
The Peptides Quietly Accelerating Aging | Dr Valter Longo
From The Proof with Simon Hill by Live better for longer
May 11, 2026 · 1h 48m · Season 1
About this episode
Dr. Valter Longo discusses the implications of peptides and GLP-1 on aging and longevity.
The peptide and GLP-1 conversation has reached a fever pitch. Growth-hormone-releasing peptides are being marketed as longevity tools, GLP-1s are being treated as a default rather than a last resort, and a wellness aesthetic of higher IGF-1, more muscle, and less fat is being sold as the route to a longer life. In this episode, I sit down with Dr Valter Longo, Professor of Gerontology at USC and Director of the USC Longevity Institute, to look at what the data actually says. Valter developed the Fasting-Mimicking Diet, has led foundational work on the growth hormone, IGF-1, insulin, and TOR axis across yeast, mice, and humans, and runs non-profit longevity foundation clinics in Europe and the US. He calls himself the anti-biohacker and makes the case using the totality of evidence rather than the loudest claim. What we cover: The peptide boom and why every line of evidence cuts the other way The body composition reality of GLP-1s after 3 to 4 years The optimal IGF-1 range and how to land there with food and timing The Fasting-Mimicking Diet across more than 47 clinical trials, including the biological-age reduction studies The Harvard plant-versus-animal protein data, properly…
People in this episode
Host: Simon Hill
Guest: Dr Valter Longo
Topics covered
- peptides
- longevity
- GLP-1
- Fasting-Mimicking Diet
- body composition
- IGF-1
- ketogenic diet
Keywords
- peptides
- GLP-1
- longevity
- Fasting-Mimicking Diet
- IGF-1
- body composition
- ketogenic diet
- nutrition
- health
- fitness
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: USC Longevity Institute, Harvard
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