Doctor Reveals What Ozempic & "Miracle" Injections Really Do To You

Dr Ula Haywood is an emergency medicine doctor and the founder of Autonomy Health in Auckland where she works with patients on sleep, stress, biomarkers, hormone health and long-term wellbeing. When it comes to peptides in New Zealand- there is nobody more qualified to speak to on the subject.

Right now, peptides are everywhere: They’re being talked about on podcasts, on TikTok and Instagram, in gyms, and maybe a few WhatsApp groups you’re in as well.

So, I asked Dr Ula Heywood to come in and explain it all in normal-person language.

* What actually is a peptide? * Why has this become such a huge trend? * What is available legally in New Zealand? * What are people buying online that they maybe shouldn’t be? * We also talk about weight loss medications, the rise of wearables, creatine, collagen, morning routines, and why sometimes the best health advice is still the most boring advice.

If, like me, you had a lot of questions about Peptides but didn’t know where to start- this episode will hopefully be really helpful.

*** Massive thanks to my long‑term podcast sponsor, Generate.

If, like me, longevity is something you are curious about, then the financial side of living longer is also something you need to take seriously.

I had a chat with a Generate KiwiSaver adviser when they came on as sponsor, and it genuinely gave me clarity on what it means to have a KiwiSaver plan, and whether mine was actually set up to perform over the long-term.

Generate is an award‑winning KiwiSaver provider with a strong track record of long‑term performance.

You can check out their latest returns online, or book a no‑obligation chat with one of their advisers at generatekiwisaver.co.nz/dom.

No pressure, no hard sell, no judgment. Just clear advice to help you feel confident you’re on track. I promise you will not regret doing it- there is a good reason Generate won Consumer NZs People's Choice Award for the 6th time.

The issuer of the scheme is Generate Investment Management Limited. To see their PDS and Financial Advice Provider info see generatekiwisaver.co.nz/disclosures. Past performance does not guarantee future returns.

And remember, I’m not a financial adviser, so this is just general information. I recommend getting expert advice before making any financial decisions.

0:00 Introduction 0:53 Generate KiwiSaver advertisement 1:22 Welcome Dr. Ula Haywood 1:40 Dr. Ula's emergency medicine background 7:37 What is a peptide? 9:48 Why peptides are trending in 2026 11:15 Understanding the gray market 12:18 Does the evidence match the hype? 13:33 What is BPC-157? 14:46 Can peptides help with osteoarthritis? 15:35 Why are there so few human clinical trials? 16:17 Risks of the gray market 18:15 Are all peptides injectable? 18:46 GHK-copper and growth hormone analogues 23:00 Is it illegal to import peptides in New Zealand? 25:01 The 'Russian Roulette' of gray market supplements 26:22 Medsafe and regulation changes 31:07 The dangers of unregulated hormone boosting 33:07 The 'Wolverine Stack' (BPC-157 & TB-500) 34:40 Thoughts on Bryan Johnson and biohacking 37:34 Are there interesting experimental peptides? 38:48 Legally available peptide treatments in NZ 42:54 Holistic approach to weight and health 45:17 Safety during pregnancy and collagen usage 46:49 The importance of sleep for health 51:35 Wearables and bio-feedback 52:16 Personal relationship with alcohol 57:01 Safe first steps for the 'peptide curious' 58:24 Medical perspective on sleeping pills (Zopiclone) 1:00:52 Morning routines and sleep-wake cycles 1:02:20 Collagen, fish oil, and creatine 1:05:44 Contacting Dr. Ula / Autonomy Health 1:06:05 Longevity and behavioral change