What Are Peptides? A Plain-English Guide for Beginners
What are peptides, how do they work, and how are they different from proteins and hormones? A beginner’s guide to peptide types, FDA status and evidence.
PEP GUIDE BLOG
What are peptides, how do they work, and how are they different from proteins and hormones? A beginner’s guide to peptide types, FDA status and evidence.
BPC-157 vs TB-500 compared: what each peptide is, how they’re thought to work, what the animal and human research shows, FDA and WADA status, and the evidence gaps.
Learn how to read a peptide COA line by line: HPLC purity, mass spec identity, net peptide content, endotoxin and lot numbers, plus the red flags of a fake COA.
What ‘For Research Use Only’ means on peptides, what it does and doesn’t allow, how RUO compares to FDA-approved and compounded drugs, and why it matters.
Semaglutide vs tirzepatide vs retatrutide: how GLP-1 drugs work, clinical trial weight-loss results, FDA-labeled dosing, side effects and what’s still in trials.
CJC-1295 with DAC vs without DAC (Mod GRF 1-29) explained: structure, half-life, how each affects growth hormone release, human research and regulatory status.
How to store peptides in the lab: freezer vs fridge for lyophilized powder, handling reconstituted solutions, bacteriostatic vs sterile water, and signs of degradation.
A guide to growth hormone secretagogues: how GHRH analogs and ghrelin mimetics work, which have FDA approval (tesamorelin, sermorelin), side effects and evidence.
GHK-Cu copper peptide explained: where it comes from, what the research says about skin, collagen and hair, how to use copper peptide serums, and side effects.
PT-141 (bremelanotide) explained: its origin in tanning research, how it works in the brain, FDA approval as Vyleesi, labeled dosing, side effects and use in men.
Which peptides are banned by WADA? How BPC-157, TB-500, CJC-1295, ipamorelin and GLP-1s are classified, how anti-doping tests work, and what athletes should know.
How to tell if a peptide supplier is legit: 12 red flags, green flags to look for, how to verify COAs and third-party testing, and a printable vendor checklist.
New guides are added regularly. For updates, follow @rsrchrsonly for updates. For educational purposes only. Not medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or prescribing guidance.