What’s Included In Our Fat Loss Subscription Box (And Why)

Fad dieting has been a huge part of world culture since the late 1800s when English undertaker William Banting started the very first trend in weight loss—the low-carb diet. His diet became so popular that the entire world started referring to losing weight as “banting”. The first weight loss pill was also created in the late 1800s and was derived using a thyroid extract to help increase metabolic rate. The side effects were more than unpleasant, and could even lead to death, but that didn’t stop people from using the supplement for decades following its creation.

Although things haven’t changed much in the realm of pop culture and dieting, the sheer amount of scientific evidence discovered since then has given people different ways to lose weight in a healthy manner so that they can avoid the complications that may arise from being obese, or from taking products that can lead to adverse reactions. The research that has gone into weight loss supplementation is vast, and has led to an increase in ways to aid diet efforts for those who want to be and feel healthier.

Vital RX - fat loss subscription box
Image by Jarmoluk on Pixabay: Visceral fat is the type of fat that sits around the vital organs within the abdomen. It is a bigger threat to health than subcutaneous fat.

Peptides for weight loss

The use of peptides for weight loss began when researchers discovered that peptides can target fat cells the same way they do other cells within the body. Since losing weight requires a string of different lifestyle changes and the influence of a host of different systems in the body, peptides have grown popular in the fight against obesity.

Vital RX has created one of the best subscription boxes for weight loss by enlisting experienced doctors and high-quality ingredients, including the following:

AOD-9604

The peptide AOD-9604 is said to have positive effects on weight loss efforts. The peptide is the synthetic form of human growth hormone (HGH). HGH is a small protein that works within the body to speed up the lipolysis process. When this happens, the body is more likely to shed unwanted pounds by reducing fat stores.

AOD-9604 also has the ability to decrease appetite and encourage the release of stored fat from cells throughout the body. It is one of the best peptides for belly fat reduction because of its ability to decrease levels of visceral fat. Some evidence suggests that AOD-9604 is one of, if not the best peptide for fat loss.

Ibutamoren Mesylate (MK-677)

Categorized as an active nonpeptide, MK-677 acts as a growth hormone secretagogue. This means that the peptide itself is responsible for the secretion of growth hormone into the bloodstream. It does this by stimulating the release of HGH from the glands through both the pituitary and hypothalamic hormone receptors.

Studies have found that the oral use of MK-677 can increase the levels of HGH, thus leading to an overall reduction in weight. MK-677 has also been proven to help improve overall physical health when it comes to bone density and an increase in fat-free mass. It can also help to improve sleep and cognitive function, as well as physical energy and stamina, making the process of losing weight easier.

MIC Combo Blend

The MIC Combo Blend in Vital RX’s Fat Loss Subscription Box is a form of lipotropic injection. Lipotropics are used to help break down fat by way of the metabolism. These compounds target the liver’s ability to break down fat, and some research claims that they can aid in the speed and efficiency of the metabolism. Lipotropics generally contain more than one fat-burning ingredient. The most common ingredients in lipotropic injections include:

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 aids in energy levels and helps to keep red blood cells at optimal health to avoid conditions such as anemia.

Methionine

Methionine is an amino acid with a key job in keeping the metabolism functioning at its best.

Inositol

Inositol is a natural sugar. It can help the body to metabolize fats and improve the function of the body’s insulin.

Choline

Playing an important role in metabolism and other cell functions such as membrane structure, choline is an essential nutrient that is added to lipotropic injections to increase the body’s ability to burn fat.

Multicomplete 360

To round off one of the best subscription boxes for weight loss, Vital RX has added a multivitamin with all the essential vitamins and nutrients needed when diet alone is not enough to get recommended daily values. It is both gluten-free and vegetarian, so it can be taken by anyone. Although some nutrients are more important than others when it comes to weight loss, all are required for the body to work as it should, and when the body has everything it needs to function properly, a healthy weight is not as hard to obtain.

Vital RX - supplements
Image by Ajale on Pixabay: Vital RX’s proven weight loss peptide supplement box is backed by science and can help you in your journey towards a healthy body weight.

Weight loss can be easy for some and difficult for others. There is never a one-size-fits all fad diet that can help someone healthily lose their unwanted pounds and keep it off. Lifestyle changes, such as an improved diet full of whole foods and a good amount of exercise, are the most important factors when it comes to being at an overall healthy weight.

For those with chronic conditions that lead to weight gain, losing weight and keeping it off can be difficult. That is why supplementation is always a good addition to any weight loss journey. Each ingredient in the Vital RX Fat Loss Subscription Box will be dose-dependent, so you can be sure you’re getting everything you need in the right amount to help you on your road to optimal health.

Featured image by Happy Vegan Fit on Pixabay

What’s Included In Our Fitness Subscription Box (And Why)

Being physically unfit can lead to a myriad of different health problems. Cardiovascular and respiratory health is highly dependent on physical fitness to be at its best. The strength and amount of muscle you have on your body will also determine how well you’re able to move, and function.

When fitness isn’t up to par, all of your systems can suffer – and when that happens, the body gets sick. It’s inevitable, because each system relies heavily on the other and they all require movement to function properly.

As many as 80% of Americans are lacking when it comes to getting adequate exercise. Due to modern-day sedentary lifestyles, moving enough can be a real challenge for most people, whether due to time constraints or physical inability due to chronic disease. For those who want to step up their fitness game, supplementation may be required to help get moving and back to optimal health.

Vital RX - fitness subscription box
Image by Derick McKinney on Unsplash: Many people opt for protein shakes because of their proven ability to help build muscle following intense workouts.

What supplements should I take for fitness?

Whether you are the type who enjoys minimal physical activity or someone who works out an hour a day, supplementation can be a great help on the road to true physical fitness. Not all supplements are created equal, though, and some can be of much greater benefit for those who want to move more in their daily lives.

For building muscle, many people opt for protein supplements because protein has been shown to help increase muscle mass. Other supplements people choose to take while taking on a fitness routine include:

Creatine

Popular among athletes and sports scientists, creatine is used as a pre-workout supplement to help increase performance, muscle mass, and overall strength.

Beta-alanine

Beta-alanine is an amino acid taken by people who work out regularly to help fight off dreaded muscle tiredness, although its efficacy in improving exercise ability over long periods of time may be lesser than the typical boost it gives during short bursts of exercise.

Citrulline

Another amino acid that’s popular among fitness enthusiasts is citrulline. It’s naturally produced in the body but is taken as a supplement to increase levels for better exercise performance due to increased oxygen flow.

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs)

BCAAs include three very important molecules that help in overall exercise performance by reducing mental fatigue and speeding up recovery time.  

Nitrate

Nitrate is generally found in vegetables, but it is also produced naturally in the body in small amounts. Some research has suggests that it can help with fitness due to its ability to increase blood flow.

Magnesium

This essential nutrient can help with blood pressure, recovery, and muscle soreness.

How do peptides help muscle growth?

Research on the use of peptides in older adults, specifically collagen peptides, has shown that they can have a direct effect on how much muscle mass a person has overall, as well as their level of strength. The aforementioned creatine is another peptide that can help boost muscle growth in those with regular fitness routines. Since peptides are a sort of mini-protein, they can have positive effects on muscle-building while also being easier for the body to absorb.

Other health benefits of peptides

Peptides aren’t just good for fitness. Research has shown that they hold a plethora of health benefits when taken properly and for the right reasons. Health conditions that can benefit from the use of peptide supplementation include:

Although this list is not exhaustive, it does highlight the many different uses for peptides. New research is ongoing in the realm of peptides for different health conditions, and it’s likely that will continue as they increase in popularity among health aficionados.

Vital RX - exercise
Image by Karsten Winegeart on Unsplash: Peptides can help build muscle and improve stamina.

What is the best fitness box subscription?

There are many new subscription boxes to choose from if you’re looking to supplement your fitness routine. The Vital RX Fitness Subscription Box manages to stand out from the crowd with its carefully curated selection of essential vitamins, nutrients, and peptides that aim to improve fitness levels.

So, what are the key ingredients in the Vital RX Fitness Subscription Box? All of them have proven abilities to aid in the increase of overall fitness levels. Let’s take a closer look.

MK-677

MK-677 is an active nonpeptide that can increase the body’s secretion of the human growth hormone (HGH). When this happens, it can help to increase fat-free mass, which will then lead to a better ability to participate in fitness-related activities.

Glutamine/Arginine/Carnitine        

Otherwise known as G.A.C, glutamine, arginine, and carnitine are amino acids that work together as a group to help convert glycogen into energy. This helps to decrease fat stores within the body and burn more calories during a workout. It can aid in weight loss, but has also been shown to increase stamina, improve circulation, and prevent muscle loss.

Synapsin

Synapsins are proteins that belong to the same family and are involved in neurotransmitter release. They assist in maintaining levels of NAD within the body so that the regulation of cell metabolism is balanced. Research has found that synapsin levels can increase with regular exercise, and having elevated levels of the proteins from more exercise can help boost brain function.

Vitamin B12

This essential vitamin is needed for a plethora of different functions, including red blood cell formation and cell metabolism as well as DNA production and nerve function. Vitamin B12 also plays a vital role in energy levels.

DHEA

DHEA is considered the source of sex hormones and has been referred to as the “youth hormone”. Research has shown that it can help boost bone health, leading to lessened risk for osteoarthritis, as well as enhancing memory.

Featured image by Luis Quintero on Unsplash

What’s Included In Our Immune Health Subscription Box (And Why)

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, immune health has never been more important. The immune system is the body’s first line of defense against any pathogen, and when it’s not functioning as it should, the body is more susceptible to illness. Often in modern-day living, the immune system is one of the first parts of the body that suffers from a lack of good nutrition, adequate exercise, and an increase in pollutants and toxins.

When diet isn’t up to par, many people choose to supplement for an increased boost in immune health so that if an illness does happen to invade, the body has a better chance of fighting it off quickly and efficiently. The popularity of the wellness subscription box (and more specifically, the immune health subscription box) is proof that people are looking for better ways to improve their immune system during these trying times.

What is immune health?

Immune health is the body’s capability of fighting off or resisting an invasion on a multicellular level. It is driven by T-cells, and there are two types of immune responses: innate and adaptive. The innate part of the immune system is non-specific in nature, so its defense is generalized to all pathogens, whereas the acquired immune system practices immunological memory. The cells responsible for the acquired immune response often remember pathogens that have entered the body by creating antibodies to target specific invaders. The two systems work together against germs or other substances that come into contact with the body.

Vital RX - immune defense
Image by Bruno on Pixabay: What is an immune health subscription box, and do you need it now that the weather is getting colder?

How can I boost my immune system fast?

For those who suffer from a weakened immune system, it can be hard to correct because the system isn’t a single entity. It relies on several different things to work symbiotically for it to function the way it should.

It can be hard to boost the immune system quickly, but there are ways to keep it healthy. The best way to keep things running smoothly is through diet and exercise. Other forms of immunity protection include:

  • Avoiding toxins such as cigarettes and alcohol.
  • Getting enough sleep.
  • Practicing good hygiene to avoid exposure to harmful infections.
  • Managing stress levels.

What foods increase immunity?

For a fighting chance against pathogens and other bacteria, the immune system relies heavily on nutrition. Many foods contain vitamins and minerals that can aid in the protection of the immune function and should be consumed regularly for full effect. These foods include:

Fermented or probiotic foods

Foods such as yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, and kefir can help to replenish the stomach with good bacteria. Research has shown that when the gut bacteria is balanced properly, the immune system has an easier time telling healthy cells and invader cells apart. 

Healthy fats

Inflammation can lead to a suppression in immune function, and research has shown that eating healthy fats can reduce widespread inflammation. Foods such as avocado, salmon, and extra-virgin olive oil can all be a great addition to your diet if you want to reduce inflammation and strengthen your immune system.

Whole foods

Plant-based foods are full of nutrients the body needs. They are also full of antioxidants that can lessen the risk of oxidative stress, and thus keep the immune system running optimally.

Foods low in added sugar and carbs

Refined carbs and sugars can lead to obesity if consumed in high amounts. Being overweight or obese can significantly decrease your body’s ability to fight off infection.

Vital RX - fruit smoothie
Image by Silviarita on Pixabay: Fruits high in antioxidants are a vital component to a healthy, immune-boosting diet.

Vital RX Immune Subscription Box

To help strengthen a struggling immune system, an immune health subscription box like the one offered by Vital RX is the perfect addition to a healthy lifestyle. The high-quality ingredients in the box have been curated by specialized doctors to create an immune supplementation package that really works.

Thymosin Alpha

Oxidative damage and other chronic health issues can lead to a significant risk of a weakened immune system. The peptide thymosin alpha can restore the immune function by stimulating pathways that help to signal cells and increase production of cytokines, a group of small proteins that assist in cell signaling.  

Research has also shown that the peptide can play a vital role in the efficacy of vaccines, improvement of chronic fatigue, reduction of oxidative stress, and elimination of unhealthy cells from the body.

CJC

CJC is an amino acid peptide hormone that plays a crucial part in protein synthesis throughout the body. It can assist in overall wellness by improving sleep quality and promoting an increase in overall energy levels. When it comes to the immune system, the CJC has the ability to lend a hand by increasing the secretion of human growth hormone (HGH). HGH has a direct role in the effect the immune system has on pathogens, since it can lead to a more efficient stimulation of both B and T cells that help fight off infections. 

Multicomplete 360

The body needs all the essential vitamins and minerals it can get, and if your diet is lacking, a multivitamin can pick up the slack. Included in the Immune Subscription Box is Vital RX’s Multicomplete 360 to help balance out any deficiencies that may be leading to a suppressed immune function.

Vitamin D3

Vitamin D3 is an essential part of overall health, and is especially important when it comes to the body’s ability to absorb calcium and phosphorous. Without adequate D3 levels, the body will not be able to use the vitamins it needs and thus could suffer from weakened bones and loss of bone mass. Vitamin D3 plays a vital role in immune health because of its effect on immunologic cells. It acts as an autocrine to help modulate both innate and acquired immune responses.

Featured image by Silviarita on Pixabay

What’s Included In Our Energy Subscription Box (And Why)

Having low energy levels or suffering from chronic fatigue can make even life’s basic tasks that much more difficult. In today’s fast-paced society, many people find it difficult to stick to a diet and exercise routine that provides them with the optimal amount of nutrients and movement to keep their energy levels where they need to be. Pair that with a lack of sleep due to demanding lifestyles at home and work, and energy levels become even more depleted.

