The HCG diet is a fad diet. It is based on the notion that taking injections or supplements of the hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin, or HCG, will help you burn fat, redistribute fat or alleviate the normal hunger pains associated with an extremely low-calorie diet. Fad diets such as the HCG diet,however, are not particularly safe for anyone, let alone individuals suffering from a serious medical condition such as heart disease.
Blood Clots
If you have heart disease, you may be at increased risk for developing blood clots that can become dislodged, potentially causing heart attack or stroke. Use of HCG, approved only for treating infertility by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, also increases your risk of developing blood clots. Side effect risks, as well as the unknown risks of combining HCG with an extremely low-calorie diet, prompted the FDA to issue a warning stating that the promotion of HCG for weight loss is illegal and "fraudulent," according to the U.S. News and World Report article, titled "HCG Diet Dangers - Is Fast Weight Loss Worth the Risk?"
Carbohydrates and Heart Disease
Healthy carbohydrates are important for the prevention and management of heart disease. The HCG diet encourages you to eliminate all carbohydrates from your diet, which can be particularly detrimental to individuals with heart disease. Healthy carbohydrates, from sources such as whole-grains, beans and peas, are rich in fiber and help reduce the levels of bad cholesterol in your blood stream, notes the Harvard School of Public Health. Diets rich in whole-grain carbohydrates have been proven to reduce your risk for heart attack and stroke.
Malnutrition
According to MayoClinic.com, the HCG diet recommends a daily caloric intake that is one-quarter to one-half of the daily caloric intake recommended by medical professionals. Restrictive diets rob your body of the nutrition it needs to maintain proper organ function. Even for individuals with a healthy heart, extremely low-calorie diets, such as the HCG diet, can cause fatal heart rhythm abnormalities, warns the Weight-control Information Network.
Safe Weight Loss
Maintaining a healthy weight is important if you have heart disease, but it is just as important that you avoid dangerous fad diets. The HCG diet has not been proven to be safe or effective for long-term weight loss, warns MayoClinic.com. Individuals suffering from a serious medical condition such as heart disease should consult a physician before beginning any new diet. Your physician can help you develop a diet plan that promotes cardiovascular health and helps you maintain healthy cholesterol levels and adequate nutrition.
References
- U.S. News and World Report: "HCG Diet Dangers - Is Fast Weight Loss Worth the Risk?"; Angela Haupt; March 14, 2011
- MayoClinic.com: HCG Diet - Is it Safe and Effective?; Jennifer K. Nelson; June 26, 2010
- Harvard School of Public Health: Carbohydrates - Good Carbs Guide the Way
- Weight-control Information Network: Weight-loss and Nutrition Myths
