Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD 86. Tracey Stroup, ND: Why the Ozempic Craze Almost Ruined Peptide Therapy (And How Functional Medicine Got It Right)
Aug 14, 2025
Tracey Stroup, a seasoned naturopathic doctor, dives into the world of peptide therapy with over 27 years of health and wellness expertise. She discusses the misuse of GLP-1 medications amid the Ozempic craze, emphasizing safe alternatives with peptides. The conversation covers proper dosing, cycling protocols, and the need for holistic support, revealing why many are peptide deficient. They explore the resurgence of healing peptides like BPC-157 for gut health and the role of growth hormone peptides in maintaining hormone balance as we age, advocating for a personalized approach to therapy.
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Peptides Are Natural Amino Acid Signals
- Peptides are short chains of amino acids that act as biological signals in the body.
- They range from 2–50 amino acids and anything above becomes a protein.
Lab-Made Peptides Replicate Natural Signals
- Therapeutic peptides recreate natural signals rather than introduce synthetic foreign chemicals.
- Labs assemble true amino acids into peptide bonds when extraction from tissues is impractical.
GLP‑1 Deficiency Is A Modern Metabolic Problem
- GLP-1s are gut-derived signaling peptides that control appetite, metabolism, brain and heart function.
- Modern lifestyle and microbiome damage have reduced endogenous GLP-1, creating a functional deficiency.