Doctors often prescribe human growth hormone, or HGH, to patients who have a growth deficiency. Injections of the hormone promote the growth of muscle mass and reduce fat, although healthy adults who take HGH to obtain the body benefits suffer an increased risk for heart disease and other harmful side effects. Your best --- and safest --- method to build muscle and trim fat involves a balanced exercise regimen and diet. Understand the risks of HGH in order to ensure your well-being.
Who Needs HGH?
Your growth hormone helps to ensure the natural development of tissues and organs as your body moves through the aging process. Some adults have a growth hormone deficiency, often caused by pituitary adenoma, or a tumor located on the pituitary gland. Treatments of the tumor with radiotherapy also can trigger the deficiency. Adults who receive a synthetic HGH injection --- obtained only through a prescribed injection --- benefit from an increase in muscle mass and bone density, along with an enhanced exercise capacity and reduced body fat. Although online merchants claim to sell HGH in pill form, evidence is lacking to show the supplements work in the same manner as prescription injections. The Food and Drug Administration allows dietary supplements to be sold without the scientific research required for medicine and food, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
The Risks of Illegal Use
Healthy teens or adults who obtain HGH through illegal methods may benefit from larger muscles and reduced fat --- although the risks of taking the hormone are significant. People who acquire unnecessary HGH injections often suffer swelling in the legs and arms, along with carpal tunnel syndrome and joint and muscle pain. Some healthy men who use the hormone without a prescription experience gynecomastia, or breast enlargement. The enlargement often contributes to life-threatening conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
Healthy Exercise
Avoid the risks of unauthorized HGH use by adopting a balanced exercise regimen. MayoClinic.com reports that strength training three times a week for up to 30 minutes builds muscle and bone strength. You'll also reduce fat and gain an ability to burn calories with more efficiency. Strength methods include weightlifting, stretching resistance tubing or performing body weight exercise, such as abdominal crunches or pushups. Aerobic exercise also burns large amounts of calories and includes swimming, walking or bicycling at a pace that causes faster breathing. Consider aerobic workouts on most days for up to 40 minutes with your doctor's permission.
Low-Calorie Diet
Healthy eating is essential to a strong and lean body. Limit your consumption of sugary sweets and food with saturated fat, as well as alcoholic beverages. Nutritious choices include vegetables, whole grains and fruit that are low-calorie --- which means you can eat more and stay full longer. Most weight loss diets feature a daily calorie intake of between 1,000 and 1,600 calories. Discuss any diet with your doctor, especially if you have a health condition.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Human Growth Hormone (HGH): Does It Slow Aging?; February 2011
- Cleveland Clinic: Herbal Supplements: Helpful or Harmful?
- MayoClinic.com: Obesity; October 2010
- President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports: Exercise and Weight Control
- Merck Manuals.com: Starting an Exercise Program; September 2007
- MayoClinic.com; Strength Training: Get Stronger, Leaner, Healthier; June 2010
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