Broad beans and human growth hormone – What do they have in common? It seems that eating lots of broad beans may increase the level of L-dopa (L-3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) in the body, which in turn, encourages the release of growth hormone from the pituitary gland. And this increase of HGH is one of the main benefits of L-dopa, as we shall see.
On its own, L-dopa (levodopa) is an important amino acid that is the precursor of dopamine. It is actually a derivative of the amino acid L-tyrosine, and is administered to the body in place of dopamine. L-dopa can be administered to the body whereas dopamine cannot, because it (L-dopa) can bypass the walls of the membranes within the central nervous system and be absorbed directly by the cells, and thus converted into dopamine. What dopamine does is help a lot of important brain functions like sleep, mood, learning, behavior, and regulating prolactin production from the pituitary.
Dopamine is also involved in the HGH loop cycle, mainly by increasing the responsiveness of the hypothalamus towards any release of growth hormone in the bloodstream. But it is not as well known for its role in stimulating HGH compared to other amino acids, like arginine, for example. Several studies have demonstrated that L-dopa stimulates GH release. Furthermore, tests done on mice have also demonstrated an increase in lifespan in those mice that were given L-dopa.
But because L-dopa affects the brain directly and has such wide ranging downstream effect, it is only sold as a prescription drug and that also, for its use in treating Parkinson’s disease. L-dopa must never be overdosed, as it can result in severe adverse effects if taken in excess. These include nausea, vomiting, mental and emotional disturbances, hypertension, internal bleeding, and instability of the nervous system – besides others.
As long as you stick to sensible, small dosages (below 1g), you should be alright. But, how do you obtain enough L-dopa for the purpose of raising your GH levels, outside of getting a prescription? I did a little research and found out that L-dopa is found in abundance, in certain foods. And two good sources of L-dopa are velvet beans (Mucuna pruriens) and broad beans (also called fava beans).
Beans? A little surprising to me, that some humble beans can actually have anti aging properties! Velvet beans and broad beans have long been known to have some health benefits back in their native countries, even regarded as aphrodisiacs; but I don’t think anyone ever thought of them this way – having an anti aging effect. If you are looking for a low cost way to increase your HGH levels, perhaps consuming more broad beans or velvet beans can be a valuable addition to your overall anti aging strategy, and also your daily diet.