Raising Growth Hormone Levels
As you age, blood levels of growth hormone drop. A
1990 study from the University of Wisconsin showed that taking
growth hormone enlarges muscles. Since then equal numbers of
studies support and refute that growth hormone increases
muscles and decreases fat. But over-the-counter growth
hormone releasers do not contain ANY growth hormone. The
advertised products are amino acids, the building blocks of
protein, the same as the protein you get in your food. Eating
anything raises your blood level of growth hormone temporarily,
and protein raises it a little bit more than fats or carbohydrates.
So any food can be sold as a growth hormone releaser without
lying, but food sources of protein are a lot less expensive than
the pills.
Several studies have shown that vigorous exercise also
raises growth hormone levels temporarily. We have no
dependable tests for aging. The commonly used tests to
measure aging actually measure fitness. At this time, the best
recommendation we have for reducing the effects of aging and
improving your performance on all medical tests of aging is to
start and maintain a regular exercise program.
Checked 9/29/08