Peptides are widely marketed as a kind of “holy grail” for workout recovery and physical performance.

You may have seen advertisements online claiming these supplements can significantly boost muscle growth, eliminate joint pain, and accelerate recovery times.

As the prevalence of joint-related issues such as osteoarthritis rises, many people are also turning to these “nutraceuticals” in hope of finding a more natural alternative to traditional medications.

But what does the science say about peptides – specifically collagen peptides and whey-derived peptides? Do they really offer a performance edge, or is the polished marketing little more than high-protein hype?

Wait, what are peptides?

Peptides are short chains of amino acids, the fundamental building blocks of protein in our bodies. They are essentially “pre-digested” protein fragments.

Unlike whey protein, which is readily digested and absorbed by the body, collagen protein can’t be easily digested due to its very large and complex structure (much larger than whey protein).

However, as peptides are much smaller molecules and are more easily absorbed, you should only look for collagen supplements that are sold in peptide form.

The production of peptide supplements typically involves a........

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