hCG Diet Reviews

The HCG diet is not quite as new as everyone may believe. In fact it is over six decades old and can be attributed to a British physician, Dr. Simeons. Initially, he was conducting research into the HCG hormone to determine its effectiveness in treating underdeveloped genitalia in young boys. However, he discovered that while receiving HCG shots, his patients exhibited substantial weight loss with diminished appetites. Thus, he began to dig deeper and eventually laid the foundations of the HCG diet as we know it today.

HCG is Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, a hormone found in large quantities in pregnant women. In fact, pregnancy tests rely on the presence of HCG to determine whether or not there is a fetus present. The role of this hormone is to make sure that the fetus obtains all the nutrients it needs, even at the cost of the mother. This appears to be a fail safe for the period when the mother is still unaware of her pregnancy and is not yet taking the necessary precautions to care for her child. HCG not only diverts nutrients to the child from the mother’s food intake but also from fat deposits, which is what makes it an excellent weight loss aid.

The minimum length of HCG treatment for weight loss is 26 days, of which 23 days the patient is administered shots. The maximum length of treatment is 43 days, because after 40 days the body becomes immune and needs a six week break before treatment can recommence. If a weight loss of 34 – 40 lbs is achieved before the forty days are up then the treatment is interrupted for six weeks and resumed if necessary.

Patients must also follow a very low calorie diet that is high in protein and low in fat and carbohydrates. Even a slight deviation from the recommended eating plan can sabotage the treatment. The recommended diet does not exceed 500 calories per day, but due to the HCG the patient does not feel any hunger pangs as it acts like an appetite suppressant.

The eating plan incorporates lean meat and vegetables, with one piece of fruit allowed per day. As with any other healthy eating regimen, 8 fl oz of liquids are recommended per day. Patients average an approximate loss of one to two pounds per day.

There have been some side effects reported, though, such as increased risk of blood clots, risk of multiple pregnancies, mood changes, restlessness as well as symptoms associated with pregnancy. It also appears that HCG can cause life threatening conditions such as ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome (OHSS) and arterial thrombo-embolism. Thus, it is not recommended for people to go on the HCG diet without proper medical supervision.

However, clinical trials have shown that HCG is an effective weight loss aid and can achieve spectacular results in less than thirty days. The chances of gaining weight after concluding the diet are minimal as long as a healthy lifestyle is adhered to.