HGH is an acronym for Human Growth Hormone which is also known as somatotropin. Somatotropin is produced in the pituitary gland that is located inside the brain. Compared with other hormones manufactured in the human body, somatotropin is produced in great abundance during the formative years of growth.

It is important because it effects cell growth in bones, organs and muscles throughout the body. When boys and girls go through growth spurts during their adolescent years, the pituitary gland is at its highest point of somatotropin production. It is important that each child have just the right amount of this hormone produced for proper growth.

Too much somatotropin will produce over growth or gigantism and too little will result in under growth or dwarfism. After reaching growth maturity, the amount of this hormone produced daily decreases naturally.

If you’re wondering if we receive compensation from this product, yes we do if you happen to order it through us, and we appreciate your business.Many researchers agree that a lot of the signs of aging, such as graying hair, skin wrinkles and poor posture are credited to this decreased hormone production.

In order to prevent the signs of aging too early, some scientists have done studies on using an injectable human growth hormone to slow down this process. These researchers claim that although many of the other endocrine hormones produced in the body also decline with age, it is the loss of somatropin that causes the most damage.

They believe that HGH is responsible for far greater benefits in keeping the appearance of youth than these other hormones, such as estrogen, testosterone, and DHEA. The studies they have done indicate that HGH also affects weight loss, helps with maintaining memory function, increases sex drive and overall energy and also helps build muscle mass.

These declarations make a strong argument for the promotion of using injectable HGH products.Even though the normal pituitary never totally stops producing somatropin, after the age of 30 the levels increasingly lower with each passing year.

On top of this naturally decrease, there are other factors that adults experience that add to a loss of HGH production. Some diseases are known for affecting somatotropin manufacturing as well as surgical operations or radiation treatment used to thwart the growth of cancers and such.

When this production is slowed greatly, adults can experience weight gain, cholesterol fluctuations, heart disease, extreme tiredness and loss of bone density that leads to osteoporosis.There are conflicting opinions on the topic of going against the natural aging process and using a form of injectable growth hormone.

On the positive side, being those who believe it to be a good thing to supplement the body with HGH, several factors are cited. Some of these are: increased energy levels, greater muscle mass, greater weight management, control in the progress of some diseases such as AIDS, and better bone density.

Those with an opposite viewpoint say that with increased HGH levels in adults there is also an increase in breast cancer for women and prostate cancer for men. Some studies show that those treated with growth hormones actually die at a younger age than their contemporaries who were not treated and maintained lower levels of HGH.

There are natural HGH supplements on the market which supposedly circumvent these nasty side effects and offer a safer, more natural alternative for you to encourage your body to make more of its own natural “youth hormones”.

Studies done on mice show that there is increased brain aging for those subjects injected with the growth hormone.  For those of the population who are considering the use of supplementing a growth hormone to fight the aging process, the cost of starting on one of these programs is very expensive.

There are clinics and “youth spas” that claim they can turn back the hands of time with their prescriptive growth hormones. They call their programs “anti-aging” or age management medicine and can cost as much as $1,000 per month for injections.

They also offer HGH supplements taken like vitamins and even sprays that are used nasally. These options can run a patient up to $300 per month. It is the opinion of many researchers that these pill and spray programs are nothing short of a con as growth hormones cannot be absorbed taken by mouth in pill form or absorbed into tissues by nasal sprays.

The real question remains about the authenticity of positive anti-aging results with the use of human growth hormone injections. If you ask several medical authorities, you are likely to receive several different opinions. Most traditional doctors will answer this question with a firm “no”.

The final authority on all drugs used in the United States is the Federal Drug Administration which takes a cautious stand on the use of growth hormones. Their official view is that they should only be used in the treatment of illness and disease. These include growth hormone deficiencies in youth and some wasting syndromes seen in certain diseases.

There is a definite medical procedure that doctors perform to diagnose a true hormone growth deficiency. The results of these valid findings are what the FDA uses to approve the use of HGH.

For those who wish to pursue the other type of prescriptions that target halting the aging process, there are laws that prohibit the use or distribution of HGH for the purpose of treatments other than disease control or for a recognized medical condition.

These illegal offenses carry a five year prison sentence and/or fines up to $500,000. The FDA urges people who are concerned with the signs of aging too quickly or chronic fatigue to see an accredited endocrinologist to be evaluated.

I’ve had a cold – a pretty bad one – for a few days now. However, I’m starting to feel a little better. I actually don’t feel like sleeping all day like I did just a day or two ago. So my energy levels are a little higher now, which is nice.  A lot of people question whether or not they should work out when they’re not feeling well.

It’s actually quite a common question because most people think they might make themselves sicker if they work out.  Especially since we are in the thick of flu and cold season, those who work out often are feeling it since they feel trapped into being a couch potato when they’re not feeling good.

But the answer to the question is very simple. You can certainly try a light workout, but if your body is telling you STOP then you need to stop.  Your body often needs all of its resources to fight a bug such as a flu or cold, and when you work out, you are demanding energy and resources from your body.

