Start here
Peptides in 2 minutes
No background needed. Here's what peptides are, why you're suddenly hearing about them, and how to read this site so you can tell real science from marketing.
What is a peptide?
A peptide is a short chain of amino acids — the same building blocks that make up proteins, just smaller. Your body makes thousands of them to send signals: telling you you're full, kicking off repair after an injury, setting your sleep clock. Scientists now make some of these signals in a lab to study them as treatments. A few are approved medicines you've heard of; many are still experimental.
Why is everyone talking about them?
Two reasons. First, the GLP-1 weight-loss drugs (Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy) are peptides — and they work well enough that they pulled the whole category into the mainstream. Second, access is changing, so a lot of compounds that were hard to learn about are getting real attention. The catch: the marketing is way ahead of the science for most of them. That gap is exactly what this site is for.
How strong is the evidence? Read the meter.
Every compound gets one honest rating for how much proof stands behind it — for the thing people actually use it for:
Backed by solid human trials or established medical use.
Real human evidence, but mixed, narrow, or weaker than the buzz.
Some human studies, but early or inconsistent.
Mostly animal or lab work — not yet shown in people.
One trap to know: a compound can be an approved medicine for one narrow use and still have almost no proof for the reasons people usually try it. We flag that instead of letting “it's a real drug” oversell it.
Before you go further
- This is educational, not medical advice. Any doses we mention are what studies used — not a prescription.
- Approved medicines and unregulated “research” products are not the same — quality and purity vary a lot.
- Talk to a clinician before starting anything, especially if you take other medications.