But aside from the aforementioned diet, exercise, and sleep routines, there are a few more ways to boost energy levels. One such way is through an energy subscription box, like the one offered by Vital RX, which contains high-quality ingredients designed to give your body that extra boost it needs to keep up with all of life’s demands.

Why is my energy so low?

People can suffer from low energy for a plethora of reasons, and no two people are alike when it comes to why they’re suffering from chronic fatigue. Possible reasons you may be tired all the time include:

A diet full of refined carbs

Carbohydrates generally give you energy to use throughout the day because the body breaks them down and turns them into sugar as an energy source. When you fill up too much on these foods, though, it can backfire. This is because carbs can lead to a spike in blood sugar levels, and when that happens, your body works in overdrive to produce more insulin to help rid the body of the excess sugar. Research has shown that limiting refined carbs has a direct connection to increased energy levels.

You aren’t moving enough

For those suffering from CFS, getting up to exercise could be a daunting task, but it could actually be the reason for your extra tiredness throughout the day. Exercising can help to reduce overall fatigue levels among both healthy people and those suffering from chronic or terminal illnesses.

Your sleep is off

Not getting enough sleep can cause tiredness, but high-quality sleep is more important than the number of hours you spend in bed. Research found that if you get seven hours of uninterrupted sleep per night, your body is able to go through the five stages of the sleep cycle, leading to less fatigue overall.

You’re thirsty

The body needs water to function, and if it is dehydrated, it’s likely that you’ll suffer from low energy levels. While you move throughout the day, you lose fluid that needs to be replenished to keep energy levels up.

Other chronic illnesses can also lead to fatigue and low energy levels, such as autoimmune disorders, viral infections, mental illness, and hormone imbalances.

Vital RX - supplement
Image by Michele Blackwell on Unsplash: Taking supplements for chronic fatigue can help restore balance to the body and return high energy levels when they’re depleted.

How to boost energy

There are ways to naturally boost energy levels if you feel as though chronic fatigue has taken a hold of your life. Although some may be harder to accomplish than others, when used in conjunction with diet, exercise, sleep, and supplementation, they can go a long way to restore how energized you are to take on your day.

Stress is a huge energy zapper, and it can lead to a host of other health problems that will deplete your energy even further. When the body is undergoing too much stress, it releases cortisol. The hormone is generally responsible for the regulation of the stress response, but in high levels, it can lead to chronic fatigue syndrome. CFS causes the body to become tired and weak; patients often experience sleep disturbances, which advances the condition even further.

Managing stress levels if a great way to avoid CFS and increase energy levels naturally. Other ways to help keep you energized include:

  • Lightening your workload where possible.
  • Avoiding negative health triggers such as smoking and alcohol consumption.
  • Eating foods with a low glycemic index.
  • Staying hydrated.

Following the above steps along with supplementation can increase energy levels and help rid the body of chronic fatigue.

Vital RX - fatigue
Image by Zhang Kaiyv on Unsplash: Getting high-quality sleep is one of the most important factors when it comes to keeping up energy levels.

What is the best supplement for energy?

There is no one supplement that reigns supreme when it comes to boosting energy levels, but there are a few that, when put together, can work wonders. For example, ashwagandha has shown to increase energy by offering further resilience to stress levels. In the case of mental fatigue, the herb rhodiola was found to have a positive effect when people were taking it regularly.

Other natural herbs and supplements that can be taken to help combat low energy levels include:

CoQ10

This coenzyme is found naturally in the body and is used by cells to create energy while protecting systems from oxidative stress. Without adequate levels of CoQ10, the body has a hard time producing energy to stay healthy, thus leading to extreme tiredness.

Iron

Many people, especially women, may suffer from low levels of iron. Iron assists in the way oxygen is transported throughout the body by creating hemoglobin. When levels are low, red blood cells have a harder time carrying oxygen, which leads to tiredness and chronic fatigue.

Beetroot powder

Beetroot powder contains nitrate, which assists in the production of oxide, increasing blood flow and thus giving your body a better chance at producing energy.

Vital RX Energy Subscription Box

The above are just a few examples of supplements that can help battle chronic fatigue. Vital RX’s energy boost supplement box contains other vital nutrients that can play a pivotal role in combating chronic fatigue and overall tiredness. Let’s take a look at some of the box’s ingredients.

MIC Combo Blend

Lipotropic injections contain high levels of vitamins and nutrients that can help battle chronic fatigue. They often contain Vitamin B12, methionine, inositol, and choline. When taken regularly, this can help maintain energy levels.

Synapsin

NAD is crucial when it comes to regulating cell metabolism. Synapsin helps to maintain healthy levels of NAD in human cells, acting as a protector when it comes to neurological effects and chronic stress. Since chronic stress often leads to chronic fatigue, the addition of synapsin can help mitigate the body’s responses, leading to more energy overall.  

