Human Growth Hormone (HGH) is a naturally occurring brain produced hormone that is essential in cell regeneration, growth, and healing. HGH has been hailed as a “Miracle Healing & Weight Loss” molecule because of the positive effects it has on the human body!
One challenge…. HGH levels naturally define as you age. According to a 1996 study published in The Journal of Pediatrics, HGH peak the moment you take your first breath and levels begin to decline around the age of 30. Unfortunately, they go down by a factor of two or three during your 40s and continue to decline as you age until they reach negligible levels by the age 80!
It’s been speculated that why most chronic diseases begin after 40 is due to the declining levels of HGH, but this doesn’t have to become your reality. If you are under 40, this article will help you keep your HGH levels from declining and if you are over 40 the same techniques will help elevate your HGH levels naturally allowing you to reap all the health benefits that ensue.
What Does HGH Do?
The effects of HGH are so impressive there isn’t enough room in this article to list them all! Once you see just a few, I guarantee you will be asking the next obvious question – How can I elevate my HGH levels? (We will get to that I promise).
Benefits of boosting your HGH levels include:
Muscle Development
As you age muscles naturally decline in strength and size, and you can thank a hormone called MYOSTATIN for that. A recent 2016 study published in Clinical Medicine Insights: Endocrinology and Diabetes discovery that HCH helps to block myostatin. Translation your muscles will remain and regrow with adequate levels of HGH. It even allows you to build muscle WITHOUT working out – who dissent want that!
Enhanced Weight Loss
HGH accelerates a process known as LIPOLYSIS which simply means the breakdown and burning of fat for energy. A study published in Hormone Research discovered that if you also restrict caloric intake (ie decrease sugar content) the effect is enhanced such that weight loss becomes effortless (ie no gyms required!). It was also recently discovered that HGH also lowers triglyceride levels – which when elevated is often associated with obesity, heart disease and weight loss resistance.
Stronger Bones
All too often adults over 40 begin to worry about their bone health – especially as osteopenia/osteoporosis rates continue to climb in the US. HGH is converted into a hormone called IGF-1 (insulin like growth factor #1) by your liver. IGF-1/HGH duo stimulates bone-forming and bone-resorbing cells, leading to increased bone mass. Rather than increasing calcium/phosphorous/D3 intake to strengthen your bones, consider increasing your HGH levels – your bones will thank you for sure as the effect is much greater when you let your body do it hormonally!
Reduced Risk For Chronic Disease (Heart Disease, Diabetes, Cancer etc.)
There’s one thing for sure – chronic disease rates are exponentially increasing in the US. Disease that was once exclusively seen in adults are now being seen in teens and even children! Stop blaming it on your age/genetics and start thinking about your HGH levels. The drop is drastic from 40-60 – so much so that you often have 80-55% less HGH than you did when you were 20! Multiple studies have found that HGH therapy significantly reduces and can even reverse chronic health conditions. In fact, it’s so heavily researched you simply need to google HGH and any condition to find out that HGH can help!
Spoiler alert – HGH injections are costly ($1000/month) and boosters are regularly required when you inject to elevate your levels. While you are more than welcome to spend $12,000 annually there is a much safer, and less expensive way to naturally elevate your HGH levels!
How To Naturally Elevate Your HGH Levels
Chiropractic Care
Before you roll your eyes and turn to another article/webpage hear me out. HGH is produced by the Pituitary gland, a small piece of your brain that is literally “the center of your universe” i.e. it’s in the middle of your brain. It so important that you have a small carve out in your skull to protect this tiny gland.
When your skull is out of alignment (atlanto/occipital misalignment or subluxation) the bone that naturally protects the pituitary gland now becomes an irritant as it places pressure on the gland. This can result in hypersecretion or hyposecretion (the latter being more common). Many studies have been published on the power of a chiropractic adjustment in resetting pituitary gland function and increasing HGH (and other hormone) production when the focus is placed on restoring atlanto/occipital alignment (also known as upper cervical alignment).
Are you receiving the healing benefits of chiropractic care? – you can thank HGH and your pituitary gland for that. If you are not – it’s time to visit your chiropractor so they can help you heal naturally!
Reduce Sugar / Carbohydrate Consumption
I know, it sounds like a broken record when you read my articles – but it’s the truth! Sugar destroys your health – period. An “old” study in 1970 Diabeticologica discovered that elevated blood sugar is directly correlated with suppression of HGH production. They discovered that 100% of diabetics had lower than anticipated HGH levels based on age.
