benefits

Does Sauna increase Human Growth Hormone (HGH)?

Does Sauna increase Human Growth Hormone (HGH)?

Written by Mike

June 21, 2021

Interest in sauna culture and usage has seen a rapid growth in recent years for a multitude of reasons.  This interest coincides with an interest in many health related topics such as Human Growth Hormone also called HGH.  What is less often discussed is the connection between sauna use increasing the serum levels of HGH in the body.

What is HGH (Human Growth Hormone) and What Does it Do?

HGH is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland.  Its main role is to build, repair, and maintain our organ tissues.  HGH is particularly useful when recovering from a workout or an injury.  Starting in middle age our body begins to produce less and less HGH and many have taken the somewhat controversial decision to inject synthetic HGH to maintain or increase their strength and ward off aging.  Many people take synthetic HGH in order to burn fat, boost metabolism, and many claim it as a sort of fountain of youth, but that is not without controversies.  There is a natural way to increase natural HGH to gain most of the same beneficial effects without the drawbacks.

Sauna Effect on Natural HGH Production


One study published by the National Library of Medicine outlines the effect of regular sauna use on Human Growth Hormone.  A co-ed group of 17 people were tested for baseline levels of HGH amongst other metrics before undertaking two daily dry sauna sessions for seven days.  While there was little to no difference in testosterone levels there was a very significant rise in growth hormones.  Scientists observed a 16x rise in serum growth hormone levels after sauna use in the study participants.  A much larger and longer study from Finland studying 2,300 middle aged men over 20 years found regular sauna use correlated with a much lower mortality rate than the men who didn’t use the sauna as regularly or at all.  The study is worth reading here.  The connection with natural HGH increase is just a part of the growing evidence that we are only just beginning to understand the benefits of regular sauna use, a tradition going back 3000 years.

Related Articles

Sauna Use Helps Prevent Alzheimer’s and Dementia

With the large Boomer generation starting to enter older age more and more people are becoming concerned with the issue of age related dementia and how to avoid it.  The good news is that JAMA has confirmed dementia rates are dropping relative to age due to better...

Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin Bieber Enjoying Sauna in Lockdown

Even through the quarantine of 2020-2021 it’s possible to be living your best life.  Justin Beiber and his wife Hailey Baldwin have been spending their time at their home in rural Ontario, Canada in style.  Living in a secluded lakeside estate the two of them have...

Laird Hamilton – Legendary Surfer and Sauna Enthusiast

There are probably no surfers more respected or legendary than Laird Hamilton.  He is to surfing what Michael Jordan is to basketball or Wayne Gretzky is to hockey.  What impresses many people is that he's no "has been" despite being in his 50s, he is as fit and rides...

Mike

Share
Published by
Mike