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Best Peptides for Energy
Energy, particularly in the context of the human body, is an abstract concept that is difficult to define. For a physicist, energy is simply the capacity to perform work. To a biologist, energy might be simply defined as the fuel a body needs to carry out the daily activities of life. Neither of those definitions really pins down the colloquial use of the term, however,When most people say they are lacking energy, generally they are talking about stamina, power, strength, and endurance. They usually mean that they want to be more alert, less tired, and able to accomplish a lot of tasks without feeling exhausted. If we look at energy under this lens, then defining how peptides can help and which are the best peptides for energy becomes a task of defining which biochemical process we need to target to improve feelings of stamina and well-being while reducing fatigue.
Categories Defining the Best Peptides for Energy
When we think about how the body operates at a biochemical level, we can break our energy requirements into a few broad groups as follows.• Cellular Energy – Stamina and Endurance
• Sexual Energy – Desire
• Mental Energy – Concentration and Alertness
• Hormonal Energy – Power and Strength
• Sleep – All of the Above
It is important to note that even though energy can be divided into the categories above, they do not operate independently of one another. As will become clear as we delve into the best peptides for energy in each of these categories, overall energy balance is dependent on each of these categories interacting with each other to promote total wellness.
The Best Peptides for Cellular Energy
Cellular energy is the most fundamental level of the energy equation and refers to the conversion of food and oxygen into the biochemicals that cells can use. The most important of these biochemicals is ATP, and it is produced within tiny structures inside of cells called mitochondria.Mitochondria are best thought of as the power plants of cells, the fundamental producers of all of the energy that keeps us going. Optimizing mitochondrial function is the first step to creating a healthy energy balance. At this level, the best peptides for energy are MOTS-c, 5-Amino-1MQ, and Cardarine.
Source: ER Services
An overview of energy production in cells. Food is converted to its basic components which are either stored as fat and other compounds or converted to ATP and readily used as an energy source for cells. Everything from hormone balance to exercise requirements helps to determine whether food energy is stored or used immediately.
MOTS-c
MOTS-c is a mitochondrial peptide that promotes energy balance by increasing the efficiency of mitochondria. In other words, MOTS-c helps mitochondria to make better use of the raw materials provided to them. This, in turn, means more cellular energy for the body to work with. Research shows that MOTS-c increases exercise capacity, reduces metabolic stress, and more.
5-Amino-1MQ
What makes 5-Amino-1MQ one of the best peptides for energy is that it increases the production of another compound called NNMT. NNMT has several roles, but its most important is to increase the ability of muscles and other cells to absorb sugar from the blood[1]. This not only increases the raw material available to mitochondria to produce energy, it decreases insulin levels which indirectly helps to increase hormonal energy levels.
Cardarine
Cardarine is a PPARδ receptor agonist that works very differently to the peptides discussed above. Rather than increasing energy synthesis, Cardarine increases energy expenditure by increasing the amount of energy available to cells. The results are increased fatty acid metabolism and increased exercise performance. Research in mice finds that those given Cardarine can run a full 100 minutes longer than their control counterparts because it actually improves energy efficiency[2].
The Best Peptides for Sexual Energy
Sexual energy is regulated by a somewhat newly discovered system called the melanocortin system. Research shows that desire, copulatory behavior, arousal, and more are all controlled in large part by the binding of various natural peptides to one or more of the five different melanocortin receptors.PT-141
The most famous peptide for boosting sexual energy is PT-141, also known as bremelanotide. PT-141 works by binding to the melanocortin 3 and 4 receptors. The net results are increased sexual arousal and motivation to pursue sex. This results in a number of physiological benefits like increased blood flow to the genitals. Research shows that PT-141 increases “copulatory” behavior in mice, which is to say it makes mice more energetic in their pursuit of sex and sexual activities.
Melanotan
Melanotan and its sibling melanotan II are the forerunners to PT-141. These peptides, originally developed for their ability to produce sunless tanning, are known to increase sexual arousal and motivation to pursue sex. They are amongst the earliest peptides to be identified as synthetic melanocortins and have thus been instrumental in guiding our understanding of the melanocortin system.
The Best Peptides for Mental Energy
Mental energy is probably best defined both by alertness (our ability to recognize novel situations in our environment) and concentration (our ability to sustain focus). Of course, there are prescription drugs like Adderall that promote both of these qualities, but they only work for a subset of people, have relatively undesirable side effects, and don’t address the basis of robust mental energy anyway.Covering the complex array of neurons and hormones that sustain both alertness and concentration would take an entire book if not an entire series of books to cover. Suffice it to say that we can boost both of these features and increase our capacity to learn and work by addressing various aspects of our brain chemistry.