DHEA

DHEA is a hormone precursor in the human body and is a source of sex hormones. Studies have shown that when administered to patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, DHEA can reduce the symptoms significantly, restoring overall energy levels.

MK-677

This active nonpeptide plays a crucial role in bone health, but can also help increase energy levels by improving sleep quality and cognitive function. 

Featured image by Jordan Opel on Unsplash

Does Peptide Therapy Work For Fat Loss?

Peptide therapy has been surging in popularity in recent years. The first initial form of peptide therapy was insulin use for people with diabetes. Common use of and research into peptide therapy was very minimal for decades because of peptides’ short half-life, as well as their lack of bioavailability. But improvement of these two factors has been in the works, and now peptide therapy is gaining momentum for its many benefits.

Along with insulin, collagen is another peptide that is used for a variety of health benefits, including anti-aging and joint health. The number of peptides becoming available for wellness uses is growing exponentially, and some research suggests that the right peptide can even be used to help overweight individuals reach a healthy body mass index. So does peptide therapy work for fat loss, and if so, how?

The obesity endemic

Modern lifestyles have led to a significant increase in overall obesity rates across the United States. Research has suggested that over 40% of the adult population was either overweight or obese, with over 18% of American children falling into the obese category. With over 300,000 deaths being contributed to obesity-related disease per year in the country, many people are exploring new options to shed unwanted pounds and regain control of their health.

The creature comforts of quick meals and sedentary living have gotten in the way of losing weight for many, while for others, health conditions that lead to unwanted weight gain make it much more difficult to recover. Certain medications also contribute to weight gain, so it becomes a vicious cycle of treatment for one condition while battling another.

Peptide therapy for fat loss is a relatively new way to reach a healthy body weight in combination with healthier choices, and there’s good reason for it.

Vital RX - healthy diet
Image by Brooke Lark on Unsplash: A healthy diet isn’t the only thing to consider when attempting to lose a large amount of weight.

Peptide therapy for fat loss

Research has shown that some peptides can aid in weight loss efforts. This is likely due to the fact that they can encourage the proper functioning of the lipolysis process.

The body stores fat as an attempt to have a back-up energy reserve for when glucose levels dip between mealtimes. During lipolysis, the body breaks down fat using enzymes and water. When the lipolysis process occurs and the fat becomes broken down, it gets released from adipose tissue into the bloodstream, where it can then be used as a fuel source.

Which peptides help with fat loss?

Research has found that specific peptides need to be used to aid in the fat loss process.  Natriuretic peptides (NPs) are made by the heart and are used to induce a process called natriuresis. This particular bodily process eliminates excess levels of sodium through the renal system. When sodium levels become too high, high blood pressure and heart disease can result.

There are four specific groups of natriuretic peptides. They include:

  • Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)
  • B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)
  • C-type natriuretic paptide (CNP)
  • Dendroaspis natreiuretic peptide (DNP)

These four groups or types make up all NPs and can be the main factor in weight and fat loss through peptide therapy. There are other types of peptides that can help in weight loss, though, as the obesity-battling effects of peptides are not exclusive to natriuretic peptides.

AOD-9604 peptide for fat loss

The AOD-9604 peptide is a synthetically made peptide designed to encourage the secretion of and mimic the effects of the human growth hormone. It was initially marketed as an anti-obesity drug and now can be seen in a variety of different weight loss supplements.

This peptide has the ability to reduce lipogenesis, which is the body’s way of storing fat through synthesizing glucose and other substrates into fatty acids. When this occurs, the body’s cells begin to accumulate fat, and over time the process can lead to weight gain and obesity by way of insulin resistance.

The AOD-9604 peptide can also decrease appetite and encourage the release of fat from cells. 

Ibutamoren mesylate peptide for fat loss

Another synthetic form of peptide that can promote the amount of human growth form in the body is the ibutamoren mesylate peptide, also known as MK-677. Because the human growth hormone can aid in increasing lean muscle mass while reducing fat mass, this peptide encourages that process when used as a part of peptide therapy.

MK-677 has also been shown to help increase energy levels, which in turn can lead to more exercise for individuals who are overweight or obese and generally lacking enough stamina to get through regular exercise routines.

One particular study on the effects of MK-677 found that overall, fat-free mass increased in participants. This is a good indicator that it could help aid in overall weight loss, because often during diets, both fat and muscle are lost.

Vital RX - weight training
Image by Sergio Pedemonte on Unsplash: Ibutamoren mesylate peptide can help increase stamina for more effective workouts and higher energy levels.

Vital RX Fat Loss subscription box

Vital RX has developed a Fat Loss subscription box with carefully curated ingredients to help you on your journey to healthy body weight. The box contains MK-677 as well as AOD-9604. Also included are lipotropic injections designed to further aid in the overall loss of fat, as well as a multivitamin to ensure the proper nutrition throughout a period of caloric restriction or diet changes.

