Hi everyone. I need your help. I've got a client that I can't figure out. She's a 52 yo female who has been dealing with persistent (but slow) weight gain as well as so far unexplained puffiness/edema in her collarbone/clavicle area (looks like fluid filled pockets you can see and feel). Blood chemistry shows good glucose metabolism (verified by CGM, FI, FG, c-peptide, and hba1c - all optimal) but high BUN (27), CK (231), ALT (33), ApoB (112), and suboptimal HDL (particle size/number). Homocysteine, hs-CRP, thyroid (including antibodies), vitamin D, B12, etc. look good. Hormones are low except for testosterone which she was supplementing before we started working together - I've encouraged her to talk to a hormone specialist about balancing that better (including E2). WBCs are up, but not alarmingly so. A GI Map showed almost everything <dl except opportunistic bacteria Staphylococcus aureus 9.59e2 High ↑ < 5.00e2 Streptococcus spp. 8.68e3 High ↑ < 1.00e3, and h.pylori 9 at 1.79x normal limit - doing PyloriX for that). Her Secretory IgA is also very low which makes me think she's been dealing with a chronically leaky gut and exhausted defense system. Seems to me like she's got low-mid grade bacterial overgrowth but I feel like I'm missig something. We started with the Cell Core jumpstart/foundation kit and she started to see her reduced puffiness. It came back after she finished that initial kit. I'm trying to wrap my head around the total picture and develop a more thoughtful approach. Thinking continue with Cell Core, perhaps adding a Biocidin or antimicrobial to the mix. Talk to me.

Curious if any of you are/know of a good licensed practitioner in with certification/expertise in this space—who can work with patients remotely (or im in south Texas)? I’m struggling to find anyone with this training around here (who also doesn’t want to charge me $1000s/hour). To be clear, I’m looking for cellular medicine expertise not simply functional medicine. TIA

When people first hear about mitochondrial peptides like SS31, MOTS-c, and Humanin, they often want to know which one is “best.” The truth is that each works on different levers inside the cell, and the right choice depends on what system is most stressed. Instead of guessing, we can use both objective markers and subjective markers to guide decisions. The key is to think of mitochondria as adaptable power plants. Each peptide teaches the plant a different skill SS31 strengthens the wiring, MOTS-c teaches it to use different fuels, and Humanin helps it resist damage signals. By paying attention to how our bodies respond, we can run small experiments and see what creates real improvements. The first place to start is redox stress. This is the balance between energy production and the “sparks” of free radicals that leak out. When sparks overwhelm the clean-up systems, we get fatigue, brain fog, and recovery issues. Labs like glutathione ratios or 8-OHdG give objective clues, but we can also use simple subjective markers. If someone feels like their workouts leave them drained for days, if their energy crashes mid-afternoon, or if their mood dips after training, redox stress may be the limiting factor. In that case, SS31 is often the best starting tool. SS31 binds to cardiolipin in the inner mitochondrial membrane, stabilizes the electron transport chain, and reduces the leakage of reactive oxygen species. In plain terms, it stops the wires from sparking and helps energy flow smoothly. Subjectively, people notice less soreness, steadier energy, and a calmer nervous system. HRV often improves, and the same training feels easier. If those markers shift in the right direction, SS31 is likely doing its job. The second area to evaluate is metabolic flexibility, which is the ability to switch between carbs and fats as needed. Poor flexibility shows up as high fasting insulin, high triglycerides, or simply the feeling that you “hit the wall” quickly without carbs. On a bike or during zone two cardio, if your heart rate climbs quickly and you feel like you cannot settle into a pace, that points to a problem in fuel choice. MOTS-c is the peptide that best addresses this. It activates AMPK, which signals the cell to clean up inefficient processes and shift toward fat oxidation. In practice, this means glucose uptake improves, fatty acid breakdown becomes more efficient, and new mitochondria are built. Subjective markers here include easier endurance work, steadier blood sugar, less hunger between meals, and a more even mood. On the performance side, lactate production during submaximal efforts goes down and zone two feels more sustainable. When those changes show up, MOTS-c is proving useful.

Does anyone have experience using TA-1 with severe seasonal or environmental allergies that often turn into sinus infections. If so, what’s been your experience ? Would it be better as a prevention or response to acute infection ? I’m familiar with histamine reducing supplements and enzymes but am specifically curious about peptide support here. TIA.

Hey folks! I am trying to learn more about 5-amino-1mq. - Which purpose does it serve in your stack? H - How do you dose it? - What have you experienced using it?