
HCG stands for human chorionic gonadotropin. It is a
hormone that is produced naturally by women when they are pregnant and has been
approved by the FDA for use to treat certain, fairly specific fertility issues. Back in
the 1950s an endocrinologist found that hCG injections seemed to help his patients lose
fat when coupled with severe dieting. This type of use was never approved by
the FDA but it was too late. At that point the hCG diet craze was on.
A typical hCG diet consists of daily (or so) injections
of hCG combined with a diet plan that limits your daily intake to 500 calories. This
is an extremely aggressive diet, given how quickly 500 calories can be
consumed. Dairy, complex carbohydrates, alcohol and processed sugar are
forbidden. Fresh and organic foods are recommended. But realize that 500
calories comes down to a bit of fish, two pieces of fruit and a small bowl of
vegetables for an entire day.
Contrary to what may be claimed on hCG sales web sites,
there are no peer-reviewed medical studies that have demonstrated the
effectiveness of hCG injections. Ten studies found that injecting sterile water
had the same benefits. The weight loss is entirely due to the drastic reduction
in daily calorie intake. But as Shakespeare said, therein lies the rub.
Eating only 500 calories a day is considered a starvation
diet. When your body experiences starvation the reaction is nearly immediate.
Fatigue, muscle aches, irritability and insomnia can begin after just a day or
two. Lack of food causes cholesterol to increase in the gall bladder, reducing
your ability to get rid of bile. This can cause the formation of painful gall
stones, especially in obese people. Continuing the starvation diet can trigger
heart arrhythmia, heart attacks or stroke. Your body loses muscle mass, bone density and hair
rapidly as body cells of all types are metabolized to generate energy. The resulting electrolyte imbalances make muscle cramps and extreme
weakness common.
So why is the hCG diet so prevalent in the media and diet
circles? One factor may be the "magic bullet" syndrome, where people
want to believe that there is an elixir that will melt away their extra
pounds without weeks or months of discipline and deprivation. Modern society
loves the quick fix, and at 500 calories a day, this diet is certainly quick.
If you really need to lose weight, the government
recommends that you eat at least 1,200 calories a day. This is a safe level of
dieting and will allow a safe and gradual weight loss. Since it has been
established that the hCG injections have no value, why get a daily shot at all?
The hCG drops that are taken orally or dripped onto food have been banned by
the FDA, so that shouldn't cloud the issue any more.
All in all, there are quite a number of safe and sane
diets on the market. Many of them have been reviewed here. Grab yourself a buddy, choose a diet that
makes sense for you and get that slimmer silhouette that you've been craving!
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