Discover the importance of growth hormone for muscle building and fat burning, as well as the side effects of its deficiency. Explore the factors that can block growth hormone production and learn how to naturally increase its levels through supplements, exercise, liver support, keto diet, cold immersion therapy, heat therapy, and intermittent fasting.
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Quick takeaways
Growth hormone levels decline significantly as people age, leading to challenges in muscle building, cognitive issues, mood disorders, and more.
Sleep, liver health, and intense exercise are key factors that influence growth hormone levels and can be optimized to increase its production naturally.
Deep dives
The Decrease of Growth Hormone with Age
As people age, their levels of growth hormone decline significantly. By the age of 65, growth hormone is typically 65% lower than it should be. While growth hormone deficiency in children affects growth, in adults, it plays a crucial role in protein synthesis, muscle building, collagen production, and fat burning. Many adults are deficient in growth hormone without realizing the impact it has on their body, leading to challenges in muscle building, cognitive issues, mood disorders, higher LDL levels, hair loss, and insomnia.
Factors Affecting Growth Hormone Levels
Several factors can influence growth hormone levels. One major factor is sleep, particularly deep delta wave sleep, which is when growth hormone is predominantly elevated. Sleep apnea, which leads to insufficient oxygen intake during sleep, significantly reduces growth hormone levels. Opening windows or having plants in the room can improve oxygen levels and enhance sleep quality. Additionally, hyperglycemia, caused by high sugar or insulin levels, can inhibit growth hormone production. Stress, both chronic and intermittent, can also affect growth hormone levels.
Ways to Naturally Increase Growth Hormone
Several natural methods can help increase growth hormone levels. Intense exercise, such as sprinting, can stimulate growth hormone production by up to 2,000%. Liver health is also crucial, as liver dysfunction can hinder growth hormone production. Improving liver function can be achieved by consuming milk thistle, which has been found to support various aspects of liver health. Following a moderate protein diet, particularly one that includes red meat, eggs, and fish, can help increase growth hormone levels. Cold therapy and heat therapy, such as hot showers or saunas, can also boost growth hormone production. Lastly, intermittent fasting, where calories are consumed in a shorter eating window, has been shown to increase growth hormone levels by up to 2,000%.
Let’s talk about the best ways to increase growth hormone, especially as you age.
In adults, growth hormone is crucial for muscle building and fat burning. It’s also important for building tendons, ligaments, collagen, joints, and bones. However, growth hormone dramatically decreases with age.
Side effects of a deficiency in growth hormone can include:
• Difficulty building muscle
• Cognitive issues
• Lowered mood
• Higher levels of LDL
• Hair loss
• Insomnia
Here are the top things that can block growth hormone:
• Insomnia
• Sleep apnea
• High blood sugar
• High insulin
• Chronic stress
• Liver problems
The pituitary gland produces growth hormone. Instead of replacing the hormone with a synthetic version, why don’t we support the gland that makes growth hormone?
How to increase growth hormone naturally:
1. Try Pituitrophin PMG from Standard Process
2. Do intense exercise
3. Take milk thistle (if you have a liver problem)
4. Get on the Healthy Keto® diet
5. Do cold immersion therapy
6. Do heat therapy
7. Do intermittent fasting
Some people find their muscles look flat or dehydrated after getting on keto. In this situation, it’s important to drink plenty of water with electrolytes, especially potassium and sodium. This will help keep the muscles hydrated. You could also try increasing your carbs to 50 grams per day by consuming foods like berries but still avoiding refined carbs and sugar.
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