Click here for more information on Vital RX subscription boxes and how they can help you achieve your goals.

Featured image by Bill Oxford on Unsplash

Peptide Therapy: What Is It & Is It Safe?

Modern medicine has come a long way in treating chronic conditions and sporadic illnesses. When chronic illnesses first began being documented, they were looked at as nothing more than supernatural intervention. But as modernized medicine continued to develop, this old way of looking at death and disease grew less common, and effective treatments were formed.

One effective treatment for a variety of ailments includes insulin, the very first synthetic peptide used in the treatment of diabetes. Since the discovery of insulin and its medical uses, more peptides have been discovered throughout the brain, heart, and other tissues. So what is peptide therapy, exactly? And is peptide therapy safe?

Vital RX - joint pain
Image by Anna Auza on Unsplash: Peptide therapy can be used to help manage joint pain.

What is peptide therapy?

Peptides are a short-chain of amino acids used for many bodily processes. They are considered to be proteins and are in charge of signaling throughout the body by attaching to receptors on cells, effectively initiating changes and processes while controlling how certain cells react to certain stimuli.

Since peptides are naturally occurring in the thousands, peptide therapy is a form of medicine that has managed to help treat diseases. When using specific peptides, studies have found that the therapeutic medication can target the necessary receptors in an attempt to heal ailments. Some peptides are isolated from natural sources, while others are synthetic.

What is peptide therapy used for?

The first use of peptide therapy helped people with diabetes manage insulin levels, but particular advancements in different forms of treatment has garnered attention for abilities to treat a wide variety of different maladies.

People often use peptide therapy to help combat and manage:

  • Osteoporosis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • HIV
  • Certain forms of cancer
  • Heart failure
  • Multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Hereditary angioedema (severe swelling)
  • Chronic pain
  • Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (immune disorder causing abnormal blood clotting)
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Wound healing
  • Prevention of bone loss

Other forms of wellness peptide therapy include anti-aging, weight loss, muscle building, insomnia or other sleep disorders, and increased sexual function. As of 2018, there were over 150 peptide-focused medications in development, with 60 already available on the market.

What do peptides do to your body?

The naturally occurring peptides that have a direct effect on how cells work throughout the body are called biopeptides. They are vital components in the structural integrity of tissues and organs, bones and muscle, hormones, antibiotics, and enzymes. The synthetic forms of peptides are also used in courses of treatment, and each specific peptide will do something different for the body. These can be classified into different groups with different medicinal properties.

Groups of peptides include antibiotic peptides, which are used to help ward off infection and act as a first line of defense, whereas cardiovascular peptides contribute to overall heart health. Other groups of peptides include:

  • Bacterial
  • Brain
  • Cancer and anticancer
  • Endocrine
  • Fungal
  • Gastrointestinal
  • Invertebrate
  • Opiate
  • Plant
  • Renal
  • Respiratory
  • Vaccine
  • Venom

Although all peptides have a similar structure and function, they are able to assist in the treatment of various diseases because of the sheer amount of them and their classifications. They range from having 2 to 50 amino acids, and where they fall on that spectrum will also differentiate the level and type of treatment they can be used for.

Is peptide therapy effective?

In terms of the very first peptide, insulin injections, there is plenty of evidence to support that peptide therapy does have a positive effect on patients who suffer from diabetes. Insulin is a biopeptide that the body uses to help manage glucose levels in the blood, and is lacked by those who suffer from insulin resistance or diabetes. Thus the insulin injection was born to help combat those ailments, and is still a widely regarded treatment today.

When it comes to other peptide therapies, such as those used in patients with cardiovascular disease, studies have shown that they could be effective in treating heart disease and damage. More research is needed on the subject to confirm the efficacy of peptides for specific heart-related diseases.

Collagen is another peptide that has been used for the treatment of many things, both health-related and in the beauty industry. It has been advertised as an anti-aging marvel and a helpful assistant in maintaining joint health, and even has antioxidant properties that could help reverse oxidative stress.

Vital RX - diabetes
Image by Matt Chesin on Unsplash: Insulin injections are a form of peptide therapy used to help people manage type 2 diabetes.

The future of peptide therapy in medicine

Scientific innovation in the medical space continues to benefit from technological advancements and new discoveries. Peptides, and the continued research around them, have given medical professionals a clearer picture of how they can be used, what their role is in treatment of disease, and where they should continue to go in terms of research.

Early-stage clinical trials for many peptides are ongoing. New peptides are being explored for both assisted reproduction and weight loss, as well as other ailments that could benefit from peptide-induced cell modulation.

Peptide-enriched subscription boxes

Vital RX has launched a series of health subscription boxes that include peptides to help maintain health throughout the year.

