Supplements With The Hcg Diet

Making the decision to follow an HCG diet plan requires you to adhere to a strict lifestyle. You may have to abstain from certain medications and supplements, while some supplements are safe. Since this type of diet is strictly regimented, talk with your doctor ahead of time to make sure this type of diet is right for you and let him know if you decide to take any kind of dietary supplements.

HCG

HCG is short for human chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone women naturally produce in the placenta during pregnancy. Proponents of the HCG diet claim that taking daily HCG supplements or getting HCG injections, helps melt fat off your body and specifically targets problem areas. In addition to getting HCG into your system each day, you also have to limit your caloric intake to 500 calories per day. You may experience weight loss on the HCG diet, but it is most likely correlated with your drastic calorie reduction, not from the HCG itself, explains Jennifer K. Nelson, a registered dietitian from the Mayo Clinic.

Potassium

Feeling weak or faint while on the HCG diet may be a sign of low electrolytes. These electrically-charged minerals help balance fluid in your body, giving you a steady heart rhythm, allowing muscles to contract and helping nerves communicate to one another. Potassium is a type of electrolyte that helps support these functions. You need 4,700 mg of potassium daily, but over-the-counter supplements in the United States do not provide more than 99 mg per serving to prevent overdoses, according to the Linus Pauling Institute.

Magnesium

You may experience episodes of constipation while following the HCG diet, from poor electrolyte status and low fiber intake. Magnesium supplements, in the form of hydroxide and sulfate, have a natural laxative effect, helping move food and waste through your digestive tract. These types of magnesium supplements are available over-the-counter, but you need to follow instructions on the packaging carefully to avoid diarrhea.

Calcium

Since you can't have dairy foods while following the strict HCG diet plan, you need to take daily calcium supplements. Calcium, most commonly known for giving strength and structure to your bones, also acts as an electrolyte. You need 1,000 mg of daily calcium, says the Office of Dietary Supplements. Your body absorbs more calcium at smaller doses, so splitting your supplements into two separate 500 mg doses allows you to fully absorb your supplement.

Vitamin E

Your HCG diet plan excludes foods rich in vitamin E, such as nuts, seeds and oil. Vitamin E acts like an antioxidant by protecting cells from highly reactive free radicals. These damaging compounds feed on healthy cells, increasing oxidative stress and your risk of chronic disease. Keep your body healthy by consuming the recommended 15 mg, or 22.4 IU, of vitamin E each day, notes the Office of Dietary Supplements.