Is growth hormone good for health?

Answer 1

Growth hormone (GH) is produced by the pituitary gland. It is secreted in pulses. Growth hormone is converted in the liver to Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF-1). IGF-1 is measured in a blood test to determine GH levels in the body.

Growth hormone has been shown to increase lean body mass, reduce body fat, increase energy, enhance immune function, and improve sexual function. Obesity decreases the release of GH so it is important to stay fit and lean.

About 90% of GH is released at night during deep sleep. Sleep deprivation is a problem for many people and this hurts their fat loss efforts. About 7-9 hours of sleep are needed for most people.

Another way to release GH naturally is through intense weight training. A study entitled "Blood hormone and metabolite levels during graded cycle ergometer exercise" published in 1985 showed that there was an increase in adrenaline, noradrenaline, growth hormone, cyclic AMP, and lactate after increasing exercise workload.

As the amount of resistance increased, there was a greater anabolic hormone response. Another study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism showed that after only 10 minutes of high intensity exercise, GH levels were elevated in the training men.