The Weight Loss Box includes an AOD-9604 peptide that helps the body release fat from cells and manage appetite, and aids in the prevention of accumulating unhealthy levels of fat throughout the body. It also includes Ibutamoren Mesylate (MK-677), a peptide that encourages healthy levels of bone density and muscle mass, as well as improved sleep quality.

The Detox Box has a super-peptide known as BPC-157 that contributes to overall health. The Immune Box includes CDJ and Thymosin Alpha, known to help improve immune function.

For more information on Vital RX’s subscription boxes and the peptides that go into them, check out all subscription boxes here.

Featured image by Emma Simpson on Unsplash

What Is The Difference Between Peptides And Steroids?

The human body contains a vast amount of cells, chemicals, and other substances that all contribute to the proper function of its systems and organs. For everything to work as it should, the entire symbiotic system needs to run in harmony. If any vital component of the body begins to fail, the whole system suffers.

Failures in the system can be induced by nutrient depletion, the over- or underproduction of hormones, peptides, or imbalanced oxygen levels – just to name a few. Hormones and peptides are both crucial components to overall health and wellness. But what are they, what do they do to keep everything running as it should, and what is the difference between peptides and steroids?

Vital RX - steroids
Image by Qimono on Unsplash: Steroids can come in many forms, including pill form and injections.

What are steroids?

Steroids can be both naturally occurring within the body and synthesized outside of it. They are a specific class of hormone and use proteins to help the production and maintenance of muscle and tissue. They aid in cell response when they make their way through the circulatory system and induce physiological responses such as the regulation of gene expression.

A well-known example of a steroid is cortisol, the “stress” hormone. It helps modulate stress levels, and can increase both blood pressure and blood sugar levels in response to stress. Other examples of steroid hormones include progesterone, which is largely used in menses regulation, and estradiol (estrogen). The synthetic version of steroids is used in many medicinal ways, including birth control pills, muscle building and repair, and to battle inflammation.

Why are steroids important?

Steroids are a vital regulator when it comes to bodily processes. They tend to be grouped by what part of the body they come from. Adrenal steroids are created in the adrenal cortex and sex hormones are created in the reproductive organs.

The importance of having a natural balance of steroids in the body draws from physiological functions and what they need to be constantly working. The release of hormones needs to take place in a calculated and harmonious way for these processes to work as they should. When a steroidal hormone is released at levels that are too low or too high, the body suffers.

What are peptides?

Peptides are essentially a “little brother” to protein. They are a type of short chain molecule and are used to bond amino acids together. Peptides can include anywhere from 2 to 50 amino acids. They are split up into several different categories depending on how many amino acids are present.

Peptides are naturally occurring in the body and contribute to the structure of cells and tissues as well as hormones, enzymes, and toxins. In some cases, peptides can be synthetic and used in the function of different receptors to help modulate cell response.

What is peptide therapy and how does it work?

Peptide therapy is a form of medicine that has been used for decades to help combat a wide variety of different maladies. Since peptides are naturally occurring within the body and have a direct role in cell signaling, they can be used to help restore receptor response for different ailments.

A good example of peptide therapy is insulin use for people with diabetes. When insulin resistance occurs, the body’s cells are unable to process glucose levels properly. The synthetic form of the hormone is given to people with diabetes to help mitigate these effects, thus restoring optimal glucose levels in the blood.

Are peptides natural?

As previously mentioned, peptides are found naturally within the body, but they can also be synthetically created. Natural peptides work to build muscle and tissue, whereas synthetic forms of peptides are injected to elicit specific responses when they bind to receptors.

Synthetic peptides are the form used in peptide therapy, and can be effective at treating a wide variety of different illnesses because they have specific characteristics that make them more attractive in treatment. Those characteristics include high bioavailability, low toxicity, and high specificity.

Peptides vs Steroids

Although peptides and steroids can both be considered hormones, their respective roles in the body and its processes differ significantly. Steroids are able to diffuse across plasma membranes of cells where peptides cannot. Steroids also bind to cells differently than peptides. Where peptides need to bind through receptors on the surface, steroids will go deep into the cell to target the nucleus, binding directly to DNA.

Peptides are used in a process called signal transduction, which is the activation of certain cellular activities whereas steroids act as transcription participant in gene expression. The two are both required for the body to function, but they don’t complete the same process, and thus are two completely vital but separate components of overall health. Some research has shown that they may have more of a connection, though, in the way that their signaling mechanisms operate similarly.

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Image by Geralt on Unsplash: Are peptides and steroids the same thing? Unlike peptides, which bind amino acids, steroids have the ability to bind directly to DNA.

Vital RX’s peptide therapy subscription box 

Steroidal treatments were used as early as the 1930s in the form of testosterone to enhance male performance, but peptide therapy is a relatively new thing outside of insulin use. The research surrounding the use of a plethora of different peptides has shown that it can help many different health issues, restoring optimal levels of health for many Americans.

