Baby boomers are getting older and having the largest segment of the population heading into their golden years is prompting many to ask how they can keep their youthful qualities as long as possible.
The anti-aging industry is booming, but it becomes cumbersome to know which product to trust. That leaves many looking to products that enhance what their body already naturally does. This brings the discussion to the human growth hormone (HGH).
Defining the Human Growth Hormone
Human growth hormone is produced naturally by the pituitary gland at the base of the brain. It is assisted in its effectiveness by adrenal glands and other hormones produced by the liver. The purpose of HGH is best seen in children as it promotes growth and density of bones, organs, and muscles. Children who have deficiencies of this hormone tend to be much shorter than their peers and doctors have prescribed HGH therapy for these children for decades to gain height.
Adults began to see a decrease in this hormone’s production as they head into middle age from age 30 to 40. Production of all hormones starts decreasing at the rate of one percent a year as we start middle age. The reduction of HGH and other hormones lead to aging.
The automatic link of this hormone to youth, growth, and aging led scientists to look at its anti-aging properties. While there is no direct evidence that this human growth hormone is effective in anti-aging in adults, there is a lot of anecdotal evidence that it is effective in renewing energy, assisting with weight loss, and menopausal symptoms. It is also credited with:
- Helping to firm and tighten skin
- Providing thicker, fuller hair
- Improving concentration
- Improving learning capacity
- Improving memory
- Improving metabolism
- Improving sexual performance
- Improving immune system
How Does It Work?
The secret of how this particular hormone works is that it helps cells reproduce. Cells are constantly reproducing and dying every day of our lives. As we get older and hormone production decreases, cells began dying off more than they are reproducing. This is why our body functions start to fail, our skin starts to wrinkle and age and we lose energy.
Keeping a healthy supply of HGH keeps your cells reproducing, so your body continues to act as it did when you were more youthful.
Getting Therapy
However, human growth hormone therapy is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an anti-aging technique. Those who have a diagnosed hormone deficiency can get growth hormone treatments. Those who are diagnosed by a doctor are given a prescription they can take to a hormone treatment clinic for treatment.
Most agree the best human growth hormone therapy is done by a hormone replacement therapist (HRT) doctor using injections. It is highly dangerous to go outside medical professionals to get HGH therapy. There can be side effects, including cancer, for those who use an unregulated medical treatment.
Other Options
There are growth hormone supplements you can buy without a prescription and cost less than therapy. These come in several forms including gels, pills, and patches. These supplements assist in increasing growth hormone production by making the pituitary gland stronger, allowing it to effectively produce more hormones. These supplements also have no side effects if taken properly, so it is good for those who have lowered hormone production but don’t qualify as hormone deficient.
The primary difference in supplements and injections is that supplements don’t contain the hormone while the injection does, which is why injections are the most effective for those who are diagnosed with hormone deficiency. Supplements work to help your body produce more of these hormones naturally, making them incredibly safe. The best products are all-natural.
There are basically two types of hormone supplements called boosters and releasers. The differences between the two are subtle. Releasers are more slow-acting and results will take longer to see while boosters work quickly. However, the effects of boosters are short-lived. Both work best if combined with certain amino acids and exercise.
How to Get Started
The best way to find out which path is best for you is to see an HRT doctor You will need to take a blood test to find out what your hormone levels are. From there, your doctors can advise you on the best course of action. To find out more, please fill out the contact form and get a free consultation.
A professional writer with over a decade of incessant writing skills. Her topics of interest and expertise range from health, nutrition and psychology.