What is the HCG diet and how is it done? HCG Diet Sample Menu

HCG dietis a diet that has remained popular for many years. It is claimed to cause rapid weight loss of up to 1-2 pounds per day if applied strictly and in accordance with the rules.

Moreover, it is stated that you will not feel hungry during this process.

However, some health institutions,  HCG dietHe describes it as a dangerous diet that should not be done.

HCG diet The things to be known about are explained in the article within the framework of scientific studies.

What is HCG?

HCG or human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone found in high levels in early pregnancy. This hormone is used as a marker in home pregnancy tests.

HCG is used to treat fertility problems in both men and women.

But increased blood levels of HCG; It can be a symptom of several types of cancer, including placental, ovarian, and testicular cancer.

A British doctor named Albert Simeons first proposed HCG as a weight loss tool in 1954. The diet recommended by the doctor consisted of two main components:

- A very low calorie diet with less than 500 calories a day.

- HCG hormone administered by injection.

Today, HCG products are sold in various forms such as oral drops, pills, and sprays. 

What Does HCG Do in the Body?

HCG is a protein-based hormone produced during pregnancy. HCG basically says that a woman is pregnant with her body.

The HCG hormone helps to establish and maintain pregnancy in the first trimester. It helps embryo development and placement.

It also helps the baby's organs grow and differentiate and suppresses the mother's myometrial contractions to prevent premature termination of pregnancy. HCG also provides new blood vessel formation (angiogenesis) in the baby and regulates immune tolerance.

HCG also 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 three months of pregnancy, the blood levels of HCG drop.

Does the HCG Diet Help Weight Loss?

HCG dietProponents claim that it speeds up the metabolism and helps to lose large amounts of fat.

In one study, scientists used HCG, vitamins, probiotics, etc. They experimented with diets as well as supplements such as. Lipid profile of each patient was evaluated. Scientists found that patients' fat mass decreased and their lipid profile improved.

Various theories attempt to explain the mechanism behind HCG and weight loss. However, multiple studies, HCG diet He concluded that the weight loss achieved with the drug was due to a very low calorie diet alone and had absolutely nothing to do with the HCG hormone.

These studies compared the effects of HCG and placebo injections given to individuals on a calorie restricted diet.

Weight loss was found to be almost the same between the two groups. Moreover, it has been found that the HCG hormone does not significantly reduce hunger.

There is no other research evidence to show similar results. In fact, following a very low-calorie diet for too long can have an adverse effect.

That is, the body will go into "starvation mode" and start storing calories as fat. This, in turn, can cause an increase in fat mass.

Decreased muscle mass is a common side effect of weight loss and severely restricts calorie intake HCG diet It is common in diets such as. This can push the body into thinking it is starving and reduce the number of calories it burns to save energy.

Does the HCG Diet Improve Body Composition?

A common side effect of weight loss is reduced muscle mass. This is especially HCG diet It is common in diets that severely restrict calorie intake. The body thinks it's hungry and can reduce the calories it burns to conserve energy.

However, HCG dietProponents claim that it facilitates weight loss resulting from fat loss rather than muscle loss.

They claim that HCG boosts other hormones, boosts metabolism, and makes it a growth-promoting (anabolic) state.

However, there is no scientific research available to support these claims.

If you are on a low-calorie diet, you can do this in many other ways without taking HCG to prevent muscle loss and metabolic slowdown.

Weight lifting is the most effective strategy. Also, eating large amounts of high-protein foods and taking an occasional break from your diet can also boost metabolism.

How is the HCG Diet Made?

HCG diet It is a very low fat, very low calorie diet. It is generally divided into three stages:

Loading stage

Start taking hCG and eat lots of fat, high-calorie foods for 2 days.

Weight loss phase

Keep taking hCG and consume only 3 calories a day for 6-500 weeks.

Maintenance phase

Stop taking hCG. Slowly increase your food intake but avoid sugar and starch for 3 weeks.

For people who need to lose less weight during the weight loss phase, this phase is recommended for 3 weeks. Those who need to lose a lot of weight are recommended to follow the diet for 6 weeks and even repeat the cycle (all phases).

HCG Diet Sample Menu

Loading Stage 

Weight Loss Phase (500 calories)

Maintenance phase

What to Eat on the HCG Diet?

Vegetables

Vegetables such as spinach, cabbage, radish, carrot, beet, arugula, chard, tomato, cucumber, bell pepper, zucchini, eggplant.

Fruits

Fruits like apple, banana, avocado, pineapple, watermelon, melon, peach, pear, plum, pomegranate, grapefruit, lemon, tangerine and orange.

Protein

Eggs, salmon, turkey, tuna, haddock, mackerel, tofu, soybeans and legumes.

Cereals

Red rice, black rice, brown rice, oats and cracked wheat.

Milk

Milk and buttermilk.

oils

Olive oil, avocado oil and fish oil.

Nuts and Seeds

Almonds, flax seeds, pistachios, walnuts, sunflower seeds.

Herbs and Spices

Coriander, cumin, garlic powder, ginger powder, pepper, turmeric, chili peppers, cloves, cardamom, basil, thyme, dill, fennel, star anise, cinnamon, saffron, mint and mustard.

What not to Eat on the HCG Diet?

Vegetables - White potatoes

Fruits - Mango, sapodilla and jackfruit.

Proteins - Red meat

Cereals - White rice.

Dairy Products - Cheese, butter and margarine.

Fats - Vegetable oil, hazelnut oil, hemp seed oil and canola oil.

Junk food - Processed meat, french fries, fried chicken, ketchup, mayonnaise, chips, waffles, cakes, pastries and bread.

Beverages - Energy drinks, packaged fruit and vegetable juices and alcohol.

Most Products Do Not Contain HCG

Most of the HCG products on the market today are actually "homeopathic". This means that they do not have HCG literally.

Real HCG is approved as a fertility drug in the form of injection. It is only available on prescription from a doctor.

Safety and Side Effects of the HCG Diet

HCG is not approved as a weight loss drug by agencies such as the FDA. On the contrary, the safety of HCG products is questioned, as the ingredients are unregulated and unknown.

HCG dietThere are also a number of side effects associated with the disease, such as:

- Headache

- Fatigue

- Depression

Breast enlargement in men

- Risk of developing cancer

Edema

Blood clot formation causes blood vessels to become blocked

- Irritability

This is largely due to very low calorie intake, which makes most people feel tired and weak.

Additionally, in one case, when a 64-year-old woman developed a blood clot in her leg and lungs HCG diet was implementing. It was concluded that the clot was likely caused by diet.

Diet can work, but only because you eat very few calories.

HCG dietmakes it an extremely restricted weight loss diet by limiting calorie intake to about 500 calories per day for weeks at a time. Any diet low in calories will make you lose weight anyway.

However, numerous studies have found that the HCG hormone has no effect on weight loss and does not reduce your appetite.

If you are serious about losing weight and want to keep it going, then HCG dietThere are much more reasonably effective methods than.