HCG Diet
HCG Diet is a very controversial weight loss method of HCG- Hormone Human Choriogonadotropin administered through injections.
HCG is an FDA approved fertility drug used for women that are finding it difficult to get pregnant. The substance was discovered in pregnant women’s urine in 1927 and this was and is not normally observed outside of pregnancy. It represented the first modern pregnancy test and urine is still checked for signs of HCG to confirm pregnancy, and also to determine the risks of birth defect.
With HCG Diet, yes it is possible to lose weight, but no it is not safe, may have serious side effects, the weight loss may be temporary and you need to consider the number of calories you are allowed to have per day: only 500! Yes HCG is approved by FDA but only as a fertility drug, not for any other purpose.
The idea behind this diet is HCG’s ability to change the endocrine system by signaling the hypothalamus- part of brain that affects metabolism, in a way that promotes the mobility and loss of fat tissue. It is beneficial for the fetus during pregnancy as it helps the nutrients and fat travel into the placenta, but as a weight loss method?
You are allowed to eat 500 calories per day on this diet- UK’s NHS estimated the average requirements- EAR of a daily calorie intake as 1940 calories per day for women and 2550 for men, although this depends on your lifestyle and other factors. 500 calories is far from being enough to support the normal functioning of your body and your brain and it is claimed that weight loss is more likely to be due to extremely restricted caloric intake rather than injections. And don’t forget this may well make you irritable and cranky before you even start losing some weight.
Reported common side effects of HCG Diet include acne, tiredness, mood swings, depression, headaches, blood clots, dizziness, confusion,and ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome, hair loss and prostate hyperthrophy .
Even though HCG shots for fertility reasons are approved by FDA, there isno scientific evidence that shows this diet can mobilize stored fat, suppress appetite and redistribute fat from the waist, hips and thighs as claimed by its proponents.
It is wise to follow a weight loss program that recommends healthy eating, exercising and losing weight more over a long term plan. You should not put your body and brain through a program that several health specialists have deemed to be ineffective and unsafe, even if you are really frustrated with your weight problem.
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References:
Bosch B and others. Human chorionic gonadotrophin and weight loss. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. South African Medical Journal 77:185–189, 1990.
Stein MR and others. Ineffectiveness of human chorionic gonadotrophin in weight reduction: a double-blind study. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 29:940–948, 1976.
Trudeau K. The Weight Loss Cure They Don’t Want You to Know About. Alliance Publishing, 2007.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Human_chorionic_gonadotropin# cite_ref-urlCaremark_7-1.
http://health.howstuffworks.com/ health-illness/ wellness/ physical-fitness/ weight-loss/ hcg-diet.htm .