Ps. It’s not just white table sugar they are talking about! Its anything that contains or turns into sugar – this includes grains (wheat, corn, rice, oats), starchy roots/vegetables and fruits! How much sugar should you consume daily to increase your HGH – no more than 50g daily in my opinion and clinical experience.
Get Into Ketosis / Leverage Intermittent Fasting
Another broken record when you read my articles – but again, its the truth! A 2005 study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found that allowing your metabolism to switch from using sugar to fat for energy significantly elevates your body’s production of HGH. Why? Because HGH/IGF-1 is needed to burn fat – so your body will innately increase the levels while you are in “ketosis”. One way to help you get into ketosis is to begin intermittent fasting, which simply means restricting your food intake to an 8-hour (or less) window during your waking hours. The ideal blood ketone range for this is 1.5-2.5 with a GKI (glucose ketone index) between 3-6. If you are unsure what these terms mean read my article titled GKI- Are You Missing 1/2 The Picture?
Supplemental Therapy
The challenge with injecting HGH is that it’s expensive, risky (it can stimulate growth of cancer cells) and it requires regular booster injections. The following supplements drastically increase HGH production naturally:
L-Arginine: This amino acid is perhaps the most studied with its ability to boost HGH production. Supplementation in combination with fasting and exercise can elevate HGH levels as much as 500%! To improve your L-Arginine levels naturally focus on consuming pasture raised poultry, specifically white meat portions, pumpkin seeds, and watermelon seeds (yes you can eat them) and nuts (walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, almonds, cashews & brazil nuts). You can also supplement L-Arginine directly.
L-Glutamine: Glutamine is an amino acid that helps enhance exercise outcomes, balance pH and increase the storage of glycogen in muscle tissues. A small Iranian study of 30 people found that supplementing L-Glutamine increased HGH production, IGF-1 conversion while lowering blood pressure, lowering LDL/Total Cholesterol, increasing upper and lower body strength and overall muscle power/strength. To improve your glutamine levels naturally focus consuming pasture raised poultry, wild caught small fish, cabbage, spinach, raw cheese, beans/lentils. You can also supplement glutamine directly.
L-Carnitine: L-Carnitine helps to shuttle fatty acids across the cell membrane and into the mitochondria, increasing the conversion of fatty acids into energy. This process helps to support and stimulate HGH production and conversion into IGF-1. To improve your L-Carnitine levels naturally focus on consuming grass-fed red meats, pasture raised poultry and eggs (yolks), raw cheese and wild caught small fish. You can also supplement L-Carnitine directly.
Glycine: This amino acid is part of naturally occurring collagen. A study published in the journal Metabolism in 1978 discovered that glycine deficiency is associated with a decrease in HGH production. To improve your glycine levels naturally focus on consuming grass-fed meats, pasture raised poultry and eggs, beans/lentils, and raw cheeses. You can also supplement Glycine directly.
Alpha-GPC: Also known as Glycerophosphocholine, Alpha-GPC is a underutilized, lesser known supplement that is also a brain boosting nootropic. In 2012 the journal Nutrition discovered that Alpha-GPC can help to increase HGH secretion by the pituitary gland. It only took 1 gram to see a 290% increase! To improve your Alpha-GPC levels naturally focus on consuming grass-fed beef liver, pasture raised eggs, wild caught small fish, cauliflower, and broccoli. You can also supplement Alpha-GPC directly.
Magnesium Glycinate: In 2011 the International Journal of Andrology found that magnesium supports both the production and conversion of HGH into IGF-1. To improve your zinc levels naturally focus on consuming dark green leafy vegetables, nuts/seeds, seaweed, beans/lentils and wild caught small fish. You can also supplement Magnesium directly. Note there are many different types of Magnesium and the subtype known as Magnesium Glycinate best supports neurological function.
Zinc: A study published in 1996 and again in 2020 discovered that Zinc supplementation can elevate both the production of and conversion of HGH to IGF-1. To improve your zinc levels naturally focus on grass-fed red meats, free range organically sourced poultry and wild caught small fish. You can also supplement Zinc directly.
GABA: GABA is a well-studied neurotransmitter found in your brain. In 2008 a study published in Medicine & Science In Sports & Exercise found that GABA supplementation elevates HGH secretion. To improve your GABA levels naturally focus on consuming cruciferous vegetables, mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes, beans/lentils and wild caught small fish. You can also supplement GABA directly.