Can human growth hormone (HGH) really build muscle and burn fat like many people claim? Can a natural hormone that supports growth and development be the weight loss solution of the twenty-first century? These are questions that have dieters turning to pills, sprays and injections on their quest for easy weight loss.
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To be sure, no weight loss is easy. The most effective weight loss plans include healthy eating, regular physical activity and positive lifestyle changes. However, a small group of studies have linked human growth hormone with muscle gain and fat loss. When combined with diet and exercise, HGH supplements can be an effective way to shed extra pounds.
What is Human Growth Hormone?
Human growth hormone is a naturally-occurring hormone that is created by the pituitary gland. It is essential for normal, healthy growth and development in children. Throughout life, it maintains numerous body functions such as muscle growth, tissue repair, metabolism, energy and brain function.
Growth hormone peaks during the teen years and gradually declines with age. By age 40, most people experience a deficiency of the hormone. By age 70, their HGH levels have dropped by 75 percent.
In 1985, scientists developed a synthetic version of human growth hormone. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved its use for certain medical uses in children and adults. Through the years, HGH has gained a reputation as a muscle builder and performance enhancer, especially when combined with anabolic steroids. Its use for this purpose is banned in amateur and professional sports.
How Does HGH Promote Weight Loss?
A 1990 study published in the “New England Journal of Medicine” linked synthetic HGH injections with a gain in muscle mass and a loss in body fat, even without diet or exercise changes. Subsequent reports warned of the dangers of HGH outside of FDA-approved uses.
In recent years, nutritional manufacturers have created HGH supplements as an alternative to injectable growth hormone. HGH supplements like Sytropin, GenF20, HGH Energizer and HGH Pro offer all of the benefits of synthetic HGH without the dangerous side effects.
HGH supplements contain natural ingredients like amino acids, herbal extracts and minerals. Formulated in unique blends, they work by stimulating the pituitary gland to increase growth hormone production. The natural increase in HGH improves body composition, which leads to greater muscle mass and lower fat stores.
The more deficient in human growth hormone someone becomes, the more notable the weight loss from HGH supplements. More studies are needed to determine if HGH is an effective treatment for obesity. Current studies show that it does not cause significant improvements in obese people.
HGH pills, sprays, powders and liquids are not magic bullets for weight loss. Diet, exercise and healthy lifestyle changes are the only effective ways to lose weight and keep it off. The evidence shows, however, that HGH supplements can be a useful addition to a person’s weight loss arsenal. They are certainly safer and less pricey than synthetic human growth hormone.