Stimulating
the Body’s Production of Human Growth Hormone
Copyright Mary Desaulniers
We all know the signs of aging---loose, flaccid skin, increasing
girth, loss of muscle tone and lean body mass, wrinkles,
fatigue, memory loss, joint stiffness. The list goes on.
We age because our body’s natural production of Growth
Hormone decreases with age; this hormone is responsible
for the development of lean body mass, bone density and
an efficient metabolism that diminishes the body’s
fat-storing capacity.
Age is not the factor that inhibits the body’s release
of Growth Hormone. It’s the physiological changes
that accompany aging that are responsible for it—changes
such as weight gain, obesity, high sugar levels and high
levels of free fatty acids in the blood. All these factors,
however, are to a large extent, within our control through
nutrition and exercise—which means that there is a
lot we can do now ( whether you are 30 or 50) to stimulate
the body’s release of Growth Hormone.
What factors naturally stimulate the body’s release
of Growth Hormone?
Simple. Isn’t it?
Protein contains amino acids that help the body with tissue
repair and growth. Human Growth Hormone is a tissue building
hormone produced in the pituitary gland located at the base
of the brain. It causes growth, repairs tissue, mobilizes
fat stores and shifts the metabolism into high gear—all
of which require the presence of amino acids in the body.
That’s why protein is indispensable for the building
of lean body mass. While high glycemic carbohydrates ( commonly
known as bad carbs) release insulin ( the hormone that persuades
the body to store fat), protein releases glucagon which
turns the body into a fat-burning machine.
A combination of animal and plant protein sources is favorable
for optimum health. If we depend solely on animal sources
for protein, we will be consuming a great deal of animal
fats as well. That’s why supplementing animal sources
of protein with soy protein is highly recommended. Research
shows that the amino acid lysine( abundant in animal protein)
increases the level of bad cholesterol in the body, while
the amino acid arginine (abundant in soy protein) actually
decreases it. This lower ratio of lysine in soy protein
decreases the body’s production of insulin and increases
the production of glucagon. Soy protein consumed regularly
will switch the body’s metabolism to high gear; it
shifts the body from storing fat to burning fat. |