Selank
Selank, developed in Russia, is a well-known nootropic and anxiolytic peptide derived from a natural protein called tuftsin. Selank increases the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the central nervous system, which makes it easier for us to learn and retain information. Selank likely makes our brains more efficient by reducing distractions via a reduction in baseline anxiety. This, combined with increased BDNF, essentially means we get more bang for our energy buck, leaving additional mental energy for other tasks.
Semax
Semax, also developed in Russia, is a nootropic that increases levels of BDNF as well as serotonin and dopamine levels. It is known to reduce chronic stress and potentiates motor activity. This latter fact means that while Semax has many of the benefits of Selank, it also increases physical energy in addition to mental energy.
Intensity of yellow indicates synapse number. Note the higher synapse density in the BDNF-treated group.
https://journals.biologists.com/dev...DNF-increases-synapse-density-in-dendrites-ofSource: Development
The Best Peptides for Hormonal Energy
Hormonal energy is a somewhat abstract way of defining the overall sense of wellness, strength, and stamina that we experience when hormones like growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), testosterone, estrogen, and more are at their optimal levels. These hormones have extensive influence over everything from muscle and fat mass to appetite, exercise capacity, sexual arousal, and more.Of all of the hormones that affect energy, GH is among the most important. It is also the one for which the most research has been performed, revealing that higher levels of GH lead to increased strength and stamina in addition to improved sleep and better recovery following exercise. There is a plethora of peptides that influence GH levels and listing them all would lead to clutter. Instead, the peptides that influence GH can be broadly divided into two categories as follows.
Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH) Agonists
GHRH agonists like sermorelin, CJC-1295, Mod-GRF, and Tesamorelin cause sustained increases in GH levels. Research on these peptides shows that they increase muscle mass, improve bone strength, decrease fat mass, boost the immune system, improve wound healing, decrease inflammation, and tweak sleep quality. Taken together, these features of GHRH agonists lead to increased energy, well-being, and overall performance. These peptides are among the most researched compounds in biochemistry and have extensive science backing their use in animals, safety profiles, and long-term effects.
Growth Hormone Secretagogues (GHS)
GHSs led to increases in GH levels that are similar to GHRH agonists, but they do so in a different way. Their benefits are similar, but their efficacy and use differ. GHSs, for instance, have a much greater impact on hunger and food cravings, helping to change the types and quantities of foods that we consume. Heavily researched growth hormone secretagogues include ipamorelin, examorelin, GHRP-2 and GHRP-6.
Ipamorelin, in addition to its growth and energy properties, has been shown to beneficially alter the sleep cycle. Research shows that ipamorelin can increase both stage 4 and REM sleep, leading to improved concentration, learning, memory, and mood[3]. In fact, all of the GHSs have this effect, though ipamorelin appears to offer the greatest benefit.
The Best Peptides for Sleep
Getting adequate sleep is probably the best way to boost energy levels, but good sleep is getting harder and harder to come by. Fortunately, there are peptides that directly improve both sleep quantity and quality.Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide (DSIP)
DSIP is a short, natural peptide that promotes slow wave sleep while suppressing paradoxical sleep. Research shows that it can normalize sleep patterns and regulate sleep cycling. It is particularly useful in animal models of chronic insomnia where it reduces sleep latency and increases sleep efficiency[4]–[6].
Epitalon/Epithalon
Epithalon is a natural extract of pineal gland that is now made synthetically. It has significant effects on telomere length and DNA activation and may increase longevity and immune function. Research shows that eipthalon affects melatonin levels by enhancing both the synthesis and secretion rates of melatonin[7]. Melatonin is a critical regulator of sleep/way cycles (circadian rhythms). Research in animal models shows that epithalon restores melatonin secretion to normal patterns[8].
MK677
MK677 is not technically a peptide, but rather is a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) with activity at the growth hormone secretagogue receptor. Like ipamorelin, MK677 increases stage 4 sleep duration. In mice, it increases stage 4 sleep by 50% and REM sleep by 20%. It also decreases REM latency[9]. Stage 4 sleep is considered to be the most restful stage of sleep and is critical to preserving waking brain function.
Sermorelin
The sleep cycle is at least partially regulated by orexin, a neurochemical made in the brain. Research in fish shows that orexin secretion is controlled by GH and the growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) axis. This research shows that sermorelin (and other GH hormone modulators) can boost orexin secretion via its effects on the GHRH receptor[10]. The results are faster sleep onset, deeper sleep, and more restful sleep.
