By David Blyweiss, M.D., Advanced Natural Wellness

May 12, 2014

• Is this the secret to eternal youth?
• Natural ways to boost your anti-aging hormone
• Grow younger while you sleep

Did you know the aging process begins in a gland about the size of a pea?

It’s called the pituitary gland, and it controls the secretion of human growth hormone, or HGH. This is the hormone that helped you achieve full height during puberty. Back then your body produced plenty of it.

But here’s the thing. Your natural production slows down rapidly by the time you’re in your 30s. After that, it’s estimated your HGH levels drop by 14% every 10 years.

That’s a shame, because HGH fuels your metabolism, adds to your energy stores and boosts muscle mass. It helps you think better, feel better and keep you running at full throttle.

Of course, this ability to maintain zest, energy and lean muscle mass is why so many celebrities and athletes are “junking up” on the synthetic version of HGH. They pay thousands of dollars each month for HGH injections in an effort to stay eternally young.

I personally don’t recommend expensive injections to boost HGH levels. These synthetic treatments have all sorts of side effects you really don’t want:

• Carpel tunnel syndrome
• Fluid retention
• Gynecomastia (breast growth in men)
• Impaired glucose tolerance
• Diabetes

However, there are plenty of natural ways to boost your HGH levels.

The very best way to boost your natural HGH levels is by taking natural HGH releasers. There are certain nutrients that activate the pituitary gland so that it secretes more of this natural hormone.

Here are a few of my favorites…

L-Arginine is an essential amino acid. This means your body can’t produce it on its own. It has to come from food sources. This nutrient stimulates the pituitary glands to release HGH. This, in turn, increases fat burning and the building of muscle tissue. I suggest at least 1,250 mg. daily.

The problem with arginine is that it needs other amino acids to help produce these stimulating effects. That’s why I also recommend at least two other HGH boosters that should be taken with it.

L-Glutamine stimulates the pituitary gland to produce more HGH. A surprisingly small oral dose can increase growth hormone levels four-fold. But that’s not all it does. Glutamine is a key to the metabolism and maintenance of muscle tissue. If your body doesn’t produce enough of it, muscle loss can occur. So, if you’re looking to get top-notch results, take about 250 mg. each day.

L-Ornithine has GH-stimulating effects and supports HGH levels in the bloodstream. It’s also a precursor to glutamine, which means that it enhances the body’s ability to increase glutamine levels. When combined with arginine, this amino acid promotes muscle-building activity in the body. I suggest 1,000 mg. daily.

All of these nutrients should be taken right before bedtime. And the reason is simple. Growth hormone is primarily secreted while you’re sleeping!

That’s why the next few tips are just as important.

One of the ways your body manufacturer’s HGH is by sleeping. This is when your pituitary gland is most active and produces maximum levels of growth hormone.

If you don’t get enough sleep, your body will produce less than optimal levels. So, one of the first things you can do to boost your HGH naturally is get to bed on time and aim for a solid eight hours of sleep each night.

Now, I know that can be easier said than done. But there are two supplements that not only help you sleep better, they also increase the amount of HGH your body produces:

Melatonin. You probably know melatonin is a popular sleep aid. But I’ll bet you didn’t know it also helps support HGH levels. Any dose between 0.5 and 5 mg. stimulates the release of growth hormone.

GABA has a calming effect that induces relaxation and helps you sleep more soundly at night. But that’s not all it does. When you’re at rest, GABA can increase concentrations of growth hormone by as much as 400%. I usually recommend my patients start with 1,000 mg. before bedtime.

Once you start taking these steps to increase your HGH levels, it won’t be long before you notice a more youthful appearance, a healthier body and renewed vitality.

Source:
David M. Cook, M.D., et al. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists Medical Guidelines for Clinical Practice for Growth Hormone Use in Growth Hormone-Deficient Adults and Transition Patients – 2009 Update. Endocrine Practice Vol 15 (Suppl 2) September/October 2009.

Liu H, et al. “Systematic review: the safety and efficacy of growth hormone in the healthy elderly.” Ann Intern Med. 2007 Jan 16;146(2):104-15.

Welbourne TC. “Increased plasma bicarbonate and growth hormone after an oral glutamine load.” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1995;61:1058-1061.

Zajac A, et al. “Arginine and ornithine supplementation increases growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 serum levels after heavy-resistance exercise in strength-trained athletes.” J Strength Cond Res. 2010 Apr;24(4):1082-90.

Forsling ML, et al. “The effect of melatonin administration on pituitary hormone secretion in man.” Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1999 Nov;51(5):637-42.

Powers ME, et al. “Growth hormone isoform responses to GABA ingestion at rest and after exercise.” Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008 Jan;40(1):104-10.