Human growth hormone is typically associated with men, as it is needed for building muscle and bulking up, but the truth is that human growth hormone is important for health in women, as well. It is associated with muscle, but it doesn’t always have to build them – it is the hormone most responsible for preventing the deterioration of muscles, and encourages the body to burn fat for energy instead of existing muscle. Having adequate levels of human growth hormone can aid in maintaining a healthy weight, or lose weight if needed.
What causes lowered human growth hormone?
Human growth hormone reaches its peak when you are young, usually in your teenage years. By the time you reach 40 years of age, your body will be producing about half as much human growth hormone as you did at your peak. Estrogen levels are also related to human growth hormone levels – lowered levels of estrogen are linked to low levels of human growth hormone. This correlation is why women who go through menopause typically lose muscle and gain fat.
What does less human growth hormone mean?
Less human growth hormone can have a noticeable effect on your body, mind, and emotions. Some of the symptoms of human growth hormone deficiency include:
- Lack of energy
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- Difficulty sleeping
- Shyness
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Feelings of hopelessness
How do I address human growth hormone deficiency?
Human growth hormone deficiency can be linked to a deficiency in several other hormones. Because of this, the best step in addressing any hormone deficiency is having your hormone levels tested and measured. If a deficiency is present, hormone replacement therapy can be used to adjust your hormone levels and return them to healthy levels. Human growth hormone deficiency may be addressed indirectly by addressing an imbalance in other hormones, or it can be treated directly through hormones to improve human growth hormone levels specifically.
Natural methods to increase your body’s human growth hormone production include adjusting your diet and exercise routines. Certain diets can encourage your body to produce more human growth hormone, and high-intensity exercises often stimulate your body into producing more hormones. Strength training can also improve human growth hormone levels, but intense cardiovascular exercises can also increase production.
Hormone replacement therapy is also a potent method of addressing a human growth hormone deficiency. Because human growth hormone deficiency has various causes, it is difficult to identify a deficiency without professional help. When trying to adjust a hormonal imbalance, it is best done under the supervision of a medical professional who can provide precise measurements and treatments to adjust hormone levels into an adequate range.