HCG Diet: Lose Weight By Hormone Injections?

The HCG diet is one of many weight loss trends that originated in Hollywood. The diet was developed back in the 1950s by doctor Albert Simeons and has made a comeback several times. It is especially popular among acting mothers – after all, thanks to an HCG diet plan, they can allegedly stand in front of the camera again with top model dimensions just a few weeks after giving birth. But also men promise the HCG diet a quick, easy slimming without side effects and yo-yo effect. This propagated success has also its price: The costs of a HCG Diät vary strongly, however one should refrain from cheap offers in the Internet. In addition to the monetary effects, but also possible health side effects should be considered, because the diet is highly controversial.

HCG diet: losing weight through hormones.

The principle of the HCG diet is simple and at first glance resembles many conventional diets. In addition to an extreme reduction in calories, the focus is on a low-fat diet, plenty of drinking and exercise. This makes the HCG diet sound just as tedious as other fasting diets. To the HCG Diätplan belongs however a crucial difference: Over a period of several weeks the pregnancy hormone human chloriongonadotropin (HCG) is injected under the skin into the body. This hormone is produced in the placenta during pregnancy and is intended to maintain the pregnancy by ensuring that the body attacks its fat reserves in times of need, i.e. malnutrition, during pregnancy. This is to ensure adequate nutrition for both mother and child. Allegedly, the HCG diet specifically targets fat deposits on the hips, legs and arms. Medical practices and clinics that offer the HCG diet in various countries also tout other positive effects that the hormone provides during pregnancy: these include a mood-lifting effect and improvement of the skin‘s appearance and elasticity, which should thus lead to tightening of the affected areas and help against cellulite.

HCG diet plan: How does it work?

The HCG diet plan is primarily based on low calorie intake. Only 500 kilocalories may be consumed daily – depending on the provider, the limit may be 800 kilocalories. This is combined with at least two liters of water – otherwise the HCG Diät does not obtain its desired success, it is said. The advertised results can be seen: Between seven and 15 kilos less is to indicate the balance after at the latest eight weeks. In addition the regular hormone injections (sometimes also drops, sprays or tablets are used instead). This is to prevent the blood sugar level from dropping, which would otherwise be the case with such a low calorie intake. Weight reduction is achieved by reducing food intake, while the hormone is only intended to suppress hunger. This is said to prevent food cravings, fatigue and depressive moods. Allegedly, even hard-working people should still be able to work at full capacity. Sport is recommended as an accompaniment to the HCG diet. A universally valid HCG diet plan does not exist – some providers work out an individual HCG diet plan for those wanting to lose weight, others recommend HCG diet recipes, still others allow eating anything that tastes good – as long as the 500 calories per day are not exceeded.

The phases of the HCG diet

Most often, the diet plan of the HCG diet looks like this:

  1. Feasting days (preparation phase): In these two days everything may be eaten, which tastes. One may again so correctly zulangen. So the metabolism should be boosted.
  2. Diet phase: In these three weeks, a maximum of 500 calories per day are allowed. Here you do without according to the respective diet plan mostly carbohydrates, fat, sugar and alcohol.
  3. Stabilization phase: This phase also lasts 21 days and serves to maintain the new body weight. In the process, the calorie intake is increased again and more foods are allowed.
  4. Maintenance phase: after the actual diet, the focus is on the long-term maintenance of weight. This is about eating healthy and low-calorie in the long term.

Recipes: What is on the diet plan?

In general, the recommendation is issued to avoid sugar, sweets and fatty foods during the HCG diet. At least after completion of the HCG diet, these foods must be removed from the menu anyway.Recommended foods include lean meat and fish (maximum 100 grams per meal) and fruits and vegetables. In general, the menu mainly includes foods rich in protein. It is important that the HCG diet recipes offer as much variety as possible, as well as nutrients and minerals. Sometimes dietary supplements are also recommended to avoid deficiencies. In addition, the recipes must not be prepared with butter or oils. After the HCG diet, the first three weeks continue to largely refrain from a diet high in carbohydrates and fats. A return to normal caloric intake is gradual, with dietary changes to ensure lasting success.

Cost: How much does the HCG diet cost?

In the HCG diet, HCG injections are to be given daily or HCG drops are to be taken. Many doctors also perform a hormone test and nutritional counseling to complete an HCG diet. This finally explains the prices of several hundred or thousand euros that cures with HCG can cost.

HCG diet: side effects and criticism

The HCG diet plan and losing weight using hormones are very controversial. The HCG diet lures with weight loss successes at the genetically caused problem areas, where neither other diets nor sports take effect. Suppliers assure that with the HCG Diät side effects are impossible and lead as “proof” that since development of this Diät in the 50-er years no side effects or long-term consequences occurred. While proponents claim that the diet reduces the risk of breast cancer, other voices point to a possible increased risk of tumor formation and other side effects. The extreme malnutrition (500 calories a day is about one-third of normal needs for women and one-quarter of those for men) is not without risk. Possible side effects may include nutritional and mineral deficiencies. Due to the low food intake, headaches are sometimes counted among the side effects at the beginning of the HCG diet. As a result of malnutrition, kidney problems as well as heart rhythm or metabolic disorders may also occur. In addition, such radical diets promote the yo-yo effect, i.e. rapid weight gain after the end of the diet. Other possible side effects of HCG include:

  • An increased risk of thrombosis.
  • Menstrual disorders
  • A reduced effect of the birth control pill
  • Restlessness and irritability
  • Fatigue and depression
  • Edema and cysts
  • Pain at the injection site of the syringe

Scientific evidence is lacking

The effect of the HCG diet has been studied in several scientific studies. The result is sobering: no effectiveness of HCG in terms of weight loss was confirmed. Positive experiences and weight loss successes with the diet were exclusively due to the radically reduced calorie intake. Also, the studies could not find any positive effect on the feeling of hunger or other benefits. HCG is not approved for weight loss and its use as a slimming product is therefore illegal. Experts strongly advise against following an HCG diet. Under no circumstances should you carry out an HCG diet yourself and order appropriate preparations on the Internet.

Metabolism cure as a further development of the HCG diet.

A further development of the HCG diet is the so-called 21-day metabolism cure. In this HCG is not injected, but taken in the form of globules or drops. Also here the calorie supply is limited radically to 500 kilocalories daily. Proponents of the diet argue that due to the homeopathic application of HCG its side effects are absent. However, the metabolic diet is just as subject to criticism as the HCG diet, because its effect is just as little proven, while the side effects as a result of the radical reduction in calories can occur here just as with the HCG diet.