It is almost impossible to do an Internet search on weight loss without seeing site after site promoting the weight-loss benefits of hCG. When taken as suggested, some claim that hCG can facilitate significant weight loss. There are many users of the product who believe so, and their positive testimonials seem to back up the claims. Before you jump on the hCG bandwagon, understand just what this diet supplement is about.
About HCG
The acronym for human chorionic gonadotropin, hCG is actually a hormone produced by women when they are pregnant. It is this hormone that over-the-counter pregnancy tests identify in a woman's urine before displaying a positive result. The cells of the placenta, which is the organ that attaches to the uterine wall and surrounds a baby for the duration of a pregancy, are responsible for producing this hormone. Weight loss experienced while taking hCG is a result of increased metabolism. Weight loss also occurs through excessively restricted caloric intake, as well.
Calorie Restrictions
Manufacturers of hCG recommend that in conjunction with the hormone, users of the product restrict their caloric intake to around 500 calories per day. Because this is approximately 1/4 of the calories of a normal dietary intake, it is difficult to tell whether or not you are losing weight from the hCG or the diet, as there is no question that anybody with the willpower to stick to a 500-calorie per day diet will experience rapid weight loss. The 500 calories that you can consume while on the hCG diet are those from lean proteins, such as fish, lean beef, chicken and turkey. Acceptable vegetables on the diet include onions, celery, asparagus and spinach. You can also eat fruit, such as strawberries, tomatoes, oranges, grapefruit and apples.
Side Effects
The are several side effects of the hormone hCG, one of the more profound of which is that if you are a male who takes hCG, you may experience breast enlargement. Taking hCG may essentially cause your body to act like it is pregnant, the side effects of which include fatigue to profound tiredness, nausea, vomiting, headache, frequent urination and constipation. As your metabolism increases, you may also experience a rapid heart rate, irritability and sweating.
By adhering to the restricted dietary guidelines of the program, you are unlikely to eat enough to meet all of your nutritional needs, which can result in malnutrition and leave you exhausted. Additionally, the formation of gall stones is also a potential when rapid weight loss occurs.
HCG Approval
Although the FDA has approved administration of the hormone hCG to treat other medical conditions, obesity is not one of them. Therefore, using hCG to promote weight loss is not an FDA-approved use of the product. Since 1975, the FDA has warned consumers that there is not significant evidence that hCG causes significant weight loss and that any weight loss experienced on the program is likely the result of the restrictive diet. Also, because side effects of long-term use of the hormone are as of yet unknown, taking hCG could set you up for any number of health issues in the future.
References
- Americanpregancy.org: Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG): The Pregnancy Hormone; July 2007
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Controversial Weight Loss Treatment May Have Contributed to the Early Death of 1950's Film and Recording Star Mario Lanza; January 11, 2010
- MayoClinic.com: Does the HCG Diet Work--and Is It Safe?; Jennifer K. Nelson; June 26, 2010
- Everydiet.org: HCG Diet
- Babymed.com: Early Pregnancy Symptoms
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