When your body releases growth hormone (GH) from their pituitary gland (located at the base of the brain), some goes to muscle and bone to directly initiate tissue growth. Most GH travels to the liver, where it is destroyed within 60-90 minutes. Before this destruction happens, the liver uses this material to manufacture somatomedins, also called growth factors. The best studied are IGF-I and IGF-II. That’s one of growth hormone’s major jobs, to get to the liver and trigger IGF release.
Many athletes have become highly skeptical of claims made by supplement manufacturers about magical pathways to muscle growth, and rightfully so. Believe it or not, most supplements don’t come remotely close to living up to their hype. So I’m going to provide you with some of the clear-cut science on what research shows about enhancing the body’s own anabolic hormones to optimize muscle growth and enhance performance.
Promoting GH and IGF-1 Production Naturally . . .
- Intensity of exercise appears to be the key factor in GH and IGF-1 secretion. Train the Max-OT way. Intense weight training is the most effective stimulus for GH and IGF-1 secretion. [2,3]
- Heavy, eccentric weight training causes the highest increases in bioactive IGF-1. [4] So if you are an advanced bodybuilder and have access to good training partners, incorporate some negative-only work into your program. But use this method sparingly – once every 4-weeks.
- Sleep is potent stimulator of GH release and training during the day amplifies its nocturnal secretion. [2]
- Immediately after training session take one serving of DGC and one serving of VP2 Whey Isolate together in ice-cold water. A rapidly absorbing protein and carbohydrate drink amplifies the post-workout secretion of IGF-1. [1]
- Remember that spiking GH release via sleep or supplements is useless without enough circulating blood amino acids and insulin. To ensure this, consume a slower absorbing liquid meal such as Raptor-HP an hour before sleep.
References:
1. Kraemer WJ, Volek JS, Bush JA, et al. J.Appl.Physiol.85(4) 1544-1555,1998.
2. Jenkins PJ. Clin Endocrin. 50:683-689,1999.
3. Bamman MM, et al. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 280:E383-E390, 2001.
4. Nindl BC, et al. J Appl Physiol. 90:1319-1326, 2001
