Human growth is a very delicately choreographed dance of many chemicals, molecules some of which are produced by the body. These chemicals are very regulated by the body itself to maintain a balance of growth so as not to make it a rogue affair. The most important of these are human growth hormones or HGH. Human growth hormone or HGH is produced by the pituitary gland. It is frequently confused with anabolic steroids. Some athletes and their representatives are now drawing a distinction between the drugs and their use in anabolic steroid-rich sectors like bodybuilding and for increasing muscle mass.
In principle, HGH is not anabolic steroids but are highly regulated endocrine secretions also known as Insulin-Like Growth Factors or IGF. They are responsible for many things including, reducing body fat, regulating muscle mass, and height and assembly of a protein.
What are human growth hormones (HGH)?
Human growth hormone (HGH) is vital as an anabolic steroid hormone secreted by the pituitary gland. It is also known as growth hormone (GH), and it is essential for growth, body composition, cell repair, and metabolism, acting just like an anabolic steroid. HGH also improves muscle mass development, strength, and exercise performance, losing body fat, as well as aiding in the recovery from injury and disease. Low HGH levels can reduce your quality of life, raise your risk of illness, and cause you to put on weight. Optimal levels are critical during weight loss, injury healing, and sports training.
Human Growth Hormone is produced by the pituitary gland in your body, which sits high up in the brain. The pituitary gland is connected to the body and is like a master chemist, producing chemicals on demand.
What Effect Does HGH Have on Your Body?
As HGH is produced in your body by the pituitary gland, it is produced both in males and females and has a very positive impact on the general chemistry of the whole body. This also includes gaining muscle mass, regulating protein content, and changing bone density and body fat content. It works just like anabolic steroids and other performance enhancing drugs, but on a different and more prominent level.
Due to its positive medical uses, doctors prescribe anabolic steroids human growth hormones as an alternative to some growth-related ailments. This is called HGH replacement therapy.
In HGH replacement therapy, the hormones are given from outside to maintain a sufficient level in the body for normal growth as HGH is required in children for appropriate development and metabolic equilibrium. HGH secretion, on the other hand, persists throughout life and is known to have significant impacts on anabolism, lipolysis, and glucose metabolism. Adult GH deficit (AGHD) caused by pituitary or hypothalamic dysfunction results in aberrant body composition, with a significant increase in fat mass, particularly body fat, and a decrease in lean body mass.
Is HGH Harmful?
Human growth hormone (HGH) helps most of us develop as children and improves our health and fitness as adults. They are continuously produced in the pituitary gland in response to the body’s needs for growth and some internal signals. Just like anabolic steroids, HGH has a positive effect on the body and helps increase muscle mass, but the overuse and abuse of HGH may cause unintended negative consequences.
Human growth hormone is used in the treatment of children who do not grow and of people who have a growth hormone deficiency. It is also used to help those who are undergoing chemotherapy.
However, abusing human growth hormone (IGF-1) has dangerous consequences. Long-term exposure to high amounts of human growth hormone can result in permanent acromegaly, but even low doses can cause consequences such as heart disease and diabetes and muscle mass wasting. Furthermore, because these hormones must be administered through injection, there are additional administration hazards, such as a blood clot or dosage mistake.
How can I increase HGH naturally?
HGH is natural to the body so its production in the body can be regulated through some carefully regulated steps. Some of these may include and are often found to have a positive effect on the overall HGH production:
- Taking Arginine supplement: Arginine is an amino acid and is very important for the production of HGH as it acts as a bridge of conversion of inactive HGH into active form thus taking a good supplement might change HGH levels and thus it can improve
- Weight loss: accumulation of fats discourages the production of HGH in the body which reduces muscle mass. Thus reducing fat build-up is also helpful in increasing HGH.
- Proper Diet: A proper diet that contains all the natural molecules and ingredients necessary for HGH production is very helpful. This includes a diet rich in protein.
- Good Sleep: A good sleep regimen and a proper sleep cycle is also very important in increasing natural HGH and reducing Growth hormone deficiency.
References for Human Growth Hormones and Steroids
- Corpas, E., Harman, S. M., & Blackman, M. R. (1993). Human growth hormone and human aging. Endocrine reviews, 14(1), 20-39.
- Too much of a good thing: the health risks of human growth hormone. (2022, May 26). Retrieved November 20, 2022, from https://www.tga.gov.au/news/blog/too-much-good-thing-health-risks-human-growth-hormone
- Carroll, P. V., Christ the members of Growth Hormone Research Society Scientific Committee, E. R., Bengtsson, B. A., Carlsson, L., Christiansen, J. S., Clemmons, D., … & Thorner, M. (1998). Growth hormone deficiency in adulthood and the effects of growth hormone replacement: a review. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 83(2), 382-395.
