Growth Hormones: New Fountain Of Youth?

Wednesday, May 2, 2012, 11:34

The elusive search for the fountain of youth continues 5 centuries after it started. Aging is a natural process that most humans just refuse to accept. They try to look for the best possible anti aging solutions. In the bargain, they are often duped. In this light, growth hormones are the latest fad. Is it the long visualised fountain of youth or just a sham?

What Is It?
Growth hormone or HGH is nothing but a hormone produced by the pituitary glands. Like all other hormones, it is essential for the smooth functioning of the body. Its special function is to promote growth. When we are kids, HGH is super active; that is why we grow. After 30 years of age, the production of HGH slows down and we start aging.

What It Does?
Growth hormones are produced minimally in your body after you cross 50. As hormone is an important metabolism stimulator, you metabolic rate slows down as you age. You cannot digest foods that quickly and fat disposition increases. Muscle strength also declines rapidly in your 40s.

These symptoms reach their prime when you go from being middle aged to elderly. So, some well meaning doctors started using HGH injections for elderly people as a pain reliever. This hormone therapy would also reduce the fat percentage in their body to solve heart related problems.

HGH & Aging:
You may not see the explicit relation between this growth hormone and aging. But there is no lack of unscrupulous people who do. It was soon declared as the best anti aging technique ever discovered. The trouble is that it was never researched on those lines. Till date, there is no research proving that HGH reverses the symptoms of aging. However, many users, who have taken these hormone injections have reported youthful skin, disappearing wrinkles and leaner bodies. According to some, you can regain the vitality of your youth with artificially produced growth hormone.

Does It Have Side Effects?
Forget the side effects, it is illegal! Taking growth hormones without prescription is a crime. Although many doctors prescribe it for a price, it is not the best anti aging solution to adopt. If you go under hormone therapy at 40 or 50 when we are most bothered about aging, it is a huge risk for you. At this time, your body still produces this hormone, even if it is in lesser quantities.

What you consider the fountain of youth can leave you with a set of permanent troubles.

1. Abnormal bone growth is the most common one. If you force your body to 'grow' at the age of 40, your bones will push out from awkward directions. That leads to serious joint pain.

2. Water retention increases in the body leading to unexplained swelling, puffiness and muscle pain.

3. The biggest epidemic of middle age, high blood pressure and diabetes are accentuated by this hormone.

4. Although it is not proven, most experts believe that artificial growth hormones could induce cancerous growths in your body.