Nancy Dell: What are natural flavors?; Increase Human Growth Hormone

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) -  

1. I cut sugar and drink fruity flavored seltzers. Where do the natural flavors come from without adding calories and sugar?
Paula, Internet

Basically natural flavors come from nature but not always from the source you would think.

For example, Natural Strawberry flavor can come from strawberry but can also come from secretions from a Beaver's anal gland; sounds pretty disgusting but it is from a natural source and FDA approved.

The natural flavors from this source give a stronger, more desirable flavor without adding calories. If they squeezed a bunch of strawberries into the seltzer, the drink would basically be a diluted juice with minimal flavor and it would no longer be zero calories.

It is great you cut out sugar and the seltzer is a fine choice if you can get past the possible sources of the natural flavors. If you don't like natural flavors now, consider making your own iced tea from fruity tea bags that have just leaves and fruit for ingredients. But read the labels, teas often have natural flavors added as well. 

What are some other natural additives from unusual sources? Dough conditioners used in bread may come from human hair or duck feathers. The glaze that makes candy shiny or glazes a donut may come from resin-like secretion made by female Lac bugs.

2. I hear taking supplements to increase Human Growth Hormone can slow aging. Do they work?
Emma, Internet

Our bodies secrete Human Growth Hormone, or HGH, to promote growth when we are children and teenagers. After we are fully grown, the amounts of HGH in our body’s declines, making people think that if we take HGH, it can slow aging.

In one study, researcher injected HGH into participants and they did lose fat, gain muscle, and develop thicker bones. That study spawned a market for supplements that are claiming to increase your HGH.

Studies show these supplements increase HGH for an hour at most and probably have no benefit. But you can increase your HGH naturally. Exercise has the biggest effect, increasing HGH 10 fold. In addition getting a good night sleep and eating adequate protein help. Those 3 lifestyle changes are safe ways to increase your human growth hormone and they don't cost much money.