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 Earthly Bodies & Heavenly Hair : Natural and Healthy Personal Care for Every Body
by Dina Falconi,, David Goldbeck (Photographer), Alen McKnight (Illustrator)

Dina Falconi believes that health and vitality aren't about masking "flaws" with cosmetics, denying the aging process, or living up to some standardized and unattainable concept of beauty. Rather, "beauty involves working in partnership with nature."
    Order Book 

Human Growth Hormone: Fountain of Youth or the Same Old Hype?
 
By Dr. John H. Maher and Dr. Bruce Howe

In this day and age, it seems that more and more women and young teens are starving themselves to be in the current "skinny mode". Why is this happening?

In this overly commercially orientated world, with skinny models all over the world, and people trying to emulate that "look". I am quite sure it started with Twiggy, in the 1960's. I think Twiggy was smart. She looked at her skinny little frame and realized that she was not like most girls, so instead of hiding herself she flaunted it.

(A Brief Guide to Hgh Enhancement Supplements, the Current Rage in Anti-Aging, Longevity, Building Lean Body Mass, and Rejuvenating Sexual Potency.)

What if you had a natural and safe product with clinically proven results in the battle against aging? What if you could reverse aging? Looking, feeling, and performing 10, even 20 years younger?

What if you could burn fat without dieting or exercising; increase your muscle mass without exercise; improve your sexual drive and performance; enhance your athletic performance and endurance; have younger, tighter, thicker skin; eliminate cellulite; dramatically support truly refreshing deep sleep; build stronger bones; alleviate menopause and male "andropause"; improve your cholesterol and triglyceride profiles; strengthen your heart while lowering blood pressure; even improve your hair growth and texture; improve mood, memory and concentration; strengthen your immune system; and likely add years to your life?

Well... with human growth hormone (Hgh) enhancements you can. Over 28,000 medical studies say you can!

Indeed, a 10 year study just completed in June 1998 for the National Institute of Aging state the results with human growth hormone, also known as Hgh, "are too good to be true!"

What is Hgh?

Nestled in the center of our heads there sits a rather tiny but very powerful gland called the pituitary gland. Hgh is one of 7 hormones secreted by the pituitary. Growth hormone, like thyroid hormone, has an effect on almost all our tissues and organs. As the name implies, it enhances the growth of various organs and tissues, especially muscle and bone. Basically, human growth hormone increases protein synthesis. Proteins are the major building block out of which our body is made. Normal secretion of Hgh occurs in a daily cycle, like a tide. It varies with exercise, sleep, stress and nutrition.

Why Does Hgh Enhancement Help?

As we hit middle age, there is a natural decline in hormone production, not only of Hgh, but estrogen, progesterone, DHEA, androstenedione, and testosterone. With advancing age, an increase in the incidence of osteoporosis, heart disease, diabetes, mood and memory disorders, loss of libido, , etc. occurs. Also, central obesity increases and muscles shrink. Scientific studies are demonstrating a causal relationship between the decline in hormone levels and an increased incidence of the aforementioned conditions. The exciting development is that by replacing these hormones, these developments can actually be reversed. Hormone replacement for estrogen, thyroid and now progesterone are commonplace. Is Hgh next?

What's the Downside?

Hgh was only used for children with certain growth disorders until the mid 1980's. It was extremely expensive, as the only source was human cadavers!

Then recombinant DNA technology made it possible to engineer bacteria to produce Hgh. Still it cost about $200 to $300 per week to buy such recombinant Hgh! Plus, you need frequent blood tests, costing $100 plus each time to monitor the proper dosage. And you have to give yourself shots twice a day, though these are more inconvenient than painful.

There is some debate as to whether Hgh shots might stimulate cancer. Proponents counter that Hgh actually builds the immune system, therefore likely helping to prevent cancer. The informed consensus opinion at this time seems to be that those with cancer should not take Hgh as it might stimulate cancer growth too!

