Guest guest Posted August 16, 2004 Report Share Posted August 16, 2004 > " HSI - Jenny Thompson " > <HSIResearch > Jump in the Fountain > Mon, 16 Aug 2004 08:28:51 -0400 > > Jump in the Fountain > > Health Sciences Institute e-Alert > > August 16, 2004 > > ************************************************************ > > Dear Reader, > > You won't get far without human growth hormone > (HGH). > > This key hormone (also known as somatotropin) is > essential for > maintaining proper brain function, energy levels, > bone tissue and > muscle mass, cell division, the repair of DNA within > cells, and > overall metabolism. > > The problem is, your pituitary gland releases HGH > into the blood > stream less efficiently as you grow older. So with > HGH diminishing > yearly, boosting HGH with supplements might seem > like an attractive > solution. But as we've seen before, when you start > tinkering with > hormones, the results can be mixed, and almost > always accompanied by > controversy. > > Fortunately, there are natural ways to help keep > your HGH level from > dropping like a lead balloon after the age of 50. > > --------------------------- > > FTC cat out of the bag > --------------------------- > > > I recently received an e-mail from an HSI member > named Elizabeth with > this question: " There have been some warnings in the > press lately > about HGH. I would like to know more about the > health effects of > non-prescription sprays (e.g., Regenesis) on insulin > resistance and > tumor growth. " > > Elizabeth's caution is understandable. If you > research HGH, you'll > find plenty of warnings about HGH supplements, as > well as quite a few > sales pitches promising a " fountain of youth " > solution to a wide > variety of health problems. > > In fact, just last month a federal court issued an > order against a > Florida man who was accused of making questionable > health claims while > selling HGH supplements through illegal e-mail > spamming. The Federal > Trade Commission accused the alleged spammer of > offering products > that, " do not contain any form of Human Growth > Hormone, and do not > produce effects similar in nature to any form of > Human Growth > Hormone. " > > I wonder if someone at the FDA did a spit-take when > they heard that > the FTC was, in a roundabout way, giving official > government > recognition to the effectiveness of HGH? > > In any case, the Florida situation underlines the > importance of > checking and double-checking the validity of > supplement manufacturers > before making a purchase. Especially when dealing > with something as > important as a hormone supplement. > > --------------------------- > > Plus and minus > --------------------------- > > > To get back to Elizabeth's specific question about > " non-prescription > sprays (e.g., Regenesis) on insulin resistance and > tumor growth, " I'll > start with this important detail: Regenesis is a > synthetic form of HGH > that's made by several manufacturers, and it's taken > by injection. > > The fact that Regenesis is synthetic is troubling > because no long- > term studies have been conducted to explore possible > side effects that > might occur with years of use. On the plus side, > Regenesis (just like > real HGH) prompts the production of a chemical > called insulinlike > growth factor-1, which helps maintain intracellular > communications and > function. > > But HGH supplementation also stimulates the turnover > of the body's > cells. The fear is that this process could disarm > the mechanism by > which the body prevents the uncontrolled cell > division that allows > tumors to form. Some studies have observed an > increase in cancerous > tumor growth with the use of HGH. > > --------------------------- > > Start with the basics > --------------------------- > > > When HGH is boosted with a supplement, the process > bypasses the > function of the pituitary gland – sort of tricking > the body. But > there's a more natural way to prompt the pituitary > gland to increase > HGH production: Avoid simple and refined > carbohydrates, which tend to > boost insulin levels. > > Foods like pasta, potatoes, and refined sweets > register high on the > glycemic index because they cause a rapid increase > in blood sugar, > which stimulates the production of insulin. When > there's too much > insulin in your blood, your body reacts by producing > a chemical called > somatostatin that suppresses insulin release. But it > also suppresses > HGH release. Foods rich in complex carbohydrates – > and low on the > glycemic index – don't trigger blood sugar spikes. > These foods include > beans, legumes, nuts, and whole grains. (Nuts and > seeds also contain > an amino acid combination favorable to the > production of growth > hormone.) > > Excess dietary fat can also block the production and > release of HGH, > so it's best to limit fat intake to 20-30 percent of > your daily total > calories. Additionally, many longevity experts > advocate reduced > calorie intake and even occasional fasting as a good > way to stimulate > HGH production. The highest levels of growth hormone > are released > during sleep and during a fast that lasts for at > least 24 hours. (Note > that fasting is not suitable for everyone, so always > consult a > physician or health care professional before > attempting a fast.) > > Regular exercise is also a good way to prompt an HGH > increase. But for > best results, don't eat for at least two hours > before exercising > because elevated insulin levels may counteract the > release of growth > hormones. > > In tomorrow's e-Alert I'll take a look at a way to > supplement with HGH > that doesn't bypass the pituitary gland, but rather > puts it to work. > > ************************************************************ > > ...and another thing > > A little Tai Chi might lead to sweet dreams. > > In the e-alert " Supremely Ultimate " (3/18/04), I > told you about Tai > Chi; the ancient Chinese exercise system that > consists of a specific > series of gentle physical movements. > > Studies show that people who practice Tai Chi often > experience health > benefits such as improvements in balance and > strength, cardiovascular > and respiratory function, flexibility, reduction of > arthritis > symptoms, immune system enhancement and positive > psychological > effects. > > Now a new study from the Oregon Research Institute > finds that > improvements in sleep patterns may be added to that > list. > > As reported in a recent issue of the Journal of the > American > Geriatrics Society, researchers recruited a group > about 120 men and > women, aged 60 to 92, who all reported having > moderate sleep problems. > The subjects were divided into two groups to > participate in exercise > sessions of either Tai Chi or low-impact exercise > for six months. The > exercise sessions for each group lasted 60 minutes, > three times each > week. Subjects were evaluated using two different > sleep quality > assessment techniques. > > Both groups improved on cognitive thinking scores, > underlining just > one of the many benefits of regular exercise. But > the Tai Chi subjects > showed significant improvements in all of the sleep > scores, compared > to few such improvements in the low-impact group. > > Sleep quality, sleep duration, sleep efficiency, and > sleep > disturbances were all improved on by the Tai Chi > subjects. Their sleep > duration averaged nearly 50 minutes more each night, > while the time it > took to fall asleep decreased by an average of > almost 20 minutes, > compared to the low-impact subjects. > > Researchers concluded that a low- to > moderate-intensity Tai Chi > program may be an effective way to avoid > pharmaceutical sleep aids for > elderly people who have trouble getting a good > night's rest. > > To Your Good Health, > > Jenny Thompson > Health Sciences Institute > > ************************************************************ > > Sources: > > " Federal Trade Commission vs. Creaghan A. Harry " > Case No. 04C 4790, > United States District Court for the Northern > District of Illinois > Eastern Division, ftc.gov > " Feds Freeze Assets, Halt Sales of HGH Product " > Natural Products > Industry Insider, 7/29/04, > naturalproductsinsider.com > " Grow Young with HGH " Dr. Ronald Klatz, > Harpercollins, 1997 > " Tai Chi and Self-Rated Quality of Sleep and Daytime > Sleepiness in > Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial " Journal > of the American > Geriatric Society, Vol. 52, No. 6, June 2004, > ncbi.nlm.nih.gov > " Tai Chi Improves Sleep in Elderly People " Maureen > Williams, ND, > Healthnotes Newswire, 8/5/04, pccnaturalmarkets.com > > Copyright ©1997-2004 by www.hsibaltimore.com, > L.L.C. The e-Alert may > not be posted on commercial sites without written > permission. > > ************************************************************ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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