Podcast Summary: Biohacking Beauty – The Anti-Aging Skincare Podcast

Episode: Nathalie Niddam: Peptides, Bioregulators, and the Truth About Skin Longevity

Date: November 12, 2025
Host(s): Anastasia Khojaeva (A), Amitai Eshel (B)
Guest: Nathalie Niddam (C), Longevity & Peptide Expert

Overview:

This episode covers the science and real-world application of peptides and bioregulators for skin and whole-body longevity. The discussion addresses what peptides are, how they work, the importance of foundational health (gut, inflammation), safety, potential side effects, the difference between peptides and supplements, and practical advice for listeners considering peptide therapies for skin rejuvenation and overall anti-aging.

1. Understanding Peptides and Bioregulators

Timestamp 02:57–08:37

• Peptides Defined:

  • Peptides are small proteins; proteins are essential building blocks for the body.
  • They can be naturally occurring or fragments of natural peptides.
  • Two key categories:
    • Signaling Peptides: Generally longer chains (e.g., BPC157, TB500, GHK-Cu) that bind to cell receptors and trigger cascades within cells.
    • Bioregulator Peptides: Extremely short (2–4 amino acids), act as epigenetic switches turning specific genes on or off.

  "Peptides are the blueprints and drawings and instructions; the cabinets and the windows and the nails and the flooring and all that stuff, those are the building materials." — Nathalie (07:14)

• Peptides vs. Supplements:

  • Peptides are ‘precision signals’ or 'computer codes' for the body, driving changes rather than providing raw materials as supplements do.

• Key Analogy:

  • Building a house: You need both quality materials (nutrition/supplements) and a good blueprint (peptides). Inflammation is a ‘fire’ at the construction site—if it’s there, nothing functions as intended.

2. The Foundational Importance of Gut Health & Inflammation

Timestamp 08:37–11:30

• Chronic inflammation, especially from gut issues (‘fire in the foundation’), undermines any peptide or longevity protocol.

• Peptides can aid in managing inflammation and healing leaky gut, but order of operations matters—address root causes.

  “If you have a fire in the foundation, your house is screwed. Even if you don’t see the fire. The fire in the foundation is the fire in your gut…and if that inflammation is not dealt with, nothing else will be as good or solid." — Nathalie (08:58)

3. Are Peptides for Everyone? Pre-Peptide Assessment & Order of Operations

Timestamp 13:30–17:38

• Not everyone is immediately a candidate for peptide therapy—gut and inflammation status matter.

• Work with a functional medicine practitioner; begin assessment with symptoms (e.g., digestion/poop quality).

• Skin health is a reflection of internal health. The body doesn't prioritize skin appearance, only skin function.

  “Your skin is a reflection of what’s happening inside…the body could give two flying fajitas what it looks like. It just cares that it acts as a barrier.” — Nathalie (14:59)

• Fixing underlying issues (nutrition, hydration, blue light, sleep) enhances peptide effectiveness.

4. Peptide Safety, Side Effects & Self-Experimentation

Timestamp 18:05–21:22

• DIY peptide protocols (inspired by Instagram, ChatGPT, etc.) can waste money, produce little effect, or provoke immune reactions.

• Allergic and immune responses, though rare, can develop suddenly—even after initial tolerance.

• Emphasis on starting low and slow, monitoring response, and ideally working with experts.

  “Can peptides have side effects? Of course. They absolutely can. … It is amazing the lengths to which people will go to keep using a peptide even though they’ve developed all these crazy, itchy, hot welts all over their body.” — Nathalie (19:26)

5. Beginner Peptide Protocols for Longevity

Timestamp 22:20–25:09

• Start With Oral Bioregulator Peptides

  • Extracts from animal tissues/organs (now porcine-derived, not bovine).
  • Upregulate cellular repair and rejuvenation from within—very low risk of allergic response.
  • Don’t directly “boost” or “suppress” body systems, but rejuvenate via fundamental processes.

• Nathalie’s Universal Bioregulator Stack:

  • Pineal gland bioregulator
  • Thymus gland bioregulator
  • Blood vessel bioregulator

• Pineal: Circadian rhythm, melatonin, global endocrine regulation, potential telomerase activation, immune/homeostatic benefits (26:49).

• Thymus: Not covered in detail, but key for immune regulation.

• Blood vessel: Not covered in detail, but important for systemic resilience.

6. Deep Dive: GHK-Cu, Epitalon, Signaling vs. Bioregulation

Timestamp 29:29–35:07

• GHK-Cu:

  • Unique as an epigenetic modulator and signaling peptide; naturally declines sharply with age.
  • Ongoing use may be justified (topically/orally; injectable forms should be pulsed).
  • Overuse caution: As with other ‘youthful’ molecules, context changes with age—restoring to youthful levels may not always be wise.

  “With peptides, we try to oversimplify…but if there’s one thing we should know is that we don’t know what we don’t know. We need to be a little cautious and use our heads, have a measured approach.” — Nathalie (35:07)

• Epitalon (Pineal Gland Peptide):

  • Can be used as a circadian rhythm optimizer and/or telomere support, but cyclical use is best.

