Peptides for Women

Welcome back to Peptides for Women podcast!
In this solo episode, I break down the real story behind the recent peptide restrictions, why the FDA originally cracked down on several popular compounds, and what a potential regulatory shift in 2026 could mean for clinicians and patients. Over the past few years, peptides have exploded in popularity across longevity medicine, sports medicine, and metabolic health clinics- but that rapid growth also placed many peptides into a regulatory gray zone. I walk through how the FDA’s Category 2 bulk substance list affected compounding pharmacies, why peptides like BPC-157, TB-500, CJC-1295, and ipamorelin were restricted, and how demand for these therapies never actually disappeared.
I also discuss why a proposed policy shift could allow several peptides to return to compounding pharmacies under medical supervision, what peptides may remain restricted, and why safe access through licensed physicians and pharmacies is so important. If you’ve been hearing conflicting information about peptide bans, research peptides, or regulatory changes, this episode breaks it down in a clear and practical way so you can better understand what’s happening in the peptide world right now.
In this episode, I cover:
Why peptides suddenly exploded in popularity in longevity and functional medicine
The FDA crackdown on compounded peptides starting around 2023
What the Category 2 bulk substance list means for compounding pharmacies
Why peptides like BPC-157, TB-500, CJC-1295, and ipamorelin were restricted
How the ban pushed many people toward unregulated research peptides online
The proposed regulatory shift that could allow certain peptides again in 2026
How peptides like BPC-157 and TB-500 are used for inflammation and recovery
Growth hormone peptides including CJC-1295 and ipamorelin
Thymosin alpha-1 and its potential role in immune support
Peptides that were never banned, including GLP-1 medications
Which peptides are still likely to remain restricted
Connect with Me!
Website: ⁠⁠https://jenniferwoodwardnutrition.com/⁠
Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jenniferwoodwardnutrition/⁠
Links & Resources:
🔗 Learn more at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠elliemd.com/JenniferWoodwardNutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
🎯 Take my free peptide quiz and get a personalized, midlife-smart roadmap for the peptides that actually match your symptoms and goals: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://quiz.jenniferwoodwardnutrition.com/peptide-quiz⁠⁠⁠
🎓 Enroll in the Peptides for Practitioners Certification Course to learn safe, ethical peptide use—50% off for FEBRUARY only: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.carrotsncake.com/offers/Hrosw4Mc/checkout?coupon_code=MARCHJENNIFER⁠⁠⁠⁠
🧬 Want to pair GLP-1s with functional lab testing? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://learn.jenniferwoodwardnutrition.com/invitation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
📩 Grab The Body Edit Guide here for full protocols, labs, and more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stan.store/jenniferwoodwardnutrition/p/get-the-body-edit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
‼️Disclaimer‼️
This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. Always speak with your licensed healthcare provider before starting or changing any medication or treatment plan.

Welcome back to Peptides for Women podcast!
In this episode, I’m joined by Blair Critch, a cancer survivor, menopause mentor, and peptide educator, who shares her powerful and deeply personal journey through ovarian cancer, medically induced menopause, and finding true healing through integrative care and peptides. Blair opens up about advocating for herself when something felt “off,” navigating an estrogen-driven cancer diagnosis, and how peptides like NAD, glutathione, and GLP-1s helped her reclaim her health, energy, and confidence in midlife.
In this episode, we cover:
Blair’s ovarian cancer diagnosis and why trusting your intuition matters
The PALB2 gene, inflammation markers, and catching cancer early
Medically induced menopause after cancer treatment and its symptoms
Why NAD and glutathione were foundational in her recovery
Using low-dose, physician-guided peptides safely after cancer
GLP-1s for inflammation, metabolic health, and weight regulation
Improvements in labs including A1C, cholesterol, thyroid, and CA-125
Integrative healing during and after chemotherapy
Libido, sexual wellness, and hormone shifts in midlife women
Empowering women to ask for labs and advocate for their health
Connect with Blair Critch!
Website: https://blaircritchofficial.com/
Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/blaircritch2/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Blair-Critch/61550648561158/?ref=_xav_ig_profile_page_web
Links & Resources:
🔗 Learn more at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠elliemd.com/JenniferWoodwardNutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
🎯 Take my free peptide quiz and get a personalized, midlife-smart roadmap for the peptides that actually match your symptoms and goals: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://quiz.jenniferwoodwardnutrition.com/peptide-quiz⁠⁠
🎓 Enroll in the Peptides for Practitioners Certification Course and get $100 off for podcast subscribers: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.carrotsncake.com/offers/TrVo7mCz?coupon_code=PFPJENNIFER⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
🧬 Want to pair GLP-1s with functional lab testing? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://learn.jenniferwoodwardnutrition.com/invitation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
📩 Grab The Body Edit Guide here for full protocols, labs, and more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stan.store/jenniferwoodwardnutrition/p/get-the-body-edit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
‼️Disclaimer‼️
This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. Always speak with your licensed healthcare provider before starting or changing any medication or treatment plan.

