People knew about the side effects of steroids but then discovered that they could use peptides for bodybuilding. Most peptides have only one purpose – to increase human growth hormone in the body. They are a substance that manufacturers introduced to the fitness public more than a decade ago and are now widely used worldwide. The easy accessibility allows many people to benefit from them. Most bodybuilders tend to view peptides as another substance that can help increase the rate of muscle growth. The first peptides to appear were pure human growth hormone and insulin, which are among the stepping stones for today’s mass monster.

Nowadays, the term “peptide” is very generic, as it is used to describe a range of different compounds. Each of these compounds is responsible for the optimization of a specific physiological process. In other words, there are thousands of different peptides. Peptides are compounds with chains of 50 or fewer amino acids, which are also entwined with proteins. The only difference between them is the size of the amino acids in the chain. We usually get a certain amount of peptides through our daily nutrition. The truth is that these quantities are very limited, which is exactly why people resort to synthetic peptides.

How do peptides work?

Well, as far as we know, peptides are organic compounds whose molecules are composed of two or more amino acids. As you should know by now, proteins are part of every living organism on the planet. However, the building blocks of proteins themselves are amino acids. This means that proteins are essentially sequences or chains of amino acids. These sequences can be very long or very short. These are short peptides that we call “peptides”. These short sequences of amino acids carry important intercellular information in the body. They are an important part of normal functioning and homeostasis (balance) in the body. Last but not least, we can extract peptides from animals, and plants, but we can also prepare them artificially.

But now, how do they work?

Well, peptides play a key role in the growth of the human body and the proper functioning of all systems. The good thing about them is that they stimulate aging because they stimulate every cell in the body. This means that they contribute to the regenerative process and hinder it. As mentioned above, peptides are cellular messengers of intercellular messages that ensure the proper functioning of all functions in the body. Depending on the amino acid content, many different types of peptides work in the body in different ways. Now, of course, when such a product enters the market, and even before that, it goes through extensive trials. Peptides have been studied in many clinical trials and have been repeatedly shown to be extremely effective. While they can be used to treat certain physical ailments, only a few of them are important to bodybuilders and fitness trainees.

Are peptides good for building muscle?

Well, as far as we know, many peptides can reduce human growth hormone in the body. For them to be effective, they must be taken for at least 3 months, preferably 6 months. It is important to know that, unlike steroids, peptides do not cause a huge change in body composition. This is especially true when it comes to gaining a lot of muscle. Also, if this is the goal, then peptides will not work as fast as other fat-burning substances. That is, over time, we will gain more natural, steady gains rather than sudden, drastic changes. Another benefit of peptides is that you don’t lose gains when you stop using them, just like anabolic steroids. In addition, the use of peptides is much less harmful to our health because they have no deadly side effects.

Below, we will briefly discuss two of the most popular peptides-IGF-1 and GHRP-2

IGF-1

IGF-1 is one of the most common peptides in the fitness world.

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is a protein hormone with a structure similar to that of insulin.

This growth factor plays an important role in growth, especially in children, however, it can still maintain anabolic (constructive) behavior as we age. More specifically, when human growth hormone (often called HGH) passes through the liver, it ends up in the form of IGF-1. In turn, it is one of the biggest contributors to muscle growth.

In addition to this, IGF-1 optimizes and enhances many other physiological processes in the body.

This is why many people use it as an anti-aging therapy. Now, of course, it doesn’t work like magic for everyone because your biology is unique and will respond in a certain way to a given substance. So, for example, people have what is called HGH resistance, others have fewer HGH receptors, etc.

GHRP-2 (growth hormone-releasing peptide- 2)

ghrp-2

GHRP-2 is a signal peptide that notifies the body to start producing more growth hormones.

Human growth hormone has several positive effects, such as reducing body fat, and increasing muscle mass, strength and endurance. Last but not least, we would like to mention again its amazing anti-aging properties. Needless to say, the addition of this peptide alone does not fully address the desired result. Ultimately, there are many other factors, such as training, sleep, and nutrition, that will account for the best gains. It is good to know that the GH produced by the body causes the liver to secrete IGF-1, which is what we just talked about above.

A common effect for those using GHRP-2 is to reduce the need for food, as the peptide is an appetite regulator.

This is also because GHRP-2 releases another peptide called ghrelin, which is also an appetite regulator. GHRP-2 can be used as a product by people who are fighting against human growth hormone deficiency. In addition, GHRP-2 can be used to treat food abnormalities as well as cachexia. Cachexia is weight loss during starvation.

Another common reason for people to use GHRP-2 is to control their weight in case of obesity. In other words, GHRP-2 can help you “shortcut” gains, optimizing muscle absorption and fat-burning processes. Besides having a positive effect on metabolism, the peptide also helps to increase energy, endurance, and mood. Last but not least, since it strengthens connective tissue, it can be used as an injury prevention measure.

Another positive effects of GHRP-2 are its ability to increase collagen in the organism. Overall, GHRP-2 is a peptide with various positive health effects.

Is peptide a steroid?

Well, as far as we know, peptides are messenger proteins that stimulate certain organs of the body to produce more hormones. Anabolic steroids, on the other hand, are a modified version of sex hormones and are specifically designed to promote growth. This is exactly the reason why peptides, as we mentioned earlier, do not act as fast as steroids on body components. Peptides can only send signals to the pituitary gland or testes to produce higher levels of hormones. However! The difference is that peptides do not force the body to go beyond normal levels. This is because the pituitary gland and testes can only produce certain hormones.

For comparison purposes, in the best-case scenario, proper peptide intake can produce GH and test levels of a 20-year-old in a 40-year-old. In contrast to peptides, anabolic steroids can be ingested in large quantities and create an anabolic environment in the body other than natural, up to 500 times the normal human level. That is, when we use actual anabolic steroids, we are at levels of testosterone that cannot be reached naturally. The bad thing about anabolic steroids is that it shuts down the production of natural testosterone. This happens when the body detects a large number of sex hormones circulating in the blood.

This is why many bodybuilders have shrunken testicles.

In addition, too much testosterone may cause the body to convert some of it into estrogen. This is why many steroid users report the well-known side effect of “gynecomastia” even while breastfeeding.

Before and after steroid use

The body exhibits the above side effects to maintain hormonal balance.

However, the harsh truth is that most people cannot naturally raise their testosterone levels, even with proper post-cycle therapy. Instead, peptides simply signal to our hormone-releasing glands to produce a greater output. This is why peptides do not cause the hormonal and glandular destruction that anabolic steroids do. Now, we are not saying that peptides are better than steroids, but simply that both have different end goals.

Peptides can be used as an anti-aging therapy and for stable muscle growth. Steroids, on the other hand, are the preferred choice for people geared toward bodybuilding careers. Essentially, peptide therapy can be completed for decades with the goal of extended life and healing with little to no side effects. This is not the case with high doses of anabolic steroids. In the long run, steroids can lead to a host of health problems, such as infertility and cardiovascular disease.

Why do bodybuilders use peptides?

Peptides are widely used for their anabolic effects on individual muscles, as growth hormone-releasing peptides can be useful. Needless to say, the rate at which you gain muscle mass is strictly dependent on the proper stimulation and subsequent recovery phase. The more you stimulate and the more you recover, the more you will gain. In between workouts, peptides can help muscles and connective tissues recover faster.

With peptides, bodybuilders can build mass quickly because the tears produced in the muscles during each workout will reach a peak of recovery faster. Even though peptides are not as strong as steroids, the effects are quickly apparent when stacked and repeated for optimal rapid stimulation and recovery.

Peptides are well known to the fitness crowd and have been used by many with reportedly little or no side effects.