Ways to Increase Growth Hormone Levels

Increase Growth Hormone Levels

There’s one main point I disagree with made in this article regarding human growth hormone, but the article highlights something that is important for all of us to recognize: there are natural ways to increase growth hormone levels.

First, the point of disagreement.  Like most articles on growth hormone the FoxNews article overstates the side effects of growth hormone replacement.  As we have mentioned before recombinant human growth hormone is identical to what the body makes.  This means that side effects from growth hormone replacement occur solely from excessive dosing. (Side effects most often occur from the metabolism of drugs foreign to the body.) If the dose of growth hormone is appropriate side effects are kept at bay.  In fact, growth hormone replacement is easier to manage than testosterone replacement and replacement of other hormones.

Why Increase Growth Hormone Levels?

The many benefits of growth hormone are not fully appreciated.  In adults growth hormone is largely a healing or rejuvenating hormone. It stimulates protein synthesis that is needed for tissue repair. Growth hormone also upregulates receptors for our other hormones.  This means it potentiates the effects of these hormones.  Growth hormone has repeatedly been shown to improve lean body mass (though improvements in strength are not always seen) and reduce body fat.  It improves bone density better than the commonly prescribed bisphophonates. Growth hormone improves sleep and sleep improves growth hormone levels.  Growth hormone also enhances immune function. Growth hormone improves thickness of the skin and can reduce fine wrinkles.

Some claim there is no evidence that growth hormone slows aging. But, here is what is concluded in the first landmark study on human growth hormone replacement in adults conducted by Dr. Rudman and his colleagues,”The effects of six months of human growth hormone on lean body mass and adipose-tissue mass were equivalent in magnitude to the changes incurred during 10 to 20 years of aging.”

Natural Ways to Increase Growth Hormone

Most growth hormone production occurs at night during deep sleep.  Therefore it’s important to create the ideal environment during these hours to promote growth hormone production.  Getting good quality sleep is essential to growth hormone production.  If you struggle with sleep read this post. Melatonin, a hormone that declines with aging, can be very effective in improving sleep and also is one of the more potent antioxidants and improves immune function.  Melatonin can increase growth hormone production. So if you struggle with getting good quality sleep melatonin can help.

Excessive blood sugar and insulin levels at night will interfere with growth hormone production as mentioned in the article. So be careful with alcohol consumption late at night, too. Insulin is secreted in response to carbohydrates.  Consume low glycemic foods (most fruits and vegetables) with your meals.

Maintaining normal sex hormones estrogen and testosterone) also improves growth hormone production.  Consuming certain amino acids (and protein in general) like arginine inhibits somatostatin.  Somatostatin inhibits growth hormone release. Thus, arginine inhibits an inhibitor of growth hormone release.

Fasting has been shown to increase growth hormone levels in part by reducing blood glucose and insulin levels. Perhaps the best way to increase growth hormone naturally is to engage in vigorous exercise which is a terrific stimulant to increase growth hormone levels and production. This can be accomplished by moderate to heavy strength training and moderate to vigorous cardiovascular exercise into the anaerboic zone. Steady pace aerobics does not stimulate growth hormone. It’s important that your workouts are intense enough that you produce lactic acid.

Niacin which is sometimes used to treat cholesterol disorders increases growth hormone production by depressing free fatty acid levels.

So there you have it – some simple ways to boost your growth hormone levels. Sleep well, eat well, exercise well.

See related articles.

“What are Symptoms of Low HGG Levels?”

“Head Trauma Can Lead to Hormone Deficiencies”

“Growth Hormone, Antiaging Miracle Drug?”