I've been getting a LOT of requests for peptide stacking protocols lately — so I put together a deep dive on what I'm calling The Ultimate Mitochondria Stack — four compounds that target your cellular energy production from every angle. This was the first stack I heard about when diving into the research space. If you've ever felt like your metabolism "isn't what it used to be"... or you're doing everything right but your body won't respond... this one's for you. The stack: ⚙️ SS-31 — The mechanic. Repairs and protects your mitochondrial membranes so the energy machinery actually works. 📣 MOTS-c — The coach. Sends exercise-like signals that tell your cells to burn fat, improve insulin sensitivity, and adapt. 💻 SLU-PP-332 — The software upgrade. Turns on the genes that build MORE mitochondria and shift your body toward fat burning. ⚡ Methylene Blue — The backup generator. Keeps electrons flowing and ATP production high even when parts of the system are compromised. Why this matters: Your mitochondria produce 90% of your cellular energy. When they decline (which happens with age, stress, and metabolic dysfunction), EVERYTHING suffers — energy, body composition, recovery, cognition, all of it. Most people focus on calories and macros. That matters. But what about the actual engine processing those calories? That's what this stack addresses. I cover: - How each compound works (explained so anyone can understand) - Why they're synergistic (the whole is greater than the sum) - Research protocols - Where this fits with diet and exercise (spoiler: it doesn't replace the basics) Full article here 👇 https://open.substack.com/pub/derekpruski/p/the-ultimate-mitochondria-stack-ss Drop any questions below — curious what you guys think of this one.

Disclaimer: Research peptides only. Educational purposes. Not medical advice. Talk to your doctor. I've always said: research with whatever allows you to stay on plan and keeps you in a deficit. But after experimenting with both extensively, I need to rethink this. My Experience: Tirzepatide → food noise basically gone while still being able to eat Retatrutide + cagri → still thinking about food way too much Even adding cagrilintide to reta hasn't given me the same mental freedom as tirz. And that's making me question whether reta's theoretical advantages are actually worth it for most people. What the Clinical Data Shows: Tirzepatide (SURMOUNT trials): Participants consistently reported serious appetite suppression. Many said they basically stopped thinking about food between meals. Retatrutide (Phase 2 trials): Weight loss was impressive (24% at 48 weeks), but appetite control was hit-or-miss. Some people experienced it, others didn't. The pattern is clear: tirz delivers consistent appetite suppression for almost everyone. Reta is more variable. The Part Everyone Overlooks: Yeah, reta might burn slightly more fat because of glucagon receptor activation. But here's the reality— Most researchers don't have their diet and training dialed in yet. And getting THOSE fundamentals right will do way more for fat loss than reta's glucagon effect ever will. You can replicate reta's fat-burning advantages through: - Increased cardio - Lipo-C injections - L-carnitine supplementation - Fasted training sessions - Consistent resistance training Here's my honest take: If you dial in nutrition, training, and sleep, you'll get comparable results with tirz—without fighting hunger all day. Reta's edge only matters if everything else is already optimized. For most people, it's not. What I'm Seeing: This pattern keeps repeating: researchers switch from tirz to reta, then come back—not because tirz made everything effortless, but because it made staying on plan manageable.

Let's talk about one of the most underrated nootropics in the research space and my personal favorite - Bromantane. Remember all of this content is research use only and not medical advice. What Is It? Bromantane is an adaptogenic stimulant originally developed in Russia in the 1980s for their Olympic athletes. It's classified as an actoprotector - meaning it increases physical performance without increasing oxygen consumption. How Does It Actually Work? This is where Bromantane gets interesting - it doesn't work like typical stimulants. The Enzyme Upregulation: - Tyrosine Hydroxylase (TH) - Bromantane increases the activity of this enzyme, which is the rate-limiting step in dopamine production. More TH = more dopamine being MADE, not just released - Tryptophan Hydroxylase - Same deal but for serotonin production. You're literally increasing your brain's capacity to produce these neurotransmitters Why This Matters: Most stimulants (caffeine, amphetamines, etc.) force your neurons to DUMP their existing dopamine stores. You feel great... then you crash because the tank is empty. Bromantane says "let's make the tank bigger AND fill it faster." You're increasing baseline production capacity. The GABAergic Component: Bromantane also modulates GABA receptors, which is why you get stimulation WITHOUT anxiety. It's calming and energizing at the same time - something most stims can't pull off. Research Observations: - Increases Dopamine & Serotonin - Through enzyme upregulation, not depletion - Reduces Anxiety - GABA modulation keeps subjects calm - Boosts Energy & Motivation - Clean, sustained mental energy - Enhances Focus - Improved cognitive performance and mental clarity - Neuroprotective - Protects brain cells from stress and oxidation - Improves Physical Performance - Increases work capacity without taxing the cardiovascular system as much Typical Research Dosing: - Research dose: 25-50mg per day - Timing: Morning or early afternoon (can affect sleep if taken late) - Cycle: 4-6 weeks on, 2 weeks off

I'm trying to pinpoint some good topics for courses and peptide education that you guys will find actually valuable. Drop your suggestions below 👇 What are you struggling with? What keeps coming up in your research? What would save you hours of digging through forums and Reddit threads? Could be anything: - Specific peptides or compounds - Protocols and stacking - Troubleshooting issues - Vendor evaluation - Testing and quality control - Whatever you're curious about Let me know what would be most helpful and I'll prioritize creating content around it.

I want to address my January 1st post about vendors who hadn't removed their GLP-1 listings after their stated deadline. After having direct conversations, I've learned there's significantly more happening behind the scenes in the RUO space than I was aware of. Due to legal considerations, I can't share specifics publicly. This will be my only post addressing it again. What I got wrong: I assumed the deadline messaging was primarily a marketing tactic. It wasn't and I understand a lot of you will different opinions. While I still don't agree with how some of the arbitrary dates were communicated, I now understand these vendors were operating with information and constraints I wasn't privy to. To those who've lost trust in me over this: I get it. I'm taking this as a learning experience—I shouldn't be communicating or speculating on major shifts in this space until I see it. Moving forward: I'm stepping back from speculation and assumptions about vendor decisions. We're all working with imperfect information, and I'd rather wait to see how things actually unfold over the next month or two than contribute to drama or misinformation. The research space is navigating complex challenges right now. I'll continue focusing on what I can rather than trying to interpret decisions I don't have full context on. — Derek