Peptides for Women

Welcome back to Peptides for Women podcast!
In this episode, I’m joined by my good friend Tina Haupert, the woman behind Carrots ’N Cake, an FDN practitioner, longtime health and fitness blogger, and experienced peptide self-experimenter. Tina has been on a long health journey with ulcerative colitis, and her search for better health has led her to explore a wide range of peptides for healing, inflammation, pain, metabolism, body composition, and overall health.
Tina and I talk about the good, the bad, and the unexpected parts of using peptides. She shares some of her biggest peptide wins, as well as the experiences that did not go as planned, including some pretty intense reactions to MOTS-c, Thymosin Alpha-1, and FOXO4-DRI.
We also talk about the peptides that have worked really well for her, including ARA 290 for nerve pain, GLP-1s for appetite control and food noise, and Tesamorelin + KPV for body composition and inflammation. Tina shares why she prefers a low-and-slow approach, how her experience with peptides has changed over time, and why the same peptide can affect two people very differently.
Most importantly, this episode is about looking at peptides as another tool in the toolbox rather than a magic solution. Your experience may be completely different from someone else’s, which is why bio-individuality, proper guidance, and understanding the bigger picture all matter.
In this episode, we cover:
Tina’s health journey with ulcerative colitis and what led her to functional nutrition and peptides
Why BPC-157 + TB-500 was Tina’s “gateway peptide”
Her experience with MOTS-c and intense injection site reactions
Why MOTS-c may not be a good fit for everyone
Tina’s experience with a high dose of Thymosin Alpha-1 and the importance of starting low and slow
FOXO4-DRI and the theory behind targeting senescent “zombie” cells
Why the dose can make a big difference with peptides
Tina’s experience using ARA 290 for severe nerve pain
Tina’s experience with Tirzepatide and Retatrutide
Why Retatrutide caused increased heart rate and anxiety for Tina at higher doses
Why individual responses to GLP-1s can be so different
Tina’s experience with Tesamorelin + KPV
Her less positive experience with Tesamorelin + Ipamorelin
KPV for inflammation and why Tina likes combining it with growth hormone peptides
Tina’s experience with 5-Amino and increased energy
Her first impressions of topical GHK-Cu for skin
How practitioners can troubleshoot when a peptide isn’t producing the expected results
Peptides for Practitioners and the importance of learning how to use peptides responsibly with clients
How practitioners can integrate peptide education into their businesses
Why getting different perspectives from other practitioners can be valuable
Connect with Tina Haupert:
Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/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 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 episode, I’m joined by Dustin Robinson, founding partner of LumaLex Law, an attorney, CPA, and entrepreneur who works with companies in emerging and highly regulated industries. We’re talking about the legal and regulatory side of the peptide industry, including research-use peptides, compounding pharmacies, telehealth, social media, and what doctors and consumers should understand as the industry continues to evolve.
Dustin shares why peptides, psychedelics, cannabis, healthcare, and other industries can be so complicated from a legal perspective. We also talk about the differences between research-use-only (RUO) products and regulated compounding pharmacies, how state and federal regulations can overlap, and why the laws surrounding peptides can change so quickly.
We also get into the recent discussions around peptides being considered for the 503A bulk drug list, what that could mean for access, the future of peptide supply chains, and why the demand for peptides could create new challenges for pharmacies and API manufacturers.
Finally, Dustin explains some of the legal risks around affiliate marketing and social media, including why peptide companies and influencers need to be careful about what they say online and how Meta handles content related to regulated industries.
In this episode, we cover:
Why emerging industries like peptides, psychedelics, cannabis, and healthcare have complicated legal frameworks

How Dustin’s firm uses AI and legal technology to keep up with changing regulations

Corporate practice of medicine (CPOM) and why telehealth companies need to understand state-specific laws

How MSO-PC structures work and why they can be different from state to state

The difference between 503A compounding pharmacies and RUO products

Why an RUO product is not the same thing as a prescription

The legal risks doctors may face when using RUO products with patients

Why some peptides have been difficult to compound through 503A pharmacies

The recent PCAC discussions around several peptides and what could happen next

FDA rulemaking and the idea of “enforcement discretion”

Why peptide demand could potentially outpace the regulated supply chain

Where peptide APIs come from and the difference between regulated and unregulated supply chains

Certificates of Analysis (COAs) and why independent batch testing matters

The legal risks of affiliate marketing for RUO companies

Why companies can be responsible for claims made by their affiliates

Social media, Meta, and why peptide and other regulated-industry accounts can be removed

