Hormones play a critical role in regulating growth, development, mood and sleep functions. These chemical messengers bond with receptor sites throughout the body, influencing everything from how much energy you have to how your body metabolizes food. Many factors influence hormone production, so if you find yourself gaining weight, feeling tired or struggling to finish your usual workout, it may be because your hormones are out of balance.
Human growth hormone, commonly known as HGH, is one of the most critical hormones in the human body. HGH is produced by the pituitary gland and promotes growth in children. When you reach adulthood, your body uses HGH to regulate metabolism and maintain its structure. In adults, HGH deficiency has been linked to increased body fat, weaker muscles and a reduced sense of well-being. Fortunately, HGH peptides may counteract the effects of low HGH levels, helping you stay fit and maintain your youthful appearance.
What Are HGH Peptides?
In humans, amino acids serve as the building blocks for proteins. They’re linked together by peptide bonds, creating long chains. The shorter chains built during protein production are known as peptides. HGH peptides interact with the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus, stimulating the production and release of HGH. So if you’ve been struggling with weight gain, poor concentration, fatigue and other symptoms of low HGH, taking HGH peptides is a way to increase your HGH levels naturally.
Types of HGH Peptides
Ibutamoren and sermorelin are commonly used to stimulate HGH production and combat the problems associated with low HGH levels. Ibutamoren mimics the effects of another hormone, ghrelin, on HGH production, while sermorelin encourages the pituitary gland to produce more HGH. In addition, sermorelin supplements have been linked to increased energy and more efficient fat metabolism.
Hexarelin is another HGH peptide used to increase HGH levels. This peptide binds with specific receptors in the brain, triggering the natural release of human growth hormone. Alexamorelin also stimulates the release of HGH by acting on the central nervous system.
Benefits of HGH Peptides
HGH peptides have many potential benefits, including the following:
- Increased strength and muscle mass
- Improved sleep quality
- Increased skin elasticity
- Lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels
- More efficient fat burning
- Better immune function
- Increased stamina
Although HGH peptides can benefit anyone struggling with signs of premature aging or reduced stamina, it has some specific benefits for bodybuilders and other athletes. For example, HGH peptides are known for their ability to promote the release of fatty acids, which aids in fat burning. In addition, HGH peptides are also helpful for increasing muscle mass, so bodybuilders and other athletes don’t have to worry about looking “skinny” when cutting calories and losing fat.
The benefits of HGH peptides are also helpful for combatting some of the visible signs of aging. As HGH levels decline, so does your skin elasticity — your skin’s ability to bounce back into place after it stretches. Lower skin elasticity leads to sagging and wrinkles, making some people appear older than they are. Taking an HGH peptide supplement may increase skin elasticity, giving you a younger-looking appearance.
Potential Risks of Taking HGH Peptides
It’s crucial to take HGH peptides as directed by your physician or pharmacist. Taking larger doses than recommended, or using the supplements more often than recommended, may increase your risk of high blood sugar levels, high cholesterol, swelling, muscle pain and other unwanted side effects.
How to Naturally Increase Your HGH Levels
In addition to taking supplements, there are several things you can do to increase your HGH levels naturally.
Try Intermittent Fasting
HGH production is influenced by many factors, including how much you eat, when you eat and what types of foods you eat. To stimulate HGH production naturally, try intermittent fasting, as fasting has been shown to boost HGH secretion significantly. It’s difficult to fast for long periods, but you don’t have to deprive yourself of food for days on end — simply try fasting for a particular time each day.
Some people eat all their food during a 12-hour period and fast during the other 12 hours. Others restrict their calorie intake one day and eat a normal amount of food the next. The 5:2 fasting method is also popular. On this plan, you eat as usual five days per week and fast on the other two days. No matter which way you choose, intermittent fasting can help stimulate the release of HGH into your bloodstream, helping you enjoy the benefits of higher HGH levels.
Lose Excess Weight
One of the most significant effects of being overweight or obese is lower HGH levels. This makes it even more difficult to shed excess pounds, as people with low HGH levels may not have the energy or stamina necessary to exercise regularly. Fat, also known as adipose tissue, also has a significant impact on how well the endocrine system functions. If you’re above your ideal weight, try walking for at least 30 minutes per day, joining a gym or signing up for a fun fitness class. Instead of eating that famous Texas BBQ every night, increase your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, limit your consumption of saturated fats and make sure you’re getting plenty of fiber.
Take Additional Supplements
Taking other supplements in addition to HGH peptides can help you optimize the functioning of your endocrine system, increasing HGH levels naturally. One example is arginine, an amino acid found in red meat, soy, poultry, beans and whole grains. Taking arginine has been shown to increase HGH production, even in people who took supplements without additional exercise.
Another option is to take a GABA supplement. GABA is found in the nervous system, and its primary function is to carry messages between the brain and other parts of the body. GABA supplements have several benefits, including increased HGH levels with and without exercise.
Get More Sleep
Sleep has a significant impact on how your endocrine system functions. HGH production occurs in short bursts called pulses, but the biggest pulses happen when you’re fast asleep. Therefore, improving your sleep quality can help you boost HGH production. If you struggle to fall asleep at night, try avoiding blue light for at least 30 minutes before bed. This type of light may stimulate the brain, making it difficult to fall asleep when your head hits the pillow.
Another way to improve sleep quality is to ensure your bedroom is dark and quiet. For example, if your bedroom window faces a street light, use blackout curtains to prevent the light from entering your room while you sleep.