As your healthcare provider, I strive to bring you the latest in health and healing therapies. One such breakthrough is BPC-157, a powerful peptide with a wide range of benefits, including enhanced tissue repair, gut support, anti-inflammatory benefits, cardiovascular and neuroprotective effects.
What Is BPC-157?
BPC-157 (Body Protection Compound 157) is a peptide, which is essentially a short chain of amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and peptides like the Body Protection Compound, play a vital role in regulating many functions in the body. Specifically, BPC-157 is synthetic derived peptide consisting of 15 amino acids derived from proteins found in the stomach and has been extensively studied for its healing properties. Its ability to support tissue regeneration across various system such as the muscles, ligaments, tendons, skin, and organs, makes it a versatile therapeutic tool.
What Are Peptides?
Peptides are small molecules made up of between 2 and 50 amino acids, and they act as signaling agents within the body. They help regulate various physiological processes, including hormone production, immune response, tissue repair and more. Peptides can act like messengers, instructing your cells on how to function or repair themselves, making them essential for maintaining balance and overall health. Think of peptides as communication signals. They tell your body’s cells what to do, whether it’s to heal damaged tissues, reduce inflammation, or even boost the production of vital compounds like collagen or nitric oxide. BPC-157, specifically, plays a critical role in enhancing the body’s natural healing response.
Key Benefits of BPC-157
1: Supports Tissue and Wound Healing
Whether you’re recovering from a sports injury or dealing with everyday wear and tear, BPC-157 promotes faster healing of muscles, ligaments, tendons, and skin. BPC 157 is also then critical for supporting the fascia, which is our connective tissue that is densely packed with collagen fibers that surrounds muscles, nerves, and blood vessels and plays a critical role in body movement and stability. Injuries to the fascia can lead to chronic pain, restricted mobility and slow recovery. Therefore, because BPC 157 promotes the production of collagen and reduces inflammation, it can expedite fascial healing, which can reduce pain and increase flexibility and resiliency in your body.
BPC 157 can also increase muscle strength, endurance and energy output. This makes it a go-to treatment for athletes and anyone needing accelerated recovery.
I recently had an unfortunate bicycle crash with significant wrist damage, which is not ideal when typing up treatment plans and caring for patients day to day. Therefore, I started BPC 157 500mcg nightly and my recovery was remarkable for the level of injury I incurred. My massage therapist remarked that my body and fascia are moving like he’s never seen before (and he’s worked on me for 15 years) I can assure you that BPC 157 is now a part of my ongoing health optimization and longevity care!
2. Gut Health and Gastric Protection
BPC-157 offers significant protection for your digestive system. It has been shown to help with gastric ulcers and to protect against conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease and Leaky Gut Syndrome by increasing the integrity of the mucosal barrier. This peptide, as well as KPV and Larazotide are my go to healing modalities now when working on healing the gut. We know it is critical to heal the gap junctions in the gut when damaged to prevent (and even reverse) autoimmune diseases.
3. Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Properties
This peptide plays a key role in reducing pain and inflammation. It also helps combat cellular and oxidative damage. Its antioxidant properties also promote overall health and longevity. This peptide enhances angiogenesis, which improves blood flow to damaged area, which provides better circulation with more oxygen and nutrients needed to heal inflamed areas.
4. Neuroprotective and Cardioprotective Effects
BPC-157 helps protect your brain and heart by supporting the health of the neural and cardiovascular systems. It can protect against a recent traumatic brain injury or other injuries involving the brain and heart. It can help reduce high blood pressure and restores endothelial function by working on the nitric oxide system. Patient’s experience enhanced concentration and cognitive performance with BPC 157 as well.
Whether it’s guarding against neurodegenerative conditions or enhancing cardiac health, BPC-157 helps keep your vital organs functioning optimally.
5. Boosts Stem Cell Production
Another incredible feature of BPC-157 is its ability to modulate genetic expression and increase stem cell production, which is essential for tissue repair and recovery.
6. Improves Burn and Wound Healing
Studies have shown that BPC-157 enhances the healing rates of burns and wounds by increasing granulation and tissue remodeling, making it a potential therapy for faster recovery from injuries that damage the skin.
Is BPC-157 Right for You?
If you’re experiencing digestive issues, cognitive changes, recovering from an injury, or simply looking to enhance your body’s natural healing capabilities and are interested in longevity, BPC-157 may be a great addition to your wellness regimen. It’s a modulatory peptide with wide-ranging benefits for your body’s repair mechanisms so you can feel better, achieve more success and live a healthier life with less inflammation and pain in your body too.
Quality matters! Peptides can be incredibly effective, but if they are not compounded or manufactured correctly, there are potential risks. Poor-quality peptides may contain impurities, incorrect dosages, or contaminants that can be toxic or cause adverse effects.
When peptides are not synthesized or compounded under proper conditions, they can degrade or become unstable, which might lead to incomplete sequences or harmful byproducts. One of the biggest concerns is the presence of Trifluoroacetic Acid (TFA) in a peptide. The TFA is an acidic compound used in the peptide synthesis process, but needs to be removed again after undergoing a salt (ion) exchange and then lyophilization to neutralize the TFA before it can be called safe again. If the TFA remains it can pose a range of health risks, from local irritations and allergic reactions to cellular toxicity and impaired therapeutic efficacy.
The reason I am taking the time to say this, is that there are companies selling peptides online cheaply, and this can be very concerning and should be avoided. Peptides are difficult to make and are therefore expensive, so it is not worth trying to save money if you are doing peptide therapies, it not worth the risk!
This is why it’s crucial to ensure peptides come from reputable sources or pharmacies that adhere to strict quality control standards, ensuring the product is both safe and effective.
As always, please consult with me to discuss whether BPC-157 is the right option for your health needs. I am here to guide you toward treatments that not only alleviate symptoms but also help you feel your best in the long term.
Cheers to your health and longevity!
Carrie Ballas BSN, MS, FNP-C, ABAAHP
Disclaimer: These statements made regarding BPC 157 and it's possible benefits have not been evaluated by the FDA and I am making no medical claims BPC 157 will treat or cure disease. BPC 157 has not been approved by the FDA.
