The eternal quest for higher human growth hormone (HGH) levels just got a little easier There’s a reason—actually, there are several reasons— why increased HGH levels are a sought-after commodity among bodybuilders. In addition to significantly ramping up lean-muscle building, high levels of HGH can lower body-fat percentage and improve cardiovascular health, sleep, attitude, and even sex. And the list goes on.
HGH is produced naturally in the body in the pituitary gland, and production slows as you age; luckily, there are natural ways to boost your HGH levels, and green tea—already known for its many health benefits, including weight loss—is one of them.
Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)—the active ingredient in green tea—has, it turns out, a pronounced effect on HGH levels, according to a study published in the Alternative Medicine Review. When researchers put study participants on a calorie-restricted diet and then gave half of them a green-tea product and the other half a placebo to consume for 90 days, the results spoke for themselves.
Study participants who consumed a green-tea product for 90 days increased their HGH levels by more than 320% and boosted their insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) by 24%, compared with 20% and 15%, respectively, experienced by those who were given a placebo. The green-tea group also lost almost three times more weight than the control group.
The changes in IGF-1 are significant here, as IGF-1 is a more reliable indicator of hormone changes than HGH levels, which can surge and drop several times throughout the course of a single day. Regardless, both indicators pointed to increased HGH production and suggest that consuming green-tea products or supplements can increase HGH levels.
Have patience, though—in the study, results didn’t show up until around the 90-day mark; at 45 days, barely anything had changed. As with your training, consistency is the key to success.
Reference: Di Pierro, F., et al, Alternative Medicine Review, Vol. 14, No.2, 2009