Another concern is that Hgh shots, as with any hormone replacement therapy regularly taken, tend to inhibit our own natural production. So, if you stop, you could really "crash", having become dependent on an outside source of Hgh.

In Part II, we will continue our discussion on human growth hormone.

We will present information on natural Hgh secretagogues, a safer and much more affordable way to benefit from Hgh enhancements. And we will discuss ways to optimize your Hgh levels with nutrition, exercise, rest and stress reduction.

Natural Human Growth Hormone Enhancements: the Hgh Secretagogues

Fortunately, for anti-aging enthusiasts, there are a variety of natural oral Hgh enhancers that are much less expensive. Because they support, not replace, pituitary gland function, they don't "shut down" your own natural production. These are called "secretagogues" because they coax or support your own glands to secrete their own hormones, not replace them.

Which Secretagogues Are Best?

As the oral Hgh enhancers (secretagogues) hit the market, caveat emptor! (buyer beware!) Most marketers will quote study results from Hgh injections and then claim them for their product! Here are 4 important questions to ask:

1. Has the Hgh product been independently lab tested, proving it raises IGF-1 by 50% or more on average? (IGF-1 stands for insulin like growth factor and is the accepted way to measure Hgh response to oral supplements and injections.) Were the studies conducted by a M.D. with expert credential in anti-aging?

2. Has the Hgh anti-aging product been utilized by scores of doctors for several years to insure safety and effectiveness?

3. Are there testimonials not only from lay persons, but from M.D.'s from major universities with credentials in anti-aging medicine.

4. Does the Hgh enhancing product cost more than $2 per day? (It shouldn't!)

My general opinion is to avoid legumes or bean based secretagogues as they may increase estrogen. Oral recombinant Hgh sprays and drops are very effective, but too expensive, and too new to know about safety. Plus you don't support your own production with oral recombinant Hgh, rather you are replacing it. Generally, combinations of amino acids like glutamine, arginine, orthinine ,lysine, flush free niacin and herbs are best. Pick products that have been used safely for at least several years, proven to increase IGF-1 levels by 50% or more, have endorsements from well credentialed authorities, and cost less that $60/month.

Do I Need To See A Doctor First?

My personal opinion is that anyone serious about anti-aging should have a professional anti-aging health coach. Unfortunately, medical anti-aging clinics with Hgh injections cost about $20,000 per year, cash! Doctors like myself who try to make available more modest longevity programs to fit to the middle class budget are rare indeed. Generally however, the more over 40 you look, feel, and perform, the more likely you could probably benefit from high quality, proven safe and effective Hgh secretagogues as described herein. But be careful. You don't have too be much of an entrepreneur to figure out that "youth in a bottle" is a marketer's dream. Buyer beware!

How You Can I Enhance Your Hgh Levels Naturally

As you may recall from Part I, Hgh levels are affected by stress, rest patterns, nutrition and exercise.

Stressful lifestyles tend to focus the body on producing stress hormones like cortisol and ACTH . Too much stress hormone actually breakdowns muscle tissue, inhibits repair, and interferes with sleep. If a long, vital, and happy life is on your busy agenda, then make fun, rest, play, and quiet times a priority!

Hgh levels are strongly effected by our nutritional status. In the infirm elderly Hgh levels have doubled from admittedly very low levels by supplementing with 20 grams of protein from whey. Correcting suboptimal zinc status in otherwise apparently healthy subjects increased Hgh levels by 20%. As human growth hormone's effect is to stimulate growth, it will maximize your results if you supply yourself with the necessary protein and mineral building blocks through a nutrient dense diet. A high quality multi- vitamin/mineral, rich in anti-oxidants, is also to your health's advantage.

Exercise stimulates Hgh by reducing stress and promoting restful sleep.

However, weight lifting and to a lesser extent running wind sprints, directly enhances Hgh levels. Heavy weight lifting, like dead lifts, squats, and bench presses are the best. Performing 5 to 8 reps, 3 sets, at maximum effort is best.

Unless very experienced, be sure to get guidance from a trainer at your gym or home.

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