What is a peptide?
A peptide is a type of molecule that’s made up of amino acids. Amino acids are like the building blocks of life because they’re the basic units that make up proteins. And proteins are essential for our bodies to function properly.
Imagine that amino acids are like individual LEGO bricks and a peptide is like a structure built by connecting those bricks together. Just as you can create different structures by combining LEGO bricks in different ways, you can create different peptides by joining amino acids together in specific sequences.
Peptides are important because they play various roles in our bodies. Some peptides send important instructions to different parts of our body. They help regulate digestion, metabolism, and growth. Other peptides have antimicrobial properties, which means they can help fight against harmful bacteria or other microorganisms.
Sometimes, peptides can be very short, consisting of just a few amino acids, while others can be quite long, with hundreds or even thousands of amino acids. When a peptide becomes very long, it’s often referred to as a protein.
In short, a peptide is a molecule made up of amino acids that serves important functions in our bodies and can be used to improve our overall well-being.