What is the HCG Diet and Does it Work?

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The HCG diet has been popular in recent years. It's an extreme diet, and is said to help with rapid weight loss of up to 1 lb 2 pounds (0.5 - 1 kg) per day. What's more, you won't feel hungry during the process. However, the US Food and Drug Administration has called the diet dangerous, illegal, and deceptive.

This article studies the HCG diet scientifically.

1. What is HCG?

HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, is a hormone that occurs in high levels early in pregnancy.
In fact, this hormone is used as a tracer in home pregnancy tests.
HCG has also been used to treat fertility problems in both men and women.
However, elevated blood levels of HCG can also be a symptom of certain types of cancer, including cancers of the placenta, ovaries, and testicles.

A British doctor named Albert Simeons first suggested using HCG as a weight loss tool in 1954.
His diet consists of two main ingredients:
- One: an extreme diet low in calories, about 500 calories per day.
- Two: using HCG hormone through injection.
Today, HCG products are sold in a variety of forms, including oral drops, tablets, and sprays. They are also available on countless websites and some retail stores.

2. What is the function of HCG in your body?

HCG is a protein-based hormone produced during pregnancy that indicates a woman's body is pregnant.
HCG helps maintain the production of important hormones such as progesterone and estrogen, which are essential for the development of the embryo and fetus.
After the first trimester of pregnancy, the concentration of HCG in the blood gradually decreases.

3.HCG helps you lose weight?

Proponents of the HCG diet claim that it boosts metabolism and helps the body lose large amounts of fat without feeling hungry.
Various theories have been put forward to try to explain the mechanisms of HCG weight loss.
However, many studies have concluded that the weight loss achieved by the HCG diet is solely due to the extremely low calorie intake and has nothing to do with the HCG hormone.
These studies compared the effects of HCG injection and placebo for individuals who were on a calorie-restricted diet.
The degree of weight loss was identical or nearly identical between the two groups.
Furthermore, these studies determined that the hormone HCG did not significantly reduce hunger.

4. Does the diet help improve body shape?

A common side effect of dieting for weight loss is a loss of muscle mass.
This is especially common on calorie-restricted diets, such as the HCG diet.
When you go on a diet, your body will think you are hungry and need to reduce the number of calories it burns to conserve energy.
However, proponents of the HCG diet claim that it only helps with fat loss, not muscle loss.
They also claim that HCG boosts other hormones, boosts metabolism, and leads to a growth-promoting or anabolic state.
However, there is no scientific evidence to support these claims.
If you are on a low calorie diet, there are better ways to prevent muscle loss and slow down your metabolism than taking HCG.
Weightlifting is the most effective sport. Likewise, eating plenty of protein-rich foods and getting regular rest can help boost your metabolism.

5. How is the diet prescribed?

The HCG diet is a very low fat, very low calorie diet.
It is usually divided into three phases:
- Loading phase: Start taking HCG and eat lots of high-fat, high-calorie foods for two days.
- Weight loss phase: Continue taking HCG and eat only 500 calories per day for 3-6 weeks.
- Maintenance phase: Stop taking HCG. Gradually increase food intake but avoid sugar and starch for three weeks.
For those who want to lose weight relatively can spend three weeks in the middle phase, those who want to lose significant weight are advised to follow the diet for six weeks - and even repeat all phases of the diet. cycle many times.
During the weight loss phase, you are only allowed to eat two meals a day - usually lunch and dinner.
With the HCG diet, meals are usually suggested: should contain one portion of lean protein, vegetables, a piece of bread and fruit.
The HCG diet also gives you a list of foods to choose from in specific amounts.
Butter, oil and sugar are foods to avoid, but you need to drink plenty of water. Mineral water, coffee and tea are all available.

6.Most of the HCG products on the market are scams

Most of the HCG products on the market today are homeopathic, which means they do not contain HCG.
Real HCG, as an injection, is given as a fertility drug and is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Only injections can increase blood levels of HCG, not homeopathic products sold online.

7. Safety and side effects

HCG has not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as a weight loss drug.
In contrast, government agencies have questioned the safety of HCG products, as the ingredients are unregulated and the effects are unknown.
There are also some side effects associated with the HCG diet, such as:
- Headache
- Depression
- Fatigue
The main cause of this could be the calories used levels that are too low lead to mood swings.
In one case, a 64-year-old woman was on an HCG diet when a blood clot developed in her legs and lungs. The doctor thought it was possible that the blood clots appeared due to the diet.

8.Diets can work for weight loss, but that's only because you're cutting calories

The HCG diet limits calorie intake to about 500 calories per day for several weeks. This makes this method an extreme weight loss diet.
Any low calorie diet like this can make you lose weight.
However, many studies have found that the hormone HCG has no effect on weight loss and does not reduce your appetite.
If you are serious about losing weight and maintaining it, there are many methods that are much more effective and affordable than the HCG diet.
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Reference source: healthline.com