Peptides are molecules composed of more than one amino acid but not enough to become a protein. They serve a variety of purposes in the body, ranging from antioxidant to antimicrobial effects. Talk to your doctor about which specific peptides will benefit you, and then increase the amount of food containing those peptides in your diet. Incorporate foods containing healthy peptides into recipes you cook regularly, or simply eat them separately.
Step 1
Add dairy, salmon and tuna to your diet for peptides that lower blood pressure. Pork and chicken also contain these compounds.
Step 2
Incorporate grains such as wheat, rye, oats and barley into your diet for their antimicrobial peptides. Sole, salmon and catfish contain these as well.
Step 3
Eat soy and potatoes to increase your antioxidant peptides. The gelatin found in the skin of the Alaskan pollack also has these properties.
Step 4
Lower your risk of obesity by eating tofu and dairy. Soybeans and the whey in dairy contain peptides that help reduce appetite and slow food absorption.
Step 5
Eat macroalgae, such as seaweed and Irish moss, for peptides that lower blood pressure and reduce the chances of developing breast cancer or diabetes. Make your own sushi, or eat seaweed snack packs from your local health food store. You can also grind seaweed sheets into powder, and then bake the powder into bread or stir it into soup.
Tips and Warnings
- Vegans who don't get enough peptides can eat peas, chickpeas, soy, flax and potatoes for proteins that serve the same functions. Talk to your doctor about your dietary needs and how to meet them.
- Peptides found in dairy and wheat products can have a mild sedative effect.
Things You'll Need
- Dairy
- Fish
- Pork
- Chicken
- Grains
- Soy
- Potatoes
- Whey
- Seaweed
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