NAD+ (And Why It’s Not Technically a Peptide)

In this episode I am doing something a little different. Everything I usually talk about goes in your body. Today I am talking about what goes on your body, specifically the ingredients that researchers have actually studied for aging skin and why pharmaceutical grade standards matter just as much for your skincare as they do for everything else. I also address something I think will make everything I cover on this podcast make a lot more sense. Why the delivery method always follows the science and how that connects everything from injections to nasal sprays to capsules to topical. I break down eight ingredients in plain language, what each one actually does, and what the research says. Tretinoin. GHK-Cu. NAD plus. A plant based ingredient studied for expression lines. Vitamin B3. Stable Vitamin C. Hyaluronic Acid. And plant stem cell exosomes. I am also honest about something upfront. Some over the counter skincare products are genuinely good. I am not here to tell you everything affordable is useless. What I am here to talk about is the difference between having an ingredient present and having it at the right concentration, in a stable form, with a delivery system that actually works. Explained like you are in 5th grade the way I always do it.

You put in the work. You hit your goal on a GLP-1. Now what. This episode picks up where episode 22 left off and answers the question I get asked a lot. If you have not listened to episode 22 — GLP-1s. What You Need to Know While You Are On One. I recommend starting there first. Today I am talking about what actually happens after you hit your goal. And I am not going to sugarcoat it. The research is clear that coming off a GLP-1 is not easy and weight regain is real, fast, and driven by biology not by failure. I cover what the published research actually shows about weight regain when you stop. Why for some people the right answer is not coming off at all and what a maintenance dose actually means and why genetics plays a bigger role than most people realize. The peptides some people transition to after a GLP-1 to help maintain their results including MOTS-c, Tesamorelin, and microdosing. And the habits that the research consistently shows make the biggest difference. Protein. Strength training. And food quality. I am honest throughout that none of this is easy. But it is absolutely possible with the right plan and the right provider.

I have done a lot of episodes on individual peptides. And I have talked before about why your body stops responding after 40. But I have never connected all of those dots in one place. Until now. In this episode I walk you through exactly what the research shows is happening in your body after 40, the specific biological changes that are documented and real, and for each one I tell you which peptide I have covered on this podcast that addresses that specific thing. Muscle loss and slower metabolism. Brain fog and cognitive decline. Sleep disruption. Immune decline and chronic inflammation. Skin and collagen loss. Cellular aging. And visceral fat that will not move. I also talk about something most people do not realize. Some peptides like GLP-1s address multiple things on this list at once. And I am honest about the fact that most people do not need to be on five peptides at a time. This is a menu not a shopping list. Pick what resonates most and start there with a licensed provider. This is your roadmap episode. The one that ties everything I have covered together in one place.

In this episode I break down Dihexa, one of the most talked about compounds in the brain health and longevity space right now. I start by addressing something I know longtime listeners are going to wonder immediately. I talk a lot on this podcast about how most peptides do not work when taken orally. So why does Dihexa come as a capsule. I explain exactly why in plain language and why this is completely different from the supplement pills I always caution people about. It comes down to what kind of compound Dihexa actually is and how that changes everything about how it is absorbed. I then explain what Dihexa is, where it came from, and what the early research actually shows about its potential role in rebuilding the connections between brain cells, the pathways that deteriorate with age and certain conditions. I use a plain language analogy that I think will actually make this click for you. And I am completely honest about where the research stands, compelling animal studies, no human clinical trials yet, and a compound that absolutely requires doctor supervision. If you have been curious about Dihexa and wanted someone to explain it honestly and simply this episode is for you. Want to learn more? Visit me at peptideswithmichele.com DM me PODCAST on Instagram @peptideswithmichele and I will point you in the right direction toward safe doctor supervised access. Email me at [email protected]. I read and respond to every single one. This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. I am not a doctor. Always consult your physician before starting any new health regimen.

In this episode I break down Epitalon, one of the most fascinating peptides in the longevity space. It was also reviewed by the FDA advisory committee on July 24th 2026, the second day of the same historic hearing I covered in my recent episode. Epitalon is a tiny four amino acid peptide derived from the pineal gland that has been studied for over 40 years for its role in activating telomerase, the repair crew that protects your telomeres, the protective caps on your DNA that shorten with age. I explain the whole thing with a shoelace analogy that actually makes it click. I also cover the research on your body's internal 24 hour clock and how Epitalon may support more youthful sleep patterns and hormone timing, immune support, and cellular protection from damage. I share something unique about how this peptide is used that makes it different from most of what I cover. And I am honest about where the research stands, compelling science with a long history and large scale western clinical trials still developing. This is one of the most genuinely interesting ones I have covered. Explained like you are in 5th grade the way I always do it. Want to learn more? Visit me at peptideswithmichele.com DM me PODCAST on Instagram @peptideswithmichele and I will point you in the right direction toward safe doctor supervised access. Email me at [email protected]. I read and respond to every single one. This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. I am not a doctor. Always consult your physician before starting any new health regimen.