You might have heard of human growth hormone and been wondering if your levels are ideal. The following will explore the idea of human growth hormone deficiency and some of the things you can do to help get this hormone to optimal levels for you.
What Is HGH?
HGH, or human growth hormone, fuels our growth in childhood and helps keep our tissues and organs maintained throughout our lives. HGH is produced by the pituitary gland (this gland is found right at the base of the brain).
As we age, typically beginning around the middle ages, the pituitary gland gradually reduces how much growth hormone it creates. This slowdown is entirely natural but has triggered an increase in the idea of supplementing human growth hormone to slow down the aging process. HGH influences metabolism, sexual performance and pleasure, immunity, organ and heart functions, cell regeneration, and brain function.
Human Growth Hormone Deficiency
While most adults have less human growth hormone as they age, and that’s fine, some experience human growth hormone deficiency, which means their bodies are not producing enough of the hormone for optimal health and functionality. Deficiency of HGH does not include natural declines in growth hormone levels and is most often caused by a benign tumor on the pituitary gland.
It can also be caused by treating an adenoma by either surgery or radiotherapy, a head injury, autoimmune disease, idiopathic causes, and a reduction in blood flow to the brain. There is also the chance that an HGH deficiency has existed since childhood but is only becoming apparent with age.
Symptoms of growth hormone deficiency vary drastically between individuals making this a complicated deficiency to diagnose. A diagnosis can result in a prescription for medications that can help; hghservice.com illustrates that some online stores will also provide medication for HGH deficiency without a prescription. If you go this route, be sure to look up the legality of the medication in your area before ordering to avoid any trouble.
Get More Healthy Fats And Fewer Carbohydrates
One of the best ways to treat growth hormone deficiency is by focusing on balancing all your hormones as they work together in an intricate system known as the endocrine system. Healthy fats like coconut oil, flaxseeds, wild-caught salmon, chia seeds, avocados, walnuts, and grass-fed butter as healthy fats are critical building blocks for your hormones.
Likewise, you’ll want to avoid sugar, refined vegetable and seed oils (safflower, sunflower, cottonseed, canola, soybean, peanut, and corn oils), and processed carbs, as all these things negatively influence hormone production.
Hormone-Boosting Supplements
Some supplements can help combat nutritional voids that arise due to our poor diets and the overabundance of toxins in our environment. Evening primrose oil, vitamin D, probiotics, and bone broth are all things that can drastically improve your hormone health.
Adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha and holy basil as well as functional mushrooms like cordyceps, chaga, shiitake, reishi, white jelly, lion’s mane, maitake, and turkey tail can also support your bodies ability to adapt to stress which directly impacts hormone production. Remember, cortisol is a hormone, and so if you have too much of it, your endocrine system will be out of balance.
Combat Stress
Speaking of stress, modernity’s standards for what a person needs to accomplish in their day, their week, their month, and their life is absurd, and attempting to keep up with these standards results in an abundance of stress. Not only are high levels of stress linked with HGH problems, but it’s also connected to all other hormone problems and multiple severe chronic illnesses. Say no to projects you don’t have time for, give yourself one full day a week where you do nothing, and don’t start up that side hustle unless you genuinely love doing the work and would happily do it if you never made any money from it. Take it to the next level by practicing mindfulness, tai chi, yoga, or breathing exercises, as well as meditating, praying, or walking in nature on the regular.
Be Aware Of Medications And Birth Control
Many medications come with side effects that disrupt your hormone balance and, if this is the case for you, you might be able to speak to your doctor or healthcare professional about alternatives. When it comes to hormonal birth control, the impact on the endocrine system is disastrous; it raises estrogen levels to dangerous heights, increases risks of heart attack, stroke, and blood clotting, alters blood pressure, causes migraines and liver tumors. Consider a non-hormonal alternative like the copper IUD or barrier methods you’re comfortable with.
The above information should have drawn your attention to things you can do to help combat HGH deficiency. As with any and all medical advice online, be sure to research suggestions in relation to any underlying conditions you have and always listen to your body’s responses when employing new healthcare practices.