This is how you actually burn calories from exercising – you are demanding resources of your body such as increased blood flow, heart rate, and increased oxygen circulation. All of this takes energy, and if your body is telling you no during your attempts at working out while sick, then you simply have to stop and not push boundaries.

When you start to feel better, try doing something really light and therapeutic, like a yoga DVD.  This tends to be more calming and less demanding than a hard cardio and weight workout, but you have to choose an easy one because things like hot yoga or ashtanga can be every bit as demanding nad physical.

One thing I’ve found that helps me recover from a flu or cold quicker believe it or not, is our far infrared sauna.  Because it heats my body, it creates a sort of artificial fever. The reason our bodies get a fever when we’re sick is because this is the body’s attempt at killing off the bacterial or viral infection that is making you sick.

Heat kills many viruses and germs, so getting into the sauna can definitely help you to fight off the bug better. I also increase my intake of vitamin C and other antioxidants simply to make myself feel better and more energized.

Drinking plenty of water – I add lemon juice, freshly squeezed to mine – it also good for recovery as often you feel dehydrated during a cold or flu.  Also, see our past post about coconut water for better hydration – interesting read.

Once you start to gain your energy back, that’s when you can try to work out, but working out when the flu or cold has its hardest grip is probably not a good idea – this is your body’s way of telling you it’s down for the count.

Green tea has come under quite a bit of scrutiny over the past ten years. Good scrutiny, that is. Its health benefits have been recognized as superior in many regards for its high antioxidant count and the steady energy it can impart after being taken in by the drinker.

It is most beneficial to the human body when it is taken in drink form and when it is organic of course, so that you’re not also getting all those chemical pesticides along with the healthy antoixidants and energy-producing ingredients as well.

There are supplements too of course that are supposed to help you do everything form diet to lose weight to get your daily dose of antioxidants (like the previously discussed quercetin)  and vitamins in, however the superior way to get green tea benefits is to drink it traditionally, as a hot tea.

I can’t say that I find green tea the most enjoyable flavor, but I do enjoy it infused with other flavors, such as lemongrass or mint, so when I do drink green tea I tend to combine it with those flavors or buy an organic brand that has those flavors in it as well.

Recent studies show that green tea drinkers may show a superior ability to defy the laws of aging. They show fewer disabilities and tend to stay more active later into their lives and also more focused and cognitively sound than their non green tea drinking counterparts.

The study was carried out in Japan, where green tea drinking is pretty huge. The study found that the green tea drinking group remained much more independent and able to get around on their own physically than those that did not drink the tea regularly.

Tea is like coffee is in the US over in the Asian countries. It is actually better for you than coffee, although coffee does have certain health benefits. The problem with coffee drinking here in the US is that it has become so adulterated with heavy creams, sweeteners and artificial flavors that it’s hard to call it healthy if it is taken any other way than black and organic.

Green tea will enjoy a large popularity for years to come. Its antioxidant strength is very impressive, and its ability to help people stave of their appetite and also to be a staple of the dieting and weightloss industry ensure its status as a health supplement darling for years to come.

One of the most ridiculous things I ever read about working out and drinking water is that you should try really hard to just avoid drinking water or beverages at all.  The one thing I do agree with is that you shouldn’t drink sugary electrolyte replenishing drinks during workouts, unless you need the carbs and you are doing something extremely intensive like running a marathon, a triathlon or something like that.

During the course of “normal” working out though, that is not advised.  Why? Well, working out, you’re burning calories and carbs. You don’t want to add more of the very thing you’re trying to burn while you’re working out.

There is also evidence that you stop producing HGH, the precious Human Growth Hormone, that you taper off on producing with age, when you work out. But the catch is you only produce it much more during workouts when you’re not also simultaneously carb loading.

Some recommendations actually say to wait a few hours after a workout to even eat or drink any carbs.  So what about just drinking plain old water during a workout?  Nothing wrong with that, right?

Definitely not. You actually need to replenish some of the lost water through the sweat you’ve been putting out during a workout. The more you sweat, the more you’ll need to drink.  The argument from the non-water drinkers is that you are hurting your body’s natural mechanism for putting the body into high calorie burning mode during a workout.

They claim that you are bringing the body temperature down and defeating the purpose of heating it up. That’s only if you’re drinking severely cold water though, and the effect is momentary, trust me.  So, I think this can be safely debunked.

One thing you don’t want to do is drink too much water. This can lead to cramping and a belly full of water that can be uncomfortable to carry around when you’re moving around vigorously.

Too much water, or food for that matter, when you are working out vigorously lends itself to cramping.  Plus it just plain weighs you down. When your body is using energy to burn off food AND work out, you are inevitably going to have a mediocre workout that you can’t put 100% in to.

Well, getting away on a relaxing vacation can certainly put a kink in your “on a roll” status with working out. I think that virtually everyone who works out on any type of regular basis has experienced slumps in their routines due to life demands, commitments, getting sick, feeling lazy and a gazillion other excuses.

However, vacations are one of the wores for working out to take a dive for the worse. When people go on vacation, they typically look at it as a vacation away from most of the doldrums of their normal lives. They look at it as a vacation from their commitments. And guess what one of people’s least favorite commitments tends to be?

