Dieting can be so difficult! There are always new fads claiming them to be the easiest way to losing weight. But we all know that if a diet was so easy, it wouldn’t be a four letter word, #$@!. If you have not heard of the new up and coming diet called, the HCG diet, then it’s time to get the facts straight. Is it safe? Does it really work? Continue reading to get some answers.
What does HCG stand for and how is it normally produced?
HCG stands for human chorionic gonadotropin and is more commonly known as a hormone that is produced during pregnancy. It is more commonly used to treat fertility issues.
What is the diet?
When the HCG is injected or consumed it is suppose to relieve hunger pangs, which would be crucial to the diets success because people are on a severely restricted caloric intake. The calorie intake while on the diet is a mere 500 to 800 calories per day, which equates to a quarter, if not half, of what is normally recommended for daily calorie consumption. People usually lose weight on the HCG diet because of the calorie restriction, not because of the hormone. HGC is also claiming to reduce and redistribute fat away from the buttocks and the stomach. Wouldn’t that be nice?
How is it taken?
HCG is normally injected or taken in supplement form. It is usually offered through weight loss clinics that say they will provide medical supervision.
Is it safe?
HCG is not regulated by the FDA and has been studied for years yielding no conclusive results that the program actually works. Of course, restricting calories from 500 to 800 calories a day is going to result in losing weight, but there is no proof that it is the hormone that is causing the weight loss. There are also some negative side effects that can occur when going on the HCG diet such as not meeting your daily nutritional needs, headaches, and fatigue. Gallstones can also occur because of the amount of weight that is being lost in such a short time frame.
The lesson from all of this is that fad diets no matter what they are, do not work. Once you stop them, you are likely to gain any lost weight back. The key to weight loss and maintenance is a healthy diet mixed with regular exercise.
Have you tried the HCG diet? Have you tried any other fad dieting? I loved to hear you results and success stories for any weight loss, whether it was a fad diet or a self motivated plan.
Source:
Mayo Clinic
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