The HCG diet plan has been promoted as a way of dieting that allows for rapid weight loss. This diet requires regular injections of the hormone HCG, which is touted to alter your metabolism. However, there is no scientific evidence that HCG aids in weight loss. This diet may be dangerous. Discuss your interest in this plan with your doctor.
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
HCG stands for human chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone that normally is produced by the human body to support the development of mature eggs in a woman's ovary, to stimulate the release of eggs and as a marker of pregnancy. HCG injections are sometimes used as a fertility treatment for women or as a way to increase sperm count in men. HCG is also occasionally used to treat young boys whose testes have not naturally dropped into their scrotums.
HCG Diet Theory
The HCG diet combines a diet of around 500 calories per day along with regular injections of HCG. Promoters of this diet say that the HCG injections allow you to survive on this very low calorie diet and also help your body burn "abnormal" fat. The theory is that the HCG injections keep your metabolism from dropping and promote weight loss while on a very low calorie diet.
Controversy
There is significant controversy surrounding the HCG diet. According to Jennifer Nelson, a registered dietitian at MayoClinic.com, there is no evidence that taking human chorionic gonadotropin alters your metabolism or has any effect on weight loss. Any weight that you lose while on the HCG diet comes from your reduced calorie intake, not the HCG itself. In addition, once you go off the diet, you are likely to regain much of the weight that you lost.
Safety
There are significant safety concerns regarding the HCG diet. This diet typically requires participants to consume around 500 calories per day, which is an extremely low number. Following such as restrictive diet can be dangerous and should only be done under the supervision of a trained medical doctor. In addition, HCG injections can cause significant side effects, including irritability, gynecomastia and headaches.
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