HCG injections are given with a special diet called on to facilitate weight loss. HCG, a hormone secreted during pregnancy, is supposed to lead to weight loss in combination with diet and exercise. It is also preferred by women who have difficulty in losing the weight gained during pregnancy.
What Are HCG Injections?
HCG injections and the accompanying diet program is an effective diet that combines the HCG hormone secreted during pregnancy and an intense diet and exercise plan. Although proponents of this popular diet propose that it is safe, some studies show the opposite. This is mainly because the diet contains food restrictions, leading to extreme hunger and nutritional deficiencies.
HCG stands for human chorionic gonadotropin secreted in early pregnancy. It is also a marker used in pregnancy tests and infertility treatment. Besides, high levels of this hormone in the blood may be a sign of certain cancers including ovarian and testicular cancers. In 1954, Albert Simeons, a British doctor, proposed to use it for a weight loss diet, which has been used with a diet from that day on.
How Is The HCG Diet Prescribed?
The daily calorie intake is reduced to 500 calories a day along with HCG injections. You should continue the diet for a certain period and then stop it once you get to your ideal weight. The diet usually takes about 3 weeks or 45 days. This hormone is used to reduce appetite and thus prevent cravings. The HCG diet generally consists of three stages:
- Loading phase: At this stage, you start HCG injections and from that moment on, eat a diet full of high-calorie and fatty foods for two days.
- Weight loss phase: The HCG hormone is continued, but a severe calorie restriction is introduced. You eat a diet to get 500 calories a day for 3 to 6 weeks.
- Maintenance phase: You stop taking HCG injections and gradually stop the 500-calorie diet. To this aim, you increase your calorie intake day by day. Despite the calorie increase, you avoid sugar and refined carbs for 3 weeks.
How long the diet will last, depends on the weight loss goals. While 3 weeks is enough for people who can lose weight quickly, those who have difficulty losing weight quickly should follow this diet for up to 6 weeks. Also, the diet can be repeated until you attain your weight loss goal. It is recommended that you only eat two meals a day. The meal should include mostly lean meat, vegetables, a small piece of bread, and fruits. All kinds of fat and sugar should be removed from the diet. You are free to drink mineral water, unsweetened tea, and coffee.
Side Effects of HCG Injections and Diet
First of all, it is worth noting that HCG injections for weight loss have not been approved by the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration). Side effects of this diet include headache, depression, and fatigue. Such side effects are thought to be related to excessive calorie restriction. Because of the calorie restrictions, the body lacks the necessary nutrients and energy to function properly.
There are also concerns that HCG injections do not consist solely of HCG. Herbal supplements to facilitate weight loss can also be added to this mixture. The uncertainty about its ingredients raises concerns about health risks.
Besides, some doctors are completely against HCG injections and HCG diet because there are studies that show that some people experience blood clotting during this diet. Therefore, those who want to follow this diet must discuss the possible risks and the effectiveness of the diet in detail with their doctors.
