I don’t plan on quoting from scientific studies in this blog. If I mention something with which you either disagree or question, please write a comment.
Here are some interesting things scientists and other knowledgeable people have said about GH. GH is released in 10-20 pulses throughout the day instead of in a steady stream. The largest daily pulse of GH takes place during the beginning stages of sleep. Anaerobic exercise (and the lactic acid it produces) seems to be linked to an increased pulse of GH that can last for about 2 hours after exercise. Eating protein has been linked to an increased pulse of GH. Eating carbohydrates apparently dampens the release of GH. Fasting is also said to be linked with an increased release of GH. A stress response (including the stress response to long endurance exercise) has also been said to dampen the release of GH. Staying hydrated and staying warm are also said to be important to facilitating the release of GH. Woman are as capable as men at releasing GH (if not more so) although women will probably not build as much muscle as men from the release of GH. The pituitary glands of older people are capable of releasing much more GH than they ordinarily do.
Studies and common sense indicate that exercise, diet, and state of mind all affect how much GH is secreted. However we health pioneers are experimenting to come up with an optimal program for our own purposes; my purposes are to maximize my physical and mental health, to look and feel strong, and to age as gracefully as possible. Other people may have different priorities such as improving athletic performance, healing a particular injury or illness, or becoming a body builder.
Exercise variables that could affect GH: when to exercise, what kind of exercise, how long to exercise, how often to exercise, where to exercise, temperature during exercise.
Diet variables that could affect GH: what to eat, when to eat, how much to eat, what not to eat, fasting.
State of mind examples: positive thinking, having fun, doing things that are enjoyable, doing things that are meaningful, avoiding or minimizing stress.
Sleep variables that could affect GH: when you sleep, how long you sleep, how restful is sleep, catnaps.
Tags: diet, exercise, sleep, state of mind
