The Fountain of Youth

If I told you that I actually know where the fountain of youth was, would you listen? Well I do know how to find it, however, the "map" is probably not what you expect. From recent studies, it seems that a hormone that depletes in the body is responsible for wrinkles, sagging, grey hair, loss of bone mass and muscle mass - basically, aging. There is a way to increase this hormone (Human Growth Hormone - HGH), and keep father time from ravaging your body!!

I am writing this article specifically because just recently I was asked by someone, concerned about getting wrinkles, what I put on my face. I thought about it for a while, and realized that, although I do use a face cream, what I put on my skin is far less important than what I put in my body, and the physical exercise  that I engage in daily. A healthy lifestyle, including a great exercise routine does wonders for not only your health and happiness, but your physique (obviously) and your skin. WHY?

According to NaturalNews.com, "...falling HGH levels result in premature aging, loss of lean body mass, lower levels of energy, and a whole host of other aging-related symptoms. But getting a boost in growth hormone should come from natural sources, not drug injections, say an increasing number of doctors and nutritionists. In other words: if you want the anti-aging benefits of HGH, you'll be far better off finding ways to allow your body to create the substance on its own. But how do you do that?"

First let me address the injections. Yes, you can get HGH injections. They are very expensive and probably dangerous. From my research, I have found that HGH injections cost around $3000 a month, and must be taken for the rest of the patient's life, because the body may stop producing it's own HGH, potentially causing the aging process to speed up. 

"One possible side effect of taking the HGH injections is the patient's pituitary gland becoming lazy. The injections provide the body with a full dose of human growth hormone so the pituitary gland will not need to release as much of its own real HGH." http://www.hgh-pro.com/sideeffects.html 

There are also dangerous side effects, including : increased cancer risks, acromegaly, fluid retention, enlarged breasts in males, painful joints, carpal tunnel syndrome, and liver damage (to name a few).

So how do I increase my HGH? Intense exercise! According to nutrition expert, Steve Edwards,  "Cardio's great, and important, but intensity is the key to antiaging. Your body loses muscle mass as you age. Resistance training creates hypertrophy (muscle building), which will offset some of that loss. Furthermore, increasing your heart rate to 90% of its maximum for short intervals (doing things like jumping, sprinting, heavy weight training) increases capillarity, mitochondrial, and bone density-all three important components to counteract aging."   http://www.beachbody.com/product/newsletters/196.do

Programs that take advantage of body changing mechanics are the best you can get to increase your HGH naturally. Interval training is what Beachbody programs are all about, and why they actually work. 

"In short, you are interval training any time your workout includes a set wherein you perform at your maximum level, which is then followed by a lower-intensity set, which is then repeated to achieve a cumulative effect." (Steve Edwards) http://www.beachbody.com/product/newsletters/360.do

Actually all Beachbody programs use some type of interval training. However, not all of them are for your fitness level. Contact us and we will help you assess which program is right for you, you can pick it up from our coach, and get a reduced rate from the shipping offered on television. You will also be assigned Karla as your coach for free. All Beachbody programs come with a money back guarantee.  These programs might save your life and will definitely save your pocket book!

 The $10,000 answer - According to Mike Adams in his article on anti-aging  "For example, if you strength train your glutes and hamstrings by practicing some squats, your body, over the next 24 to 48 hours, will produce much higher levels of HGH naturally. And HGH is only one of the chemicals your body produces in response to strength training. It could be said that for every hour you work out, your body manufactures $10,000 worth of beneficial chemical compounds -- that is, it would cost $10,000 if you had to have them manufactured somewhere else and injected into your body. But by strength training, your body manufactures these on its own -- no needles required, no visits to the anti-aging clinic, and of course, no risk of having some artificial substance injected into your bloodstream. ... And that's my last bit of advice when it comes to longevity: engage in regular strength training. Strength training will boost your bone mass density, it will enhance your mood and brain function, it will increase the oxygenation of organs and tissues throughout your body, and, of course, it will reduce your body fat and increase your lean body mass."

What else can you do to naturally increase your HGH? Follow the nutrition guide from your Beachbody program , get plenty of sleep, meditate, eat more organic produce and superfoods (such as what is available in Shakeology), take amino acids, fish oil, DHEA and melatonin supplements, and eat less sugar because high-glycemic carbohydrates reduce GH production.

My final advice to you is laugh more! Watch a funny movie, read a funny book, join an improv group. Laugh with your friends and family. Find the ability to laugh at yourself! Stress will increase the release of adrenaline and inhibit the production of HGH. To quote Dr. Patch Adams  "He who can laugh at himself will never suffer from a lack of entertainment."