Welcome back to Peptides for Women Podcast!
In this solo episode, I’m diving into a topic I’ve been wanting to cover for a long time: the seven peptides every woman in perimenopause should understand. After more than a decade working in women’s health and hormones, I see over and over again how perimenopause creates a full-body signaling shift, impacting metabolism, energy, inflammation, sleep, muscle, skin, gut health, and immune resilience. Once lifestyle foundations like nutrition, rest, movement, stress management, and minerals are dialed in, peptides can become a powerful way to restore communication between systems that are no longer responding the way they used to.
I walk you through why how estrogen and growth hormone decline drive many midlife symptoms, and how peptides can help your cells remember how to function again. This episode is meant to educate, not replace medical care, and to help you understand why certain peptides are so impactful during the perimenopause transition.
In This Episode, I Cover:
Why perimenopause is a metabolic and cellular event, not just hormonal
How estrogen and growth hormone decline affect energy, muscle, fat, and inflammation
Why lifestyle alone often stops working in midlife
MOTS-c for mitochondrial function, metabolism, and fat signaling
NAD+ for cellular energy, DNA repair, and mitochondrial biogenesis
Growth hormone secretagogues (CJC-1295, ipamorelin, sermorelin, tesamorelin) for muscle, sleep, and recovery
GHK-Cu for collagen production, skin, hair, and tissue repair
BPC-157 for gut integrity, inflammation, and healing
TB-500 for joints, fascia, connective tissue, and recovery
Thymosin alpha-1 for immune balance and resilience in midlife
Why sourcing, dosing strategy, cycling, and medical oversight matter
Contraindications and situations where peptides are not appropriate
Connect with Me!
Website: ⁠https://jenniferwoodwardnutrition.com/
Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/jenniferwoodwardnutrition/
Links & Resources:
🔗 Learn more at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠elliemd.com/JenniferWoodwardNutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
🎯 Take my free peptide quiz and get a personalized, midlife-smart roadmap for the peptides that actually match your symptoms and goals: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://quiz.jenniferwoodwardnutrition.com/peptide-quiz⁠⁠
🎓 Enroll in the Peptides for Practitioners Certification Course to learn safe, ethical peptide use—50% off for FEBRUARY only: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.carrotsncake.com/offers/Hrosw4Mc/checkout?coupon_code=MARCHJENNIFER⁠⁠⁠
🧬 Want to pair GLP-1s with functional lab testing? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://learn.jenniferwoodwardnutrition.com/invitation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
📩 Grab The Body Edit Guide here for full protocols, labs, and more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stan.store/jenniferwoodwardnutrition/p/get-the-body-edit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
‼️Disclaimer‼️
This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. Always speak with your licensed healthcare provider before starting or changing any medication or treatment plan.

