Peptides are not a miracle drug | The Economist

Do peptides really work? The Economist’s health editor, Natasha Loder, senior science writer, Tim Cross and co-host of The Intelligence podcast, Jason Palmer, discuss the booming peptide market, the risks of unregulated experimentation, and how internet hype is outpacing scientific evidence. 00:00 - Are peptides really the shortcut to bigger muscles, better skin, and faster recovery? 00:10 - How easy is it to buy peptides online? 00:42 - What is BPC-157 and the so-called “Wolverine Stack”? 01:01 - How are these substances being sold despite safety warnings? 02:01 - What exactly are peptides and why are they so popular? 03:24 - What are the biggest health risks and unknowns? 04:31 - How has the internet accelerated the spread of “bro science”? 05:40 - What are regulators doing to control this market? 06:21 - Why does proper drug testing take so long and why does it matter? Listen to the full episode:https://econ.st/4uZNQdi Subscribe: https://www.economist.com/subscribe Download the App: https://www.economist.com/get-the-app Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theeconomist/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEconomist/ X: https://x.com/TheEconomist #TheEconomist #Peptides #BPC-157