on Feb 16th, 2010An introduction to Human Growth Hormone
Guest Blog Post: Pat Phillips-Jones from SureSlim Wellness Clinic offers a great introduction to the wonder hormone that is HGH…
HGH (Human Growth Hormone) from the anterior pituitary influences cells in a way that promote the growth of body tissues. HGH is released throughout life however its effects are most dramatic during childhood. At this stage in life, HGH stimulates the growth of skeletal muscle and bones, therefore as a child’s muscle increases in mass, their bone also increases in length.
During childhood HGH may influence a person’s height. If too little HGH is produced it results in a relatively short individual described as a ‘pituitary dwarf’. The individuals will still have normal body proportions. If a lack of HGH is recognized while bone growth is still occurring then the condition can be treated by giving the individual periodic injections of HGH. This may help to ensure that the individual reaches a relatively normal height.
Alternatively if too much HGH is produced during childhood development an individual may grow abnormally tall. This condition is known as ‘pituitary gigantism’.
In adults, if too much HGH is released it could lead to an adverse effect resulting in acromegaly. This is when bones in the hands, face and feet enlarge and the connective tissue of the body thickens. This can often be caused by a tumour forming in the hypothalamus or the pituitary gland. However, if too little HGH is produced in adults due to tumours, stress, disease and bed rest then this could lead to problems including obesity, ageing and depression.
THE FEAST-FAST CYCLE
HGH ultimately reduces body fat and increases muscle mass. But how does it work? With every meal we go through a three stage cycle of feast and fast.
Stage One: In the first hour after eating blood sugar rises and insulin is released. This is encourages storage of excess carbohydrates as fat.
Stage Two: After the second hour HGH is released and the levels of insulin and blood sugar start to fall. It is at this stage HGH acts to build up muscle protein, which is enhanced by the presence of insulin.
Stage Three: ‘The post absorptive phase’, occurs more than four hours after eating (‘the fasting stage’). The concentration of HGH remains high while the insulin has almost disappeared. This allows HGH to act solely to mobilize the body’s fat stores for burning as fuel.
In the young the levels of growth hormone are high with respect to insulin. The HGH acts as a brake on insulin keeping its fat creation at a minimum (i.e. Insulin creates fat while HGH breaks down fat to use as energy).
When you age however, starting from your mid to late thirties and even in the twenties for some people, you start to put on fat even though your diet and physical activity have not changed. This is because the balance between HGH and insulin has changed. HGH has declined while the levels of insulin have either remained the same or maybe even gone up.
Insulin an essential hormone required for the metabolism of sugar, we cannot survive without it. Insulin also works to stimulate muscle growth but to a much lesser extent than HGH. With lower levels of HGH, insulin is free to turn every calorie you don’t expend into fat for later use.
Insulin and HGH work together but a balance between them is of utmost importance. By bringing HGH back to youthful levels – not beyond (which can also have negative effects), you can restore the natural balance between HGH and insulin so they both work together in the feast-fast cycle as above.
When HGH and insulin are in the bloodstream together they help to stimulate protein synthesis and growth of muscle mass. At the same time the higher levels of HGH work to block insulin’s fat storage effect and therefore during the post absorptive phase, when insulin disappears from the bloodstream; HGH can metabolize the fat without interference.
Pat – SureSlim Wellness Clinic near Hitchin