Why educational content may be safer than promoting personal use

Dustin’s thoughts on AI and how it is changing businesses and law firms

What the future could look like as AI becomes more integrated into everyday life

Connect with Dustin Robinson!
Website: https://www.lumalexlaw.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dustinr10/?hl=en
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 episode, I’m joined by Dr. Aleksandra Gajer, a medical doctor specializing in functional and metabolic health, to talk about her journey from emergency medicine to functional medicine and how peptides have become an important part of her own health journey and her work with women.
Dr. Gajer shares how her experience with Lyme disease and the limitations she saw in conventional medicine led her to explore a deeper approach to health. We talk about mitochondrial health, healing peptides, growth hormone secretagogues, hormones, and how she approaches peptide protocols based on each woman’s individual symptoms, labs, and goals.
She also explains how she uses peptides like MOTC, SS31, NAD+, BPC-157, KPV, thymus, sermorelin, tesamorelin, and more, including how she thinks about supporting mitochondrial function and muscle mass in midlife women.
In this episode, we cover:
Dr. Gajer’s journey from emergency medicine to functional medicine
Her experience with Lyme disease and chronic health struggles
Why she felt conventional medicine was missing something
How hormones became an important part of her practice
How peptides became the “icing on the cake” for her and her patients
Her personal experience using healing peptides after Lyme disease
BPC-157, KPV, thymus, and Alpha-1 for immune and healing support
Why mitochondrial health is especially important for women in midlife
How MOTC, SS31, and NAD+ work differently to support mitochondria
How she approaches peptide protocols based on a woman’s symptoms and labs
Growth hormone secretagogues and supporting muscle mass and sleep
Sermorelin, tesamorelin, CJC-1295, and ipamorelin
Why some women may experience anxiety with ghrelin-related peptides
Tesamorelin and visceral fat
How hormones and peptides can work together for midlife women
A patient story involving hormones, a GLP-1, sermorelin, and MOTC
Pinealon and the future of brain health and longevity
Why prioritizing your health can change how you experience midlife
Connect with Dr. Aleksandra Gajer!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegajerpractice/
Website: https://thegajerpractice.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 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 episode, I’m joined by Lois Essenfeld, a certified Institute for Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition trainee, to talk about her long health journey through severe endometriosis, medically induced menopause, hormone-positive breast cancer, difficult menopause symptoms, and eventually discovering GLP-1 and peptide therapy.
Lois was diagnosed with severe endometriosis in her 20s and went through surgery that removed most of one ovary. She was then placed into medical menopause with Lupron and spent more than 20 years on birth control. Years later, at age 48, she was diagnosed with hormone-positive breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy.
Her experience with Tamoxifen was extremely difficult, and although switching medications helped mentally and emotionally, she continued to struggle with hot flashes, night sweats, joint pain, inflammation, weight gain, and feeling disconnected from her body. Because of her history, hormone replacement therapy wasn't an option for her.
Then she discovered functional health, FDN, and eventually GLP-1 therapy. After starting a low dose of tirzepatide, Lois noticed a dramatic improvement in her joint pain and inflammation within days, followed by improvements in her hot flashes, night sweats, and overall quality of life.
Now, Lois is passionate about learning more about peptides and helping other women navigate their own health journeys through midlife.
In this episode, we cover:
Lois's experience with severe endometriosis and why it took years to get the right diagnosis
Being put into medical menopause at just 26
Her fertility journey and becoming a mom after losing most of one ovary
Her experience with hormone-positive breast cancer at 48
Why Tamoxifen was so difficult for her
Switching from Tamoxifen to anastrozole
Hot flashes, night sweats, joint pain, inflammation, and weight gain during menopause
Why hormone replacement therapy wasn't an option for Lois
Her journey into health coaching and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition
How she discovered peptides and GLP-1 therapy
What changed for her after starting tirzepatide
The importance of understanding your options instead of making health decisions from fear
Her interest in learning more about peptides as a cancer survivor
The emerging research around GLP-1s and cancer
How Lois hopes to help other women through midlife and menopause
Connect with Lois Essenfeld!
Website: ⁠⁠https://letitgowellness.com/⁠
Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/letitgowellness/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LetItGoWellness
Free Midlife Healthy Aging Roadmap: https://letitgowellness.com/roadmap (Download Lois Essenfeld’s practical 5-page Roadmap and choose one realistic place to begin.)
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 episode, I’m joined by Alissa Meisel, an occupational therapist, board-certified health and wellness coach, and founder of Meisel Health, to talk about her incredible 150+ pound weight-loss journey and how bariatric surgery, GLP-1s, peptide therapy, and lifestyle changes became different tools along the way.
Alissa has spent years struggling with her weight, dieting, exercising, and trying to figure out why nothing seemed to work long-term. After infertility treatments contributed to significant weight gain, she ultimately underwent sleeve gastrectomy in 2020 and lost more than 100 pounds.
Years later, despite continuing to exercise, prioritize protein and hydration, and do everything she had been doing to maintain her weight, she began gaining weight again. That’s when she began exploring GLP-1s and peptide therapy, which became another tool in her health journey and helped her lose an additional 30 pounds.
In this episode, we talk about the physical AND emotional side of weight loss, why mindset matters, what happens after bariatric surgery, and how feeling comfortable and confident in your body can impact every area of your life, including your marriage and intimacy.
In this episode, we cover:
Alissa’s lifelong struggle with dieting, weight, and an all-or-nothing mindset

How her college years changed her relationship with food and exercise

The emotional connection between food, stress, and comfort

Her experience with infertility treatments and gaining over 100 pounds

Why she ultimately chose sleeve gastrectomy in January 2020

What life was really like after bariatric surgery, including severe complications and the mental/emotional challenges she experienced

The lack of support she felt after surgery and why she created a roadmap for other women

Regaining 20 pounds years after losing more than 100 pounds

Why training for a half marathon didn’t produce the results she expected

How GLP-1 therapy and peptide therapy became another tool in her journey

Losing an additional 30 pounds and reaching more than 150 pounds of total weight loss

Why Alissa believes sustainable weight loss requires more than one tool

The importance of mindset, fear, judgment, and self-advocacy

How losing weight changed Alissa’s confidence and relationship with her body

The connection between body confidence, intimacy, and marriage

Why busy women need to make space for themselves, their health, and their relationships

How Alissa went from working in clinical healthcare to helping women with metabolic health and wellness

Connect with Alissa Meisel!
Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/alissaameisel/⁠
Website: https://www.meiselhealth.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 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.