There are athletes, fitness, and bodybuilding professionals using a lot of supplements to improve their performance, increase their stamina, build their muscle, and remove their fat. Out of all the various substances available, none are more controversial than HGH. So, I decided to present the case of HGH and relieve all your doubts by answering all the questions. It’s up to you to decide if you want to add this substance to your daily diet, after reading all the pros and cons here.
What is human growth hormone?
The human body produces certain levels of HGH through the action of the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is a small mass located at the base of the brain, and it is the organ that secretes all the hormones and chemicals that trigger other glands and organs to produce other hormones. HGH or as it is known in the medical world GH is the hormone that maintains muscle mass and bone mass and affects fat distribution in the body. GH is a trigger hormone; it directs the liver to produce growth factor chemicals such as insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Laboratories only started to synthesize IGF-1 in the early 80’s after which it was “adopted” by athletes and became popular.
How much GH does the brain produce naturally?
This is an important question, not only about GH but about the amounts an athlete takes to improve and enhance their performance. The pituitary gland produces less than 5 nanograms per millimeter of blood that’s circulating in the body. The amount increases slowly as the child grows to adulthood, and production declines towards the 20’s. Each person’s actual amounts differ due to genetics.
How to test for IGF-1 deficiency
Unless you are under the natural height and weight of the general population, you most probably do not have a deficiency. If you are an athlete or workout in the gym and have a physically fit body, then you do not have a deficiency. However, if you are curious about your IGF-1 levels, go to you doctor and ask for a GH test.
HGH side effects
According to the Mayo Clinic (a leading medical research institute and hospital in the US with sites in many states), HGH might cause a few side effects for healthy adults when using it as a sports supplement. However, these effects are not usually found in young adults, only in older patients dosing on HGH. Another fact is that there is no real evidence to support these findings since research has not been done on a large enough population. The side effects that the Mayo Clinic associates with HGH usage are:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Increased insulin resistance
- Swelling in the arms and legs (edema)
- Joint and muscle pain
- For men, enlargement of breast tissue (gynecomastia)
Note that there is no mention of enlarged organs. However, some physicians have reported single cases of big feet and enlarged livers from users that overdosed regularly with HGH. Again, these are more likely to be genetic reactions than a regular side effect. (Source: Mayo Clinic)
Why do I need HGH if my body stops using it naturally?
HGH research has shown that it can be used for more than just building muscle mass. HGH has also shown signs of reducing the progression in age-related diseases and is thought to contribute to the sex drive. Whether it does add to the sex drive or not has been proven medically, but whether the effect is psychological or physical, it should not matter. Just remember that as you age, your body secretes less HGH, and this reduction in the hormone reduces your sex drive, lowers your energy levels, increases fat through bad maintenance and wastes muscle.
Where can I buy HGH?
There are two known sources of HGH, the first is the legal way, through a physician. Most anti-aging clinics will prescribe IGF-1 as well as recommend dosage. The second way is the illegal way, and you are taking a health risk when buying HGH online from unreliable sources.
Can I boost my body’s natural GH levels without taking HGH?
Yes, you can increase your body’s natural GH level secretion. This is done through a daily routine of exercise, diet, and sleep. Researchers have shown that regular exercise, performed over time and with a schedule, will produce higher levels of IGF-1. Whereas, if you only exercise sporadically, there will be no changes, the change in IGF-1 is based on a cumulative action. However, since IGF-1 is secreted during the sleep cycle, it is important for all athletes to sleep properly, as well as eat properly. Diet is also a key factor since there are certain foods that help increase the production of IGF-1.
Are there any substitute IGF-1 supplements that boost GH?
There are many supplements that work when used together, such as the daily intake of multivitamins when combined with amino acids. However, they must be taken in the right proportions. There is also a lot of talk around HGH replacements such as Growth Factor-9. Personally, I don’t buy into these unsubstantiated claims only because they are like the “fake” steroids that claim to do the same job as the original substance. Bottom line, there are no “replacements” for IGF-1, it is either IGF-1, or it isn’t. Growth Factor-9 might increase the natural production of GH through the list of amino’s and other substances it contains, but you can get the same job done at a fraction of the price by taking your daily intake of protein powders and amino acid tabs.
You could also try natural homeopathic supplements to boost human growth hormone, as homeopathic is side-effect free and cost almost half compared to other supplements. There have been numerous studies showing the effectiveness of homeopathic HGH when taken in 30X diluted form. Keep in mind though that homeopathic HGH may take several months to show any signs of progress. It also depends on an individual’s age and fitness level.
A Look at HGH Boosting Substances
Let’s look at the natural substances that can help boost IGF-1 production in the body; it might be beneficial to take a GH test before and after, to see how beneficial the constant use of these natural substances is in increasing your body’s GH production.
Most of the vitamins, minerals and amino acids can be found in daily food intake. Always check the content of every item you eat, such as milk, fruit and vegetables, herbs and spices, and proteins. You will be surprised by the abundance of natural substances nature produces for the body. Regarding vitamins and minerals, you can find all of these in both natural food sources or in an easy to take multivitamin pill source. Taking the multivitamin pill source is a proven and sure way to supplement your daily food intake cycle. The same goes for amino acids and proteins, the very fact that we call them “supplements,” is because they come to supplement, or add on to the natural food intake, including a hearty breakfast, healthy protein snacks between regular meals.
Note that all these substances are for improving the body’s natural production of IGF-1, there are many more vitamins, minerals and amino acids taken daily for other purposes that increase your muscle mass, reduce fat and perform many other important biological activities.
Vitamins
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B5
- Vitamin B12
- Folic Acid
- Inositol Hexanicotinate
Minerals
- Chromium
- Zinc
- Magnesium
- Iodine
Amino Acids
- Glutamine
- Glycine
- Carnitine
- Arginine
- GABA
- Taurine
- Lysine
- Ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate
Hormones
- DHEA
- Pregnenolone
- Melatonin
Vital Agents
- Colostrum
- Alpha GPC
- Herbs, Botanicals
- Tribulus Terrestris
- Chrysin
- Coleus forskohlii
- Griffonia simplicifolia
- Milk thistle (silymarin)
Adaptogenic Herbs
- Panax ginseng
- Eleuthero root
- Ashwagandha root
- Schizandra berry
- Astragalus root
- Dong quai
- Wild yam extract
- Fo-Ti root extract
- Lycium berry
- Red date fruit
