with what you're showing about the nutrients. So thank you. That's so important. That's huge. Yes, for sure. This has been so interesting. Like, I feel like I just I've learned a lot. I hope that I'm sure all of our listeners have as well. And I am just so excited to have connected with you, May, and to hear all of this information that you have. It's it's really interesting and it's exciting. Like I find it really exciting to know about and to know we have these options. And yes, there's still more information and and research that needs to be done, but it's to me, it's encouraging, very encouraging. Yes. And I just I appreciate you sharing so much. Where can our listeners

Nutrition And Strength Training Still Matter

SPEAKER_00 25:52

find you?

SPEAKER_01 25:53

Um, I actually have a YouTube channel, so uh, you can just search for my name, May Mattinson. So that's M-E-I-N-Mattinson M-A-T-T-I-N-S-O-N. There I break down all the peptides. I actually have a 15 common peptides video where I explain with good visualization on how they work in the body, their mechanism of action and things to watch out for. And also I am planning to break down all of this. My goal is at least 40 peptides to break it down one by one, giving them special episodes so listeners can understand what it is for and what watch out for, so that they can um advocate for themselves which one is best. I'm also doing a lot of research where you know sharing research data so that when you go and visit your primary physician, you can bring this research and tell them what's the reason why this peptide will help you. Umfortunately, not a lot of physicians are open to peptide, or some of them are slowly opening themselves to peptide, vicious goods. So if they're not, you can bring these research studies to them.

SPEAKER_00 27:06

So that's so fantastic. Well, I will definitely put that information in the show notes. And I really feel like we could probably do a few more episodes in the future where we're you're kind of like maybe focusing more on a couple different peptides and going a little bit more in depth. Yes. And maybe we'll look into doing that because I think that would be fascinating. And I love that you have a YouTube channel sharing and educating because it's it's so important. It's so important. I mean, we know this is such a hot topic, and so many people are are using peptides and taking them, and you hear so much information about them, and I just really appreciate everything that you share today and all the information. It's been it's been very, very informative and interesting.

SPEAKER_01 27:56

Well, thank you so much for having me. It's really nice. This is actually my first podcast guest team, so I'm so excited. I'm so happy to be here, and I'd be happy to come back and explain more about different peptides or specific peptides for your listeners.

SPEAKER_00 28:11

Oh, I would love that. And I can't believe it's your first time on a podcast. You're amazing, absolutely amazing. And I just, yes, I will absolutely have you back. I would love to do that. And just for kind of a last way to share with our listeners, do you have any last words of wellness or inspirational words you want to share with everyone?

SPEAKER_01 28:36

Well, you know, like I know peptides can be overwhelming out there. I I think you just have to read and research about each of these peptides so that you can choose what is best for you. Read the research. Try not to listen to a lot of hype and trends out there. Um, I think your research is your best friend and that you can bring that to your primary doctor. And second, is while peptides are amazing, don't forget about the fuel. You still need the nutrients in your body. Peptides are net magic, but it gives us hope of what it can do to help us make feel better as we age.

SPEAKER_00 29:18

Oh, that's perfect. Beautiful. I love it. What a perfect way to end. Thank you so very much.

SPEAKER_01 29:23

Thank you, Shelly.

SPEAKER_00 29:25

This has been fantastic. And to all our listeners, uh, hope you're as excited and encouraged as I am to hear this information. I just am so, so fascinated. And take time to reach out to May. She's amazing, as you all can hear, and has so much information. And again, I will put her YouTube channel in the show notes. And as always, take time for yourself and your wellness on this day. And have a beautiful, blessed rest of your week. And we'll see you next time on Words of Wellness.

Where To Find May And Wrap

SPEAKER_00 29:58

Thank you so much for tuning in to today's episode. I hope you gained value and enjoyed our time together as much as I did. And if you know someone who could benefit from today's episode, I would love and appreciate it if you could share with a friend or rate and review Words of Wellness so that more can hear this message. I love and appreciate you all. Thank you for listening. And if you have any questions or topics you would like me to share in future episodes, please don't hesitate to reach out to me through my contact information that is shared in the show notes below. Again, thank you for tuning in to Words of Wellness. My name is Shelly Jeffries, and I encourage you to do something for you, for your wellness on this day. Until next time, I hope you all have a healthy, happy, and blessed week.