It's well known that human growth hormone (HGH) is essential for
achieving optimal health. Falling HGH levels result in premature aging,
loss of lean body mass, lower levels of energy, and a whole host of
other aging-related symptoms. But getting a boost in growth hormone
should come from natural sources, not drug injections, say an increasing
number of doctors and nutritionists. In other words: if you want the
anti-aging benefits of HGH, you'll be far better off finding ways to
allow your body to create the substance on its own. But how do you do
that?
There are all sorts of nutritional supplements that serve as
precursors to HGH synthesis in the human body, and that's a good place
to start. But supplements alone will do you little good if your body
isn't primed to use the raw materials and actually start building human
growth hormone for you. There are many ways to convince your body that
it needs more growth hormone, but none of them involve sitting on the
couch, punching away at the TV remote. If you want HGH, you have to
earn it.
The number one method for convincing your body to
generate HGH is high intensity strength training. It's yet one
more good reason to start a program of strength training, and it doesn't
mean you need to join a gym or start pumping weights, either. You can
get a fantastic, high-intensity workout using nothing but your body and
a mat on the floor if you learn about something called "body weight
training." It means using your body as the weight. For starters, try a
one-legged squat. Just stand on one leg, lower yourself to the ground,
then raised yourself back up without using your other leg. Not so easy,
is it? Learn more about Pilates or get involved in adult gymnastics to
discover even more ways to practice strength training using your body
weight.
Nothing beats strength training for creating human growth
hormone, but there's another factor that's just as important: adequate
sleep. Studies show that growth hormone is produced during the later
stages of nightly sleep, and if you cut your sleep short (five or six
hours instead of seven or eight), you short-change your HGH production.
Sleep is absolutely essential for staying young, healthy, and vibrant.
Aim for eight hours each night.
Lack of stress is also critical for
proper human growth hormone balance -- a body that's under constant
stress will experience a decline in HGH production. (That's due to the
interaction of stress hormones like adrenaline.) So, in a very real
sense, staying relaxed and stress-free will make you live longer. Good
ways to reduce stress include meditation, cardiovascular exercise, and
my favorite: laughter.
Get lots of laughter in your life. Or do what
I do and join a comedy improv group so you can have a good hour or two
of laughter each week -- even if you're laughing at yourself! A famous
person once said, "He who can laugh at himself will never suffer from a
lack of entertainment." Dr. Patch Adams was a strong advocate of
laughter for healing, and if you pick up any books by Dr. Bernie Siegel,
you'll learn even more about the healing powers of laughter. Laughter is
great medicine, and it's fantastic for generating HGH.
The bottom
line: there are all sorts of ways to get more HGH into your bloodstream,
and injecting prescription growth hormone is the worst way to go about
it. Instead, create your own HGH naturally. Engage in high-intensity
strength training, take nutritional supplements that promote HGH
production, get plenty of sleep, reduce the level of stress in your
life, and find a way to engage in regular laughter. The result? You'll
add years to your lifespan and biologically reset your present age, too!
A mere 30 days of stress reduction, laughter, sleep and exercise can
literally make people act and feel two decades younger!
About the author: Mike Adams is a natural health author and award-winning journalist with a strong interest in personal health, the environment and the power of nature to help us all heal He has authored and published thousands of articles, interviews, consumers guides, and books on topics like health and the environment, and he has created several downloadable courses on survival and preparedness, including his widely-downloaded course on personal safety and self-defense. Adams is an honest, independent journalist and accepts no money or commissions on the third-party products he writes about or the companies he promotes. In 2010, Adams created TV.NaturalNews.com, a natural living video sharing site featuring thousands of user videos on foods, fitness, green living and more. He also founded an environmentally-friendly online retailer called BetterLifeGoods.com that uses retail profits to help support consumer advocacy programs. He's also the founder and CEO of a well known email mail merge software developer whose software, 'Email Marketing Director,' currently runs the NaturalNews email subscriptions. Adams volunteers his time to serve as the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and regularly pursues cycling, nature photography, Capoeira and Pilates. Known as the 'Health Ranger,' Adams' personal health statistics and mission statements are located at www.HealthRanger.org
Have comments on this article? Post them here:
people have commented on this article.
Wednesday, June 09, 2004
Email this article to a friend