7. Regenerative Peptides: BPC157, TB500, Gut-Skin Axis

Timestamp 38:08–46:14

• BPC157:

  • “Rock star” in gut healing and foundational for systemic anti-inflammation and repair.
  • Can be a “beginner peptide,” but a small minority can experience adverse psychological/neurological effects (anxiety, insomnia, or “anhedonia”).
  • Test sensitivity with very small doses and careful monitoring.
  • Not all peptides work for everyone; patch testing is a metaphor—start low and go slow (40:04).

  “Understand that you’re now dealing with compounds that are so powerful that you’re using 1/10 of a milligram and it’s having global healing effects…do a test, pay attention, start low and slow.” — Nathalie (40:04)

• TB500 (Fragment of Thymosin Beta 4):

  • Targets denser connective tissues, immune-modulating, anti-fibrotic, and has cardiac benefits.
  • BPC157 and TB500 act globally, not just at the site of an injury.

• Legal Note:

  • Injectable BPC157 is not FDA approved in the USA.

• Gut-Skin Axis:

  • Healing the gut with peptides like BPC157 reduces systemic (and skin) inflammation; codifies the importance of the gut for skin glow and aging appearance.

  “Injury and inflammation drive mitochondrial dysfunction…mitochondria in its proper function is what imbues glow on the skin.” — Amitai (46:36)

8. Peptides in Cosmetic Procedures—Reality vs. Marketing

Timestamp 49:48–52:48

• Some cosmetic doctors provide single-use BPC157 injections for aesthetics, but this is likely ineffective—BPC157 requires continuous use over weeks for lasting effect.
• For treatments like microneedling, some inflammation is necessary (it triggers repair), so total inflammation suppression can be counterproductive.

9. Growth Hormone Secretagogues – Power & Caution

Timestamp 52:48–57:23

• Potential Benefits:
  • Growth hormone supports repair, fat loss, muscle growth, possible improved skin appearance.
• Risks/Side Effects:
  • Can cause insulin resistance if overused.
  • High risk for immune responses and transient blood pressure increases.
  • Not everyone tolerates these peptides; requires close self-quantification and regular bloodwork.
  • Overuse can accelerate growth of unwanted cells (e.g., cancer).
• Motto:
  • “You can’t change what you can’t measure. Maybe it should be: You shouldn’t attempt to change what you’re not measuring.” — Amitai (57:39)

10. Rapid Fire: Practical Advice

Timestamp 58:17–63:10

Q: Biggest mistake when jumping into peptides for skin health?
A: Not addressing the inside (systemic health) first. — Nathalie (58:23)

Q: Trending biohack actually delivering results?

• New frontier: Microneedling with your own secretome (from hair follicles): personalized regenerative factors (58:43).
• “I think this [stem cell/secretome work] is going to be really incredible because it is literally your own product.”

Q: Opinion on Botox?

• Used it before, but personally avoids; less is more; always be strategic and cautious (60:53).
• “It’s a toxin. It’s awfully close to my brain. And I need my brain.”

Q: Top Three Favorite Hacks for Skin Health?

1. Red & Infrared light near the computer to mitigate blue light damage.
2. Staying hydrated & using essential minerals daily (e.g., fulvic/humic acid, B Minerals).
3. Focus on gut integrity and low inflammation.
4. (Bonus) Prioritize sleep.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Inflammation:
  “If the construction site’s on fire, you can have the best contractor, the best instructions, the best materials—nothing’s going to work. And the fire is inflammation.” (07:38)

• On Caution:
  “Make no mistake, you are mucking around with your system…You are bringing things in at a higher level than they are naturally occurring. Don’t be casual about it.” (56:20)

• On Personalization:
  “Start low and slow. Pay attention. Build up to the dose. Don’t just get excited, buy a vial of something, and then put it up in a Facebook group saying, ‘I just bought this, what do I do?’” (41:04)

• On Self-Quantification:
  “You can’t change what you can’t measure. Maybe it should be: You shouldn’t attempt to change what you’re not measuring.” (57:39)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• Peptides 101 & Bioregulators Explanation: 02:57–08:37
• Peptides vs. Supplements/Order of Health Operations: 06:05–08:37, 10:13–17:38
• Side Effects & Safety: 18:05–21:22, 40:04–41:37
• Beginner Longevity Stack & Bioregulators: 22:20–27:13
• GHK-Cu & Epitalon Discussion: 29:29–35:07
• BPC157, TB500, Gut-Skin Connection: 38:08–47:25
• Peptides in Cosmetic Practice/Microneedling: 49:48–52:48
• Growth Hormone Secretagogues—Risks & Monitoring: 52:48–57:23
• Rapid Fire Q&A: 58:17–63:10

Summary & Takeaways

• Peptides offer immense promise as both signaling molecules and gene-level ‘switches’ for longevity and skin health, but must be approached with respect, personalization, and foundational internal health.
• Gut health, systemic/inflammation status, and holistic inputs (sleep, hydration, minerals, and light exposure) must be optimized for peptides to deliver maximal benefit.
• Safety requires slow experimentation, self-monitoring, and ideally professional guidance.
• Biohacking is as much about measuring and tracking (self-quantification) as it is about new compounds.
• The episode promises more in-depth peptide protocols for skin health in a future part two.

For listeners new to peptides or seasoned biohackers, the episode delivers both foundational education and advanced nuance—with humor, humility, and caution throughout.