WORKING OUT.  It is a sort of license to not work out when you go on a vacation – especially if it’s a celebratory one like a honeymoon or a family vacation or some sort, or a wedding getaway. However, as long as the vacation isn’t over a week, it shouldn’t damage your fitness level too much.

Even if you can sneak in long walks on the beach or walks around town and get some sort of cardio in to your days – or even swimming in the ocean or in a pool – which is great cardio and muscle conditioning – you are ok.

Some vacations are really active, while others are slugfests where you laze around in hotel rooms, by the pool, or at the beach drinking mojitoes and not burning a single calorie.  I prefer a mix of both. Since not being active during the day really makes me feel lazy and useless, I don’t like to lay around for too long.

I like to mix it up a bit. Maybe take a hike during the day, then relax at night, or go sightseeing with some comfy running shoes on so that you can really walk without getting a sort back or feet. That way you still get some sort of physical activity in while also enjoying your vacation.

You can also keep your energy levels up since you’re getting exercise, so you can enjoy every moment of your vacation instead of feeling like you want to sleep through it – which is exactly what happens when you eat rich foods and tend to sit around.  Cruises are probably the most notorious for this!

It used to be that whether you were young or old, if you needed an extra boost of energy, you just simply brewed yourself a cup of caffeinated coffee.  If you needed a little more boost, you’d just have a second cup or make your coffee a little stronger.

Increasingly, the younger generation is turning to energy beverages for a boost in their level of pep.  This sounds harmless enough but, to start with, the energy drinks are highly caffeinated and have a varied and sometimes bizarre combination of ingredients added to them. 

Some of the other ingredients commonly used in energy drinks include taurine, glucuronolactone, ginseng, B vitamins, guarana, gingko biloba, and milk thistle.  Guarana is one of the ingredients that causes particular worry to researchers because it also is a stimulant like caffeine being used in combination with an already highly caffeinated product.

It’s not unusual for some of these drinks to have as much caffeine as 4 colas and up to 13 teaspoons of sugar making them a poor choice for an athlete as it may actually speed up dehydration. 

A cause for concern, also, among scientists researching the effects of energy beverages is what some of these ingredients will do in combination with each other or when consumed in excess.  Another area for research is how energy drinks may effect a person over a long period of time.

Some of the energy drinks have added a few ingredients and packaged their product to look hip and cool.  Then some have gone so far that they call their product a “nutritional supplement” or make claims such as “enhances athletic performance” or “increases caloric burn and mental sharpness”. 

This kind of packaging has prompted some researchers to urge the FDA to step in and regulate the energy beverage industry.  Energy beverages are readily available in any stores and anyone can buy them, even children who want to try them and think that they are “cool.” 

Most of the concern is not for a normal healthy person who has one energy drink on occasion but rather for an athlete who continually overdoes energy drinks or people who have an underlying heart condition.  Certain individuals will be more prone to problems from heart and blood pressure from the excessively high levels of caffeine. 

Another danger of energy drinks are for people who consume them while they’re drinking alcohol and do not realize how intoxicated they are.  This may lead to a person driving while impaired yet believing they are sober.

I read one of the best books I’ve read in a long time about the body’s natural healing abilities, and natural ways to help keep your body healthy, energetic, and vital well into your older age. It’s by a well known holistic doctor, Dr. Andrew Weil, and it was actually written several years ago.

It will still be a relevant book many years from now even though, in my humble opinion. It’s called “Spontaneous Healing”. It is not only an eye opening and educational read about how to keep your body healthy using nature, but it is also an incredibly entertaining and well written book for a man who is not by trade a writer. 

One of the many useful tips he gave was one that had to do with energizing the body and clearing the natural breathing passageways by doing a very simple breathing exercise that you can do at home in front of your own mirror.

Lord knows we can all use energy boosts where we can get them. This exercise is one you can perform at work during the day in the bathroom stall or even in your cubicle, without drawing too many weird looks, for an instant pick me up.

It also can help to regulate your breathing when you’re having a lot of stress and anxiety, which will help you to manage your stress levels better.

Stand in front of a mirror if you’d like so you can see if you’re doing it right. Put your arms straight out from your body, so you look like a cross, with your palms facing down to the floor.  Hold your arms out as long as you can, almost until your arms start to get a little bit sore if you can.

Once they start to burn a little, slowly, very slowly, raise your palms up to the ceiling, and bring your arms down very slowly and deliberatly toward the floor. 

This is supposed to help open the breathing passageways in the lungs, and helps you to breathe more deeply and completely, which energizes the whole body with pure oxygen, and pure energy!

We could all use more energy. Even if we’re naturally energetic, enthusiastic people by nature, there are times when we all suffer from low energy and a lack of endurance and willpower to get up off the couch and get stuff accomplished.

We’ve created a new page devoted to energy enhancing supplements so you can see what the good, bad and ugly are in the world of energy enhancing products.

So check out our page on energy boosting supplements and see what kind of boost you can get.