Vital RX’s peptide therapy subscription boxes take specific, high-quality peptides that have been proven to enhance physical health and overall wellness. Each box contains its own specific peptide that can offer health benefits such as fat loss, increased energy, detoxification, and immune health. Click here for more information on Vital RX’s peptide therapy subscription boxes.

Featured image by Victor Freitas on Unsplash

Health Supplement Subscription Boxes: The New Normal In Health Care

With the soaring costs of health care and the current pandemic crisis, many Americans are looking at new ways to approach health. Spending thousands on insurance (or not being able to afford insurance in the first place) has put a strain on many people, and that extra stress does more harm than good when it comes to operating at optimal health on a day-to-day basis.

The rise of more specific forms of testing to more accurately pinpoint ailments that could likely pop up in the future has led to an increased demand for health supplement subscription boxes. When people are aware of their genetic predisposition, what vitamins and nutrients they’re lacking, and what they can do to boost their health, they are empowered with more health care options than ever.

Do health supplements actually work?

The body needs certain vitamins and nutrients to thrive. Since it is symbiotic in nature, every system needs to be in proper functioning order for the others to do their respective jobs. If one part of the body begins to suffer and break down, others are sure to follow shortly after. Nowadays, though, things like poor diet, high levels of pollutants in the air, and unhealthy lifestyles contribute to the worsening of the health of Americans as a whole.

Health supplementation is a way to help avoid the breakdown of bodily processes before they happen. Taking a daily vitamin has been a popular way to get all the nutrients needed to sustain healthy living. Taking the proper supplements not only works, but can be a driver in overall health if done so methodically. This means knowing when to take supplements, how much, and for how long.

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Image by Lion Five on Pixabay: DNA markers are now being widely used to help determine chronic illness risk factors more specifically.

Genetic and environmental factors

In the past, it was difficult to predict certain diseases if you weren’t already participating in risk factor behavior. Smokers, for example, knew they were more susceptible to heart disease and lung cancer – but that doesn’t account for the genetic aspect of disease development. Today, there are many test from infancy through to adulthood that can determine whether a person is more likely to develop a disease later on in life.

Another factor that hasn’t been utilized in the past prevention of disease is nutrient density. Holistic medicine focuses largely on nutrition and natural treatments for disease. Understanding that the food you consume is a big contributor to how your body functions is not a new idea, but it has been garnering more attention due to the rise in the healthy lifestyle movement. 

How do health supplement subscription boxes work?

Subscription boxes of all kinds are unique, often personalized shopping experiences. They tend to come with at least one questionnaire regarding personal selection and taste so that the products a customers receives are tailored to them. The same model has been used for health supplement subscription boxes.

During the initial sign-up, you will likely be asked to provide details into your health and medical history so that the company can have a better idea of what will help your ailments. Some companies have even gone the extra mile to provide consumers with the opportunity to personalize using DNA and blood type for a more effective health box.

How to use supplement subscription boxes

Some studies have found that the use of multivitamins isn’t helpful in the long run, but many health care professionals see the positive effects of specific dietary supplements in patients who suffer from chronic disease. For example, a person suffering from Lyme disease may be low in many vitamins and minerals, including vitamin D and magnesium. Therefore, supplementation of these necessary nutrients is vital in recovery.

In the case of those who do not have a chronic disease, vitamin deficiencies are still possible and even common. This is where the best supplement subscription boxes for health come into play. They are strategically designed to address specific health ailments and deficiencies so that people can regain control of their health. 

Vital RX - vitamin D sunshine
Image by Silviarita on Pixabay: Vitamin D, otherwise known as the sunshine vitamin, is a common deficiency that can lead to chronic health issues if not addressed.

How much do supplement subscription boxes cost?

The cost for a supplement subscription box will likely range widely across different brands, types, quality of ingredients used, and length and frequency of the subscription. Vital RX uses high-quality ingredients curated by a team of health care professionals to deliver the products and nutritional supplements most likely to make a change towards optimal health.

Vital RX’s available boxes vary depending on need. The immune health box has been popular because of the approaching winter months, as well as the need for stronger immune systems to battle a potential COVID-19 infection, whereas the detox box helps the body in its natural detoxification process so that if pollutants do happen to build up, they can be eliminated with ease. Each Vital RX box comes with a price tag of $595.00.

The trend is likely here to stay

Preventive medicine is making its way into traditional health care, and with it comes more demand for ways to prevent disease and chronic illness as opposed to solely seeking cures. When it comes to preventive medicine, health supplement subscription boxes could be a helpful tool to keep up with one’s health and prevent deficiency, disease, or a drop in quality of physical or mental health.

With the rise in popularity of all types of subscription boxes, it’s likely that those dedicated directly to health will continue gaining steam in the coming years. After all, it’s better to avoid getting sick than it is to be nursed back to health.

Featured image by Christopher Campbell on Unsplash