A plain-English reference for the peptides, GLP-1s, and longevity protocols moving the most right now. What they do, who they're for, what the evidence actually says, what's worth skipping. Broken down for normal humans - no biohacker jargon, no Reddit threads. If you've been hearing about Ozempic and BPC-157 and want to understand without going to med school, you're in the right place.
New here? Start with the foundations ->
Or browse the 20-peptide directory ->
Or take a 2-minute quiz, get your fit ->
Pick the closest fit. We'll take you to the right starting page.
30-second answer. Food example. Medicine example. What peptides are not. Plain English. No biology degree required.
Peptides 101 -> Weight Loss8-question decision quiz. Tells you whether GLP-1 is the right call for your goals and your medical picture before you talk to a doctor.
Take the GLP-1 quiz -> Not Sure Yet11-question quiz across the full peptide directory. Returns the most likely fit plus the second path if your situation is borderline.
Take the peptide quiz -> Power UserThe peptide cheat sheet PDF that gets passed around like gospel - we audited it. 60 peptides ranked into 5 evidence tiers. 12 with FDA approval, 9 strong-mechanism, plus what's marketing hype and what to skip.
Read the audit ->First-timer? Read the Getting Started page for the mechanics of finding a provider and what a real first month looks like. Or browse the FAQ for the most common questions.
Peptides ranked by tier. S-Tier first (what I'd point a friend at). A-Tier next (well-supported but situational). B-Tier and Watch at the bottom (interesting science with thin human evidence - read about them, don't start with them). Click any name for the full breakdown.
S-Tier · Rx via compounding
$$ · compounded telehealth
Body Protection Compound 157. Tendon, gut, and soft-tissue recovery - the peptide most worth researching for stubborn injuries.
Weight LossS-Tier · FDA-approved
$$-$$$$ · $25-100/mo insured to $1200 cash
Active ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound. Dual GLP-1 + GIP agonist with a quiet liver story.
Weight LossS-Tier · FDA-approved
$$-$$$$ · $25-100/mo insured to $1200 cash
Active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy. The molecule that started the GLP-1 conversation, plus cardiovascular-outcomes data most coverage misses.
Weight Loss · NEW READOUTS-Tier (Phase 3 positive) · NDA pending
TBD · pre-approval; FDA decision likely 2027
Triple-agonist GLP-1 + GIP + glucagon. TRIUMPH-1 pivotal Phase 3 readout dropped in May 2026: 28.3% body weight loss over 80 weeks at the high dose, 45.3% of patients lost 30% or more of their body weight. Biggest GLP-1 number on the board. Not yet available - wait, don't source.
A-Tier · Rx via compounding
$$ · compounded telehealth
Thymosin Beta-4 fragment. Half of the "Wolverine blend" - paired with BPC-157 in the most-discussed recovery protocol on the internet.
Skin & RecoveryA-Tier · Topical OTC / Rx injectable
$ · topical OTC
Copper-binding tripeptide. Strong topical evidence; injectable use is biohacker territory.
Cognitive (intl)A-Tier (intl) · Not FDA-approved
$$$$ · international Rx + shipping
Porcine-brain-derived peptide extract. Approved as a prescription drug in 50+ countries. Strongest cognitive-peptide evidence base; sourcing in the US is the hard part.
Sexual HealthA-Tier · FDA-approved (Vyleesi)
$$ · compounded; Vyleesi insured $$$
Bremelanotide. Melanocortin-receptor peptide. FDA-approved for premenopausal HSDD; off-label use is community-driven.
Body Comp & GHA-Tier · Rx via compounding
$$ · compounded telehealth
Long-acting GHRH analog. Half of the most-stacked growth-hormone protocol on the internet. Pairs with Ipamorelin.
Body Comp & GHA-Tier · Rx via compounding
$$ · compounded telehealth
Selective GHRP. The cleaner-side-effect-profile half of the CJC-1295 stack.
ImmuneA-Tier · Rx (intl) / Compounded (US)
$$$ · compounded or international
Immune-modulating peptide approved as Zadaxin in 35+ countries for hepatitis and chemotherapy support.
Weight LossA-Tier · FDA-approved (Foundayo)
$$ · ~$149/mo self-pay, $25 insured
Brand name Foundayo. The first GLP-1 you swallow instead of inject. Lower peak weight loss than the injectables, far easier to actually take.
B-Tier / Watch · Research peptide
$ · research peptide (COA required)
Pineal-gland peptide from Russian aging research. Telomere claims, sleep-quality reports, and a thin Western trial record.
CognitiveB-Tier / Watch · Research peptide
$ · research peptide (COA required)
Tripeptide from the same Russian gerontology lineage as Epitalon. Discussed alongside Selank and Semax in cognitive stacks.
LongevityB-Tier · Research peptide
$ · research peptide (COA required)
A 16-amino-acid peptide your mitochondria release under metabolic stress. The "exercise mimetic" the longevity community has been watching.
CognitiveB-Tier · Rx (Russia) / Research peptide (US)
$ · nasal spray, compounded
Russian heptapeptide for anxiety reduction. Tuftsin analog approved as a pharmaceutical in Russia.
CognitiveB-Tier · Rx (Russia) / Research peptide (US)
$ · nasal spray, compounded
Russian ACTH-derived heptapeptide. Approved in Russia for stroke recovery; the strongest Russian-cognitive-peptide evidence base.
Watch · Research peptide
$ · research peptide (limited evidence)
Delta sleep-inducing peptide. Identified in 1977. Sleep-induction claim hasn't held up after almost five decades of follow-up.
Longevity / MitochondrialWatch · Rx (Barth only) / research
$$ · research peptide (COA required)
Mitochondria-targeting peptide, FDA-approved as Forzinity for one rare disease. The anti-aging use everyone wants it for is still research.
Gut & InflammationWatch · Research peptide
$ · research peptide (COA required)
Anti-inflammatory tripeptide from alpha-MSH. Strong mechanism for gut and skin inflammation, almost entirely preclinical evidence.
Two short quizzes that map your goals, age, and health to the peptide most likely to fit. Editorial recommendations, not sales pitches.
Master quiz · 11 questions · ~3 min
Across recovery, weight loss, cognitive, sexual health, sleep, longevity, skin, immune. The broad-survey path.
Take the master quiz ->Focused quiz · 8 questions · ~2 min
For people specifically considering Mounjaro, Wegovy, Ozempic, or Zepbound. The focused-decision path.
Take the GLP-1 quiz ->A weekly editorial breakdown of what's moving in peptides, GLP-1s, and longevity protocols. The science distilled. The hype called out. The protocols people actually run. Free, ~5 minutes, every week.
Forward this to the group chat where Ozempic comes up. That's the whole favor.