Peptides, Sleep, and Functional Medicine: How to Unlock Your Longevity
When it comes to health, many people feel stuck. They’re tired, in pain, or foggy-headed—yet their doctors tell them their labs are “normal.” According to longevity expert Regan Archibald, that’s the problem with today’s healthcare system: it isn’t built to uncover the root causes.
In a recent episode of Be the Giraffe with Chris Jarvis, Archibald shared how his journey from farm boy to functional medicine leader is changing the way we think about health, longevity, and even aging itself.
From Ranch Life to Functional Medicine
Archibald grew up working long days on his family’s ranch, determined never to be a rancher himself. At 13, after a painful double foot surgery, he discovered something life-changing: the power of visualization and meditation. His recovery was so rapid his doctor couldn’t believe it.
That moment planted a seed. Later, while studying medicine at the University of Utah, Archibald’s own health collapsed. He developed psoriasis, hair loss, fatigue, and severe brain fog—yet doctors dismissed it as “just stress.”
It took a naturopath and acupuncturist to uncover the truth: years of exposure to chemicals like Roundup and formaldehyde had disrupted his immune system and gut. That diagnosis became the turning point in his career.
Why the Current Healthcare System Falls Short
Archibald argues that Western medicine is designed for crisis care, not chronic illness. If you don’t fit into a diagnostic box, you’re told you’re “fine”—even when you feel terrible.
“Biology isn’t one-size-fits-all,” he explains. “If I give the same input to 10 people, they’ll respond differently. That’s why we need functional medicine to look deeper—gut health, metabolomics, epigenetics—not just surface-level labs.”
Unfortunately, most doctors don’t have the time. With 7–15 minutes per patient, they rely on billable codes, not full-body investigation.
The Foundation of Longevity: Sleep Health
Before advanced therapies, Archibald insists on fixing the basics. His 3-2-1 Sleep Method is simple but powerful:
3 hours before bed: stop eating
2 hours before bed: stop drinking fluids
1 hour before bed: turn off electronics
This routine helps regulate hormones, stabilize metabolism, and clear toxins from the brain. Poor sleep, he warns, derails dopamine and serotonin balance, lowers testosterone, and accelerates aging.
“Sleep is the cheapest, most powerful health tool,” Archibald says. “Without it, everything else falls apart.”
The Rise of Peptides for Longevity
While good sleep and nutrition lay the foundation, peptides represent one of the most exciting breakthroughs in modern medicine.
Peptides are naturally occurring protein structures that activate or suppress specific genes. Unlike synthetic drugs, they work with the body’s biology.
Pharmaceutical companies have turned some peptides—like GLP-1 agonists (Ozempic, Wegovy)—into billion-dollar drugs. But according to Archibald, these often come with inflated costs and unnecessarily high dosages. Compounding pharmacies can provide personalized, safer peptide therapies for a fraction of the price.
Peptides can help with:
Weight loss and appetite control
Muscle growth and cardiovascular fitness
Hormone balance and gut restoration
Reducing cravings for alcohol, sugar, and even nicotine
But not all sources are safe. “Over 80% of peptides sold online are contaminated or ineffective,” Archibald warns. Patients should only work with licensed providers who run labs and tailor peptide stacks to their individual goals.
How to Take Control of Your Health
So where should someone start? Archibald recommends:
Fix your sleep with the 3-2-1 method.
Pay attention to signals like fatigue, brain fog, or unexplained pain—they’re not “just aging.”
Work with providers who test deeply, looking at gut health, hormones, and inflammation.
Consider peptides as part of a personalized longevity plan, but only through trusted medical sources.
Healthcare shouldn’t make you feel like a number. As Archibald emphasizes, “Pain is a warning sign. Fatigue is a signal. You have the ability to ask deeper questions and demand better answers.”
Learn More from Regan Archibald
Regan Archibald is the founder of East West Health and author of The Peptide Blueprint. He has performed over 10,000 labs and trained more than 1,500 doctors in functional medicine and peptide therapy.
To take control of your health, visit AgelessFuture.com. You’ll find a free healthspan assessment and access to discounted labs testing 130 biomarkers, from cardiovascular and liver function to thyroid and immune health.
Longevity isn’t about quick fixes. It’s about aligning your biology, mindset, and lifestyle so you can thrive—not just survive. By combining functional medicine with cutting-edge therapies like peptides, Regan Archibald shows us that living better—and longer—is within reach.
P.S. If this episode resonated with you, you’ll love my Be the Giraffe book.