Welcome back to Peptides for Women podcast!
In this episode, I’m joined by returning guests Kayla and Mike Neal to talk about the next phase of peptide use; what happens after GLP-1s are working and you start asking, “I feel good… so what’s next?”
We discuss how peptides can evolve over time, why foundations still matter, and how midlife women and men can continue building energy, muscle, and confidence instead of accepting decline as inevitable.
Kayla also shares her personal perimenopause journey, including microdosing GLP-1s, maintaining lean muscle, and layering in peptides like NAD+ and growth hormone secretagogues. Mike brings the male perspective; staying strong, recovering better, and chasing optimal performance in midlife. We also talk through real client case studies, healing and recovery peptides, and why support, education, and coaching make all the difference.
In This Episode, We Cover:
Why many people ask “what’s next?” after success with GLP-1 peptides
Kayla’s perimenopause journey and unexpected fat gain during COVID
Microdosing GLP-1s to lose fat while preserving muscle
Why lifestyle foundations must come before peptides
Using NAD+ to support energy and stamina in midlife
Growth hormone secretagogues (like tesamorelin) for muscle and visceral fat
How peptides supported strength, recovery, and motivation in the gym
Healing and skin repair with copper peptides after injury
Why lean muscle is critical for longevity in women and men
Real client results using data, body composition, and long-term coaching
The importance of partner support during health transitions
Why midlife doesn’t have to mean slowing down
Connect with Kayla & Mike Neal!
Website: https://www.kaylajohnsonfitness.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaylajohnsonfitness/
Links & Resources:
🔗 Learn more at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠elliemd.com/JenniferWoodwardNutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
🎯 Take my free peptide quiz and get a personalized, midlife-smart roadmap for the peptides that actually match your symptoms and goals: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://quiz.jenniferwoodwardnutrition.com/peptide-quiz⁠⁠
🎓 Enroll in the Peptides for Practitioners Certification Course to learn safe, ethical peptide use—50% off for FEBRUARY only: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.carrotsncake.com/offers/Hrosw4Mc/checkout?coupon_code=MARCHJENNIFER⁠⁠⁠
🧬 Want to pair GLP-1s with functional lab testing? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://learn.jenniferwoodwardnutrition.com/invitation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
📩 Grab The Body Edit Guide here for full protocols, labs, and more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stan.store/jenniferwoodwardnutrition/p/get-the-body-edit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
‼️Disclaimer‼️
This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. Always speak with your licensed healthcare provider before starting or changing any medication or treatment plan.

Welcome back to Peptides for Women Podcast!
In this episode, I’m joined by Tina Haupert, founder of Carrots ‘N’ Cake, to have an honest, practical conversation about peptides for women; including what they are, how they actually work, and why education and foundations matter more than chasing the next trending protocol.
We also dive deeper into the Peptides for Practitioners course, discussing why structured education is critical in today’s peptide space, who this course is designed for, and how it helps practitioners and health professionals use peptides more responsibly and effectively.
What We Discuss In This Episode:
What peptides are and how they function in the body
The importance of cycling, dosing awareness, and realistic expectations
Safety concerns, misinformation, and social media peptide hype
Why “more” is not better when it comes to peptides
How education helps reduce misuse and overwhelm
When peptides make sense and when they don’t
Why the peptide space desperately needs education-first leadership
Understanding peptides within the context of metabolic health, hormones, and lifestyle foundations
Why practitioners must know who peptides are appropriate for and who should not use them
Ethical considerations, safety, and staying within scope
Helping practitioners speak confidently and responsibly about peptides with clients
How the course is positioned as a way to raise the standard of peptide education, reduce misinformation, and help professionals make more informed, ethical decisions when discussing peptides.
Connect with Tina Haupert, FDN-P!
Instagram: ⁠⁠@carrotsncake⁠⁠
Website: ⁠⁠www.carrotsncake.com⁠
Links & Resources:
🔗 Learn more at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠elliemd.com/JenniferWoodwardNutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
🎯 Take my free peptide quiz and get a personalized, midlife-smart roadmap for the peptides that actually match your symptoms and goals: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://quiz.jenniferwoodwardnutrition.com/peptide-quiz⁠
🎓 Enroll in the Peptides for Practitioners Certification Course to learn safe, ethical peptide use—50% off for FEBRUARY only: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.carrotsncake.com/offers/Hrosw4Mc/checkout?coupon_code=MARCHJENNIFER⁠⁠
🧬 Want to pair GLP-1s with functional lab testing? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://learn.jenniferwoodwardnutrition.com/invitation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
📩 Grab The Body Edit Guide here for full protocols, labs, and more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stan.store/jenniferwoodwardnutrition/p/get-the-body-edit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
‼️Disclaimer‼️
This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. Always speak with your licensed healthcare provider before starting or changing any medication or treatment plan.