In recent time, many people are desperate to shed extra kilos and remain in shape; consequently they are crazy about easy and fast weight loss. For this purpose, they use diet pills, exercise equipment, unusual devices and many other formulas, which all promise dieters to give mind-boggling results. HCG diet protocol is one of such booming weight loss schemes that promise customers to reduce one to three pounds per day. HCG stands for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. HCG is a hormone which is naturally produced by the placenta in pregnant women. Throughout pregnancy, HCG has an important role to control metabolic function through the hypothalamus. Researches and studies have suggested that this glycoprotein based hormone is suitable for both men and women, especially in reducing body weight.

One of the popular weight loss programs, HCG diet plan includes HCG shots for weight loss and a 500 calorie diet. The HCG which is recommended to use in the HCG diet protocols is different from the HCG used for fertility treatments. The hCG diet protocol is proposed by A.T.W Simeons, a British endocrinologist in the 1950s. Basically, the hCG diet plan is an ultra-low-calorie weight loss program as hCG hormone aids in burning accumulated fats (adipose tissue) from the body. This scheme was claimed for weight loss on long-term basis but clinical trials have failed to prove the claimed effectiveness. The hCG diet has certain side effects and every interested person should learn this side effect before trying out this diet plan. Here are hcg diet dangers for weight loss.

HCG Diet Plan Phases:

The HCG diet plan consists of total three phases.

First phase:

It consists of two loading days. During first two days, you are expected to eat a very high-fat diet and start your daily dose of 60 HCG drops. You are believed to overstock your cells with fat so that they will not go into hunger mode during the next low-calorie stage. You must consume food rich in ‘good’ fat.

Second phase:

It is important phase and known as VLCD. VLCD means very low calorie diet (500 calories a day diet). It requires following a very strict diet plan with a limited list of foods in the protein, vegetable, and fruit groups. This phase lasts anywhere from 24 to 58 days (on HCG drops) and duration varies according to your desired weight loss goal. HCG injections and Oral HCG both are equally beneficial. During the last three days of second phase, the diet is maintained but HCG is stopped. This helps to take all the HCG out of the body and so makes the body prepared for the next stage of the HCG protocol.

Third phase:

The last phase is known as the maintenance phase as it stabilizes the body’s metabolic rate for the new weight. You should avoid sugar or starch for 21 days after VLCD. However, it is allowed to consume sugar or starch from permitted fruits and vegetables. You are anticipated to consume about 1500 calories per day. You can eat any organic healthy food that you want to consume calories.

During HCG diet plan phases, no medicines or cosmetics other than lipstick, eyebrow pencil and powder are allowed. It is also allowed to take aspirin and birth control pills. Also, you have to avoid massage of any kind while on diet.

HCG Diet Plan Menu:

Salt, vinegar, mustard powder, pepper, garlic, sweet basil, parsley, thyme, majoram, etc., are allowed for seasoning, but no oil, butter or dressing is allowed according to Dr. Simeon’s original menu.

You can drink organic tea or coffee, both without milk, plain water, or mineral water in any quantity and at all times. Also, you can consume the fruit or the bread stick between meals in place of with lunch or dinner. Apple, grapefruit, or a cup of strawberries are also permitted as long as they are organic.

You can eat certain proteins and vegetables for lunch and dinner. You are believed to get protein from organic fed beef or veal, organic skinless chicken breast, and a couple different types of fish which are low in mercury. For lunch or dinner, you can take some of the vegetables like spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, and celery.

Keep in mind; you are permitted to eat only one kind of vegetable with a meal. No oil or fats should be used to cook these vegetables but you may take boiled, grilled, or steamed vegetables.

During the same day, you can not use same meat and vegetable for lunch and dinner. In the HCG menu, certain herbs and seasonings are also allowed.

HCG dieters do notice a loss of 1 to 2 lbs a day. The minimum weight loss noticed with hcg diet is 0.5 pound a day while the maximum weight loss noticed is 3 + lbs a day. Normally, in the first day the dieter notices the loss of 1 lb.

HCG Diet Plan Dangers:

As described above, HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) hormone is secreted in women during pregnancy  at the early stages of conception. Indirectly, it controls the optimal production of progesterone in the body which is vital for both the mother and fetus. HCG also suppresses appetite for a longer period.

A dieter is required to consume only 500 calories a day while following hCG diet because the HCG hormone triggers the body into burning up to 2,000 calories a day from stored fat cells. So, there is no need of eating more. Providing these low calories is not sufficient for normal functioning of the metabolic processes, which in turn causes cravings for foods, lightheadedness, weakness and irritation.

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) didn’t approved this hormone for weight loss purposes. Undoubtedly, it is suggested for treatment of fertility problems in women and promoting secretion of testosterone hormone in men but using hCG as a weight loss aid is not scientifically proven. To be more precise, there are no clinical trials that support the benefits of hCG hormone in suppressing appetite, burning adipose tissues or decreasing discomfort associated with low calorie diet.

It is reported that some people have experienced problems of confusion, lack of concentration, headache, restlessness, blood clots and depression after taking HCG drops or injections. Some women who have followed HCG diet plan have also complained of pelvic pain, stomach pain, urinating less than normal – all that are symptoms of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS). Patient may also experience nausea, vomiting, breathing difficulty, excess urination and weight gain under such case. Some people have also observed swelling of hands and feet, water retention and breast tenderness (like in pregnancy).

Before selecting any diet for weight loss, it is imperative for dieters to examine the safety of the specific diet or weight loss product. Generally, the effectiveness of fad diets remains doubtful and controversial for most of the cases. So, one should pamper in healthy ways to lose weight (regular exercise and consuming right calories). You should always consult your physician before incorporating it.

List of dangerous side effects of the HCG diet:

• Mood Swings
• Anxiety
• Headaches
• Depression
• Sluggish Mobility and Weakness
• Burning Muscle instead of Fat
• Shutdown Metabolism
• Insomnia
• Cheating/Binge eating and purging (throwing it up)
• Regaining all the weight when calories return to normal

Truth about hcg side effects – Potential HCg Diet Dangers & Risks video from Youtube: