What foods are allowed on the HCG diet. How many calories should you consume during each phase. Which vegetables provide the most nutritional value on the HCG diet. What protein sources are recommended for optimal weight loss results.

Understanding the HCG Diet: Basics and Benefits

The HCG diet is a weight loss program that combines a very low-calorie diet with hormonal supplementation. HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, is a hormone produced during pregnancy that is believed to help mobilize fat stores for energy. Proponents claim the diet can lead to rapid weight loss of up to 1-2 pounds per day.

The diet typically consists of three main phases:

1. Loading phase (2 days): Eat high-fat, high-calorie foods to build up fat stores
2. Weight loss phase (3-6 weeks): Very low calorie diet (500-800 calories) with HCG supplementation
3. Maintenance phase: Gradually increase calories while avoiding sugars and starches

During the weight loss phase, dieters must strictly adhere to a specific food list to maximize fat burning. Understanding which foods are allowed and prohibited is crucial for success on this controversial but potentially effective diet plan.

HCG Diet Food List for Phase 1: The Loading Phase

The loading phase of the HCG diet lasts just 2 days but plays an important role in preparing the body for rapid fat loss. During this brief period, dieters are encouraged to eat as much high-fat, high-calorie food as possible.

Foods recommended during the loading phase include:

• Fatty meats like bacon, sausage, and ribeye steak
• Full-fat dairy products including cheese, cream, and butter
• Nuts and nut butters
• Avocados
• Oils and fatty dressings
• Desserts and sweets

The goal is to saturate the body’s fat stores before beginning the very low calorie diet in Phase 2. This helps prevent excessive hunger and fatigue in the early days of calorie restriction.

HCG Diet Food List for Phase 2: The Weight Loss Phase

Phase 2 is the core of the HCG diet, typically lasting 3-6 weeks. During this time, calorie intake is severely restricted to 500-800 calories per day, divided between lunch and dinner. The food choices are limited to specific lean proteins, vegetables, fruits, and small amounts of approved carbohydrates.

Approved Proteins

Protein is a crucial component of the HCG diet, helping to preserve muscle mass during rapid weight loss. Allowed protein sources include:

• Chicken breast (skinless)
• Lean beef (96% lean or higher)
• White fish (cod, tilapia, halibut)
• Lobster
• Crab
• Shrimp

All meats should be trimmed of visible fat and cooked without added oils. A typical serving is 100 grams (3.5 ounces) per meal.

Approved Vegetables

Vegetables provide essential nutrients and fiber while keeping calorie intake low. The following vegetables are allowed on the HCG diet:

• Spinach
• Lettuce (all varieties)
• Tomatoes
• Cucumbers
• Celery
• Onions
• Cabbage
• Asparagus
• Beet greens
• Chard
• Fennel
• Radishes

Dieters can consume one type of vegetable per meal, with a typical serving size of 1 cup raw or 1/2 cup cooked.

Approved Fruits

Fruits provide natural sweetness and important vitamins on the HCG diet. Allowed fruits include:

• Apples
• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Blackberries
• Lemons

One small fruit or 1/2 cup of berries is typically allowed per day.

Beverages and Condiments on the HCG Diet

Staying hydrated is crucial on the HCG diet, but beverage choices are limited. Approved drinks and condiments include:

• Water (at least 2 liters per day)
• Herbal tea (unsweetened)
• Coffee (black, no sugar or cream)
• Stevia (natural sweetener)
• Lemon juice
• Apple cider vinegar
• Mustard
• Bragg’s Liquid Aminos (as a soy sauce alternative)
• Herbs and spices

Are artificial sweeteners allowed on the HCG diet? While some plans permit sugar-free gum or zero-calorie sweeteners, it’s generally recommended to avoid artificial sweeteners as they may interfere with weight loss or increase cravings.

Nutritional Breakdown of Common HCG Diet Foods

Understanding the calorie and nutrient content of allowed foods can help with meal planning and portion control. Here’s a breakdown of some common HCG diet staples:

By carefully selecting and combining these foods, it’s possible to create satisfying meals that still adhere to the strict calorie limits of the HCG diet.

Sample Meal Plan for the HCG Diet

Creating varied and satisfying meals within the constraints of the HCG diet can be challenging. Here’s a sample one-day meal plan to illustrate how to combine allowed foods:

Lunch (250-300 calories):

• 100g grilled chicken breast
• 1 cup mixed greens with cucumber and tomato
• 1 small apple
• Dressing: 1 tbsp lemon juice and herbs

Dinner (250-300 calories):

• 100g baked white fish
• 1 cup steamed asparagus
• 1/2 cup strawberries
• Seasoning: Herbs, spices, and a dash of Bragg’s Liquid Aminos

This meal plan provides approximately 500-600 calories, aligning with the HCG diet’s requirements while offering a balance of proteins, vegetables, and fruits.

Potential Risks and Considerations of the HCG Diet

While proponents tout the HCG diet’s effectiveness for rapid weight loss, it’s important to consider potential risks and drawbacks:

• Extreme calorie restriction can lead to nutrient deficiencies
• Rapid weight loss may result in muscle loss
• Side effects may include fatigue, headaches, and irritability
• The diet is not sustainable long-term
• The use of HCG for weight loss is not approved by the FDA

Is the HCG diet safe for everyone? The extremely low calorie intake and hormonal supplementation make this diet unsuitable for many individuals, including pregnant women, those with certain medical conditions, and anyone with a history of eating disorders. It’s crucial to consult with a healthcare provider before starting any extreme diet plan.

Transitioning Off the HCG Diet: The Maintenance Phase

The maintenance phase is critical for sustaining weight loss after completing the HCG diet. During this period, calorie intake is gradually increased while still avoiding sugars and starches. The goal is to reset the body’s metabolism and prevent rapid weight regain.

Key points for the maintenance phase include:

• Slowly increase calorie intake to 1200-1500 calories per day
• Continue to focus on lean proteins and vegetables
• Gradually reintroduce healthy fats like avocado and olive oil
• Avoid sugar and high-glycemic carbohydrates for at least 3 weeks
• Monitor weight closely and adjust intake as needed

How long should the maintenance phase last? Most HCG diet protocols recommend a maintenance phase of at least 3 weeks, though some suggest extending it to 6 weeks or more for optimal results.

The transition off the HCG diet requires careful planning and attention to avoid rapid weight regain. Many dieters find it helpful to continue using elements of the HCG food list as they gradually return to a more balanced eating plan.

In conclusion, the HCG diet food list provides a strict framework for rapid weight loss. While the diet has its proponents, it’s important to approach it with caution and under medical supervision. Understanding the allowed foods, portion sizes, and nutritional content is crucial for anyone considering this controversial weight loss method. As with any extreme diet, long-term success depends on developing sustainable eating habits that extend beyond the initial weight loss phase.

HCG Diet Food List | HCG Diet Food Chart

This is a list of foods you can eat while doing Phase 2 of the HCG Diet.
Use this list as a quick reference when shopping and preparing meals.

VEGETABLES
– Any kind of lettuce, spinach, beet greens, chard, cabbage

– Any kind of onions

– Any kind of tomatoes

– Fennel

– Cucumber

– Radishes

– Celery

– Asparagus

PROTEINS

Your meats/poultry cannot be cooked on the bone. All meats should be
trimmed of all fat (and skin)
– White Fish

– Lobster
– Crab
– Shrimp

– Extra Lean Beef (steak, 96% premium lean ground beef, pot roast)

– Chicken

FRUIT

– Apples

– Blue Berries, Blackberries or Strawberries

– Lemons

DRINK & OTHERS

– Herbal Tea

– Bottled Water

– Melba Toast

– Sugarless Gum

– Steevia (natural sweetener, any flavor)

– Braggs Liquid Amino (this is a soy sauce type of product)

– Mustard

– Apple Cider Vinegar

– Any natural herb or spice, salt and pepper, garlic

Printable HCG Diet Food List

Referencing the chart can help manage portioning and educate you about the ingredients used in meals.

What Can You Eat With the HCG Diet?

When a healthy diet and regular exercise aren’t giving the results you want, the HCG diet could be the answer. With proven effectiveness and a host of extraordinary benefits, this method is more than a diet; it’s a metabolism-boosting solution for those who are struggling to lose weight. We proudly curate HCG treatment plans at Slimedica in San Antonio, Texas. Below we explore everything you need to know about HCG and disclose what you can eat when on the HCG diet.

What Is HCG?

HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is a protein-based hormone produced in women during pregnancy. The HCG hormone impacts ovulation and female fertility and increases the production of testosterone in men.

HCG also promotes weight loss in both men and women because it can help enhance metabolism. When introduced to the body, HCG increases metabolism, which makes it a powerful tool for quickly losing a substantial amount of weight. Metabolism is the process the body uses to turn food into energy. When the metabolism is sluggish or slow, people tend to gain weight or find it difficult to lose weight.

Slow Metabolism Woes

You’ve likely heard people say a slow metabolism causes their weight loss woes, but what causes a slow metabolism? Many factors contribute to a slowing of metabolism:

Age

Was there ever a time when you or someone you know could eat whatever they wanted without gaining weight? If so, this probably happened when you were well under 40, and especially in your early 20s. Metabolism slows as we age, especially when there is also a decrease in physical activity. Most people experience a slowing of metabolism as time passes.

Dehydration

Drinking water is vital for human survival, and at least half of the body is comprised of it. Dehydration is one of the top factors contributing to slow metabolism. Not drinking enough water throughout the day can have unintended consequences on metabolism and weight.

Eating Habits

Eating enormous amounts of carbohydrates slows the metabolism. Carbohydrates are broken down into sugar that is either burned quickly (in those with naturally-fast metabolisms) or stored as fat as our metabolism slows. The main culprits are refined white sugars and grains, but large amounts of any carbohydrate can make it harder to keep your metabolism running and reach your weight loss goals.

Genetics

Certain genetic factors play a role in the rate of metabolism. Although we can’t choose which genes are passed down to us, we can take action to support the metabolism in other ways. By acknowledging what we can and cannot change, we can combat a slow metabolism.

Hormones

Hormones influence the way the body processes food and fluids. Hormonal fluctuations or imbalances can impact the metabolism. Hormonal conditions like an overactive or underactive thyroid and diabetes dictate the rate the metabolism functions.

Inactivity

A sedentary lifestyle is often to blame for slowing metabolism. Exercise releases hormones in the body that promote the metabolic rate and encourage weight loss. A routine of aerobic exercise, combined with strength training, can put the body back into balance.

Medication

Certain medications are known to slow down the metabolism. Antidepressants, steroids, diabetes medication, hormone therapies, and medications that slow the heart rate can all contribute to weight gain. Not all medications in these classes impact the metabolism, but many do.

Sleep Deprivation

If you aren’t getting seven to nine hours of sleep every night, it could slow your metabolism. Sleep is the time when our body works overtime to heal and run all the processes necessary to keep the body healthy. A lack of sleep can spike blood sugar, which triggers an increase in insulin that the body converts to fat.

Stress

Most of us could admit that feeling stress doesn’t lead to the best eating habits, but stress is more than a mental inconvenience. When we feel stressed, the body produces the hormone cortisol. Ongoing stress creates an overexposure to cortisol, which could lead to a drop in testosterone production. Less testosterone can lead to a decrease in muscle mass, and fewer burned calories.

Vitamin Deficiencies

Not getting enough vital nutrients in the diet can cause the metabolism to slow. Research shows that deficiencies in calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, B vitamins, and iron play a role in metabolic functioning.

What Happens in HCG Treatment?

HCG treatment is a two-layered process designed to boost metabolism and help clients lose weight. This treatment involves HCG hormone therapy and caloric restriction through the use of the diet.

There are several methods for introducing the HCG hormone to the body to improve metabolism. Injecting HCG into the bloodstream is one way to receive this treatment. Injections of HCG are only performed by a trained medical professional. Other options include over-the-counter hormone tablets, sprays, and oral drops.

During HCG treatment, we introduce the hormone into your system, and you follow the diet until you reach your weight loss goals. The HCG works to eliminate fat while managing your food cravings and hunger pangs, and we work together to help you control the number of calories you eat.

What Is the HCG Diet?

The HCG diet is a very low-fat and low-calorie diet. It goes hand-in-hand with HCG Therapy. It is a restrictive diet, which means you must restrict how many calories you eat every day and monitor the food eaten. Most HCG dieters limit their caloric intake to 500 calories per day and only eat foods approved by the diet.

Because of the restrictive nature of the diet, losing weight with HCG requires commitment and dedication to your weight loss goals.

How Does It Work?

Calories in versus calories out; these days, we hear this thrown around everywhere for weight loss, and this is how the diet works. Many people eat more calories than they burn every day. When you want to lose weight, you must reduce the number of calories in the body every day. There are only two ways to cut calories: exercise and the restriction of food.

The Diet

By restricting your daily intake to 500 calories, you lose weight. For many people, sheer willpower isn’t enough to monitor calories. Using HCG therapy while restricting calories offers the support needed to make this change.

The Treatment

HCG hormone treatment curbs hunger during the diet, which makes it much easier to achieve the 500 calorie threshold without caving to cravings. Many clients report not feeling hungry when using HCG treatment.

Custom Planning

We tailor each treatment schedule to the individual needs of our clients. During your consultation, we will discuss your goals and come up with a treatment plan.

HCG treatment includes three phases, and we design your custom weight loss schedule by how much weight you want to lose. In general, your custom weight loss schedule will follow the guidelines below:

Phase One

The first phase of your HCG treatment is when you first take the hormones. You start by introducing the hormone to your body while continuing to eat high-calorie foods for two days. During this time, you can prepare for the next phase by learning about the approved foods for the diet and shopping accordingly. It also gives you time to prepare for all the significant changes on the way mentally.

Phase Two

After two days of eating high-calorie foods, you’ll begin the restrictive diet and supplement with HCG. On day three, reduce calories to 500 and only eat approved foods. This weight loss phase requires the most customization. In your consultation, we’ll discuss how much weight you want to lose. This amount of weight dictates the duration of phase two. Phase two usually lasts anywhere from three to six weeks.

During this phase, you learn that your body doesn’t need processed foods and excessive calories. This time is often both exciting and reflective when you learn more about your eating habits and beliefs about what is possible. Watching the weight melt away is often all the incentive clients need to continue.

Phase Three

During this period, you’ll stop taking HCG and gradually increase the number of calories you eat. The diet still places restrictions on what you can eat during this phase, but the limits aren’t as dramatic. You should avoid sugar and starch in phase three, but you may eat more calories.

We also call this the maintenance phase. At the end of this phase, you can start eating carbs and sugar again. At the end of phase three, you can implement everything you learned during other phases.

Although you won’t take HCG or have as many restrictions on your diet, you can make the most of the time by engaging in eating habits that will help you keep the weight off.

What Are the Benefits?

With all the diets and weight loss options on the market, many people want to know what makes HCG treatment different. If you are like most people, you also want to know that all your hard work will pay off. Below we look at some incredible benefits of using HCG:

Weight Loss

HCG treatment is proven to help users lose weight. Many clients see results in as little as one week. Results of the treatment vary, but many people lose 7 to 28 pounds per week during treatment.

Improved Health

With weight loss comes an array of desirable improvements to health, including lowered cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, decreased risk of disease, increased energy, fewer aches and pains, and an improvement in insulin sensitivity.

Slimmer Appearance

Health is paramount, but looking good never hurts. Often people find that the way they look after HCG treatment is one of the biggest motivators for keeping weight off.

Performance Enhancement

Taking HCG can increase workout performance and prevent you from losing muscle mass while on the restrictive diet. Using this treatment can help you reach your ideal fitness level. HCG has even become the ideal testosterone enhancement option for bodybuilders who don’t want to risk the negative consequences that come with steroid use.

Libido Boost

The sexual hormones aren’t excluded from the equation when HCG balances the body’s hormones. Men and women alike sometimes find that desire increases during treatment.

Fertility Support

HCG supports fertility in women and men. For women, this treatment can trigger ovulation and help them prepare for pregnancy. HCG can increase sperm count in men and improve the chances of conception.

What Can I Eat With the HCG Diet?

The HCG diet is results-driven. By following the diet strictly, you can reap the most benefits. During the diet, you will eat lunch and dinner every day. During these two meals, you must consume protein, vegetables, fruit, and drinks from the approved diet list only.

Each food on the diet list is inspected for the amount of fat, sugar, carbohydrates, and protein found in each food type. Eating foods not found on the approved list impacts the results of the diet, so it’s crucial to follow the list. Remember that the diet requires restricting calories to only 500 per day, so you must count calories to follow the diet. Below we look at the approved foods for each category.

Protein

To follow the diet, you must eat 200 grams of protein twice daily. Protein sources are not created equally, so the diet requires that you eat from the following protein list. Vegans and vegetarians can also use the HCG diet by choosing the plant-based protein sources approved below.

• Approved protein shakes
• Buffalo
• Beef (extra lean and grass-fed only)
• Chicken
• Cottage cheese
• Crab
• Eggs (one whole and three whites per serving)
• Lobster
• Scallops
• Shrimp
• Tofu (in moderation because of estrogen production)
• Veggie or black bean burgers (non-breaded)
• Whitefish

Vegetables

The diet approves eating one cup of vegetables per meal for a total of two cups per day. Although vegetables are always healthier than snack foods, some are especially useful for losing weight with HCG. Approved vegetables are:

• Asparagus
• Beet greens
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Chard
• Cucumber
• Fennel
• Greens
• Onions
• Radishes
• Shallots
• Spinach
• Tomatoes

Fruit

This diet isn’t entirely without sweets. It requires two servings of fruit every day. Eat one serving of the fruit options below with each meal:

• Apples
• Blueberries
• Grapefruit
• Lemon
• Oranges
• Raspberries
• Strawberries

Drinks

It’s always best to drink as much water as possible, but this is particularly useful when in the weight loss phase of the diet. Water doesn’t have any calories, so you are free to drink as much water as you want.

You may also drink coffee and tea as long as you do not add sugar, creamer, or milk. You may add a little stevia to sweeten your coffee or tea. Hydration is a vital part of the dieting process, so drink plenty of fluids every day.

What Can I Expect?

Although it might seem like a lot of work to plan for the diet, it gets more comfortable with time. Losing weight is a lifestyle, and by learning the foods that will help you achieve your weight-loss objectives, you can learn to create delicious meals from the approved list.

Just because the diet is restrictive doesn’t mean that you have to endure bland and boring meals. Instead of using unapproved condiments and flavorings, experiment with natural herbs to flavor food. You might find that after the diet is over that, you crave healthier alternatives.

Embarking on your HCG journey takes discipline and commitment; however, it delivers fast and rewarding results that make all your effort worth it.

Am I a Good Candidate?

When your diet and exercise routine still isn’t delivering the weight loss results you want, HCG could be a good option for you. Deciding to use HCG to lose weight is best discussed with our medical professionals at Slimedica. We can help you map out the weight loss method that is effective and safe.

Schedule Your Consultation

Are you interested in learning more about what the HCG diet could do for you? Our expert staff can help you find a solution that fits your needs best. Contact us today at Slimedica in San Antonio, Texas to schedule your consultation.

What is the hCG diet and does it work? – Drink-Drink

The hCG diet has been popular for many years.

Proponents claim it causes rapid weight loss of up to 1–2 pounds (0.5–1 kg) per day. Moreover, you should not feel hungry in the process.

However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considered this diet to be dangerous, illegal, and fraudulent.1, 2).

This article explores the science behind the hCG diet.

What is hCG?

The hCG hormone, or human chorionic gonadotropin, is present in high amounts in early pregnancy.

This hormone is actually used as a marker in home pregnancy tests (3).

It has also been used to treat fertility problems in both men and women.4, 5).

However, elevated blood levels of hCG can also be a symptom of several types of cancer, including placental, ovarian, and testicular cancers.3, 6, 7).

A British physician named Albert Simeons first proposed hCG as a weight loss aid in 1954.8).

His diet consisted of two main components:

• an ultra-low calorie diet of about 500 calories per day
• hCG hormone injections

Today, hCG products are sold in various forms, including oral drops, pellets and sprays. They are also available on countless websites and select retailers.

Conclusion

The hCG hormone is produced in early pregnancy. The hCG diet uses a combination of hCG and an extremely low calorie intake to achieve dramatic weight loss.

function of hCG in the body

HCG is a protein hormone produced by the body during pregnancy.

It helps support the production of important hormones, such as progesterone, to support healthy uterine and fetal growth (9, 10).

After the first 3-3 months of pregnancy, the level of hCG in the blood decreases.

Conclusion

The hCG hormone is produced in large quantities during the first 3 months of pregnancy. It stimulates the production of other important pregnancy hormones.

hCG and weight loss

Proponents of the hCG diet claim that it speeds up metabolism and helps you lose a lot of fat – all without feeling hungry.

Various theories attempt to explain the mechanisms of hCG weight loss.

However, numerous studies over the years have concluded that the weight loss achieved with the hCG diet comes only from ultra-low calorie intake. It has nothing to do with the hCG hormone (8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15).

Most of these studies compared the effects of injections of hCG and placebo given to people on a calorie restricted diet. Weight loss was the same or nearly the same between the two groups.

In addition, these studies have shown that the hormone hCG does not reduce hunger.

Conclusion

Several studies show that weight loss on the hCG diet occurs only through severe calorie restriction. This has nothing to do with hCG, which is also ineffective in reducing hunger.

The effect of hCG on body composition

One common side effect of weight loss is a decrease in muscle mass (16).

This is especially common in diets that severely restrict calorie intake, such as the hCG diet.

Your body may also think that it is starving and reduce the number of calories burned to conserve energy (17).

Proponents of the hCG diet claim that it only causes fat loss, not muscle mass.

They also claim that hCG elevates other hormones, speeds up metabolism, and results in a growth-promoting or anabolic state.

However, there is no scientific evidence to support these claims (13, 14).

Low-calorie diets may promote rapid short-term weight loss, but they are not effective for long-term weight loss.

When you eat a very low calorie diet, your body adapts by increasing hunger hormones and slowing down energy expenditure, making it very difficult to lose weight. That’s why nutrition experts recommend a small calorie deficit versus extreme calorie restriction (17).

Conclusion

Some people claim that the hCG diet helps prevent muscle loss and slow metabolism when strictly restricting calories. However, no evidence supports these claims.

HCG Diet Rules

The HCG Diet is a diet that is very low in fat and calories.

It is usually divided into three stages:

1. Loading phase. Start taking hCG and eat a lot of fatty and high-calorie foods for 2 days.
2. Slimming phase. Continue taking hCG and consume only 500 calories per day for 3-6 weeks.
3. Maintenance phase. Stop taking hCG. Gradually increase your food intake, but avoid sugar and starches for 3 weeks.

While people seeking minimal weight loss may spend 3 weeks in the middle phase, those seeking significant weight loss may be advised to follow the diet for 6 weeks and even repeat all phases of the cycle several times.

During the weight loss phase, you are only allowed to eat twice a day, usually lunch and dinner.

HCG meal plans usually suggest that each meal should contain:

• one serving of lean protein
• vegetable a list of permitted products for selection in certain quantities.

  Butter, vegetable oils and sugar should be avoided, but you are advised to drink plenty of water. Mineral water, coffee and tea are also allowed.

  Conclusion

  The hCG diet is usually divided into three phases. During the weight loss phase, you take hCG, consuming only 500 calories per day.

  Fraudulent products on the market

  Most hCG products on the market today are labeled as homeopathic. In general, homeopathy involves the use of highly diluted potent substances.

  Over-the-counter (OTC) homeopathic products do not contain true hCG. Real HCG in the form of injections is administered as a fertility drug or hormonal treatment. It is only available with a doctor’s prescription (2).

  Only injections can increase the level of hCG in the blood, not homeopathic remedies sold on the Internet.

  Conclusion

  Most hCG products available online are labeled homeopathic and do not contain real hCG.

  Safety and side effects

  HCG has not been approved by the FDA for weight loss.

  In contrast, the FDA has questioned the safety of the hCG diet as well as over-the-counter hCG products. These products are unregulated and contain unknown ingredients. Therefore, they should be avoided (1, 2).

  There are also a number of side effects associated with the hCG diet, such as:

  • headaches
  • depression
  • fatigue

  yourself unhappy.

  In one 2014 case study, a 64-year-old woman was on an hCG diet when blood clots formed in her leg and lungs. It was found that the diet likely caused blood clots and other side effects.14).

  Conclusion

  Official agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) question the safety of hCG products and numerous side effects have been reported.

  Bottom line

  The HCG Diet limits your calorie intake to around 500 calories per day for several weeks, making it an extreme weight loss diet.

  Any diet this low in calories will make you lose weight.

  However, numerous studies have shown that the hormone hCG does not affect weight loss and does not reduce appetite.

  If you are serious about losing weight and keeping it off, there are many effective methods that are much smarter and safer than the hCG diet.

  Talk to your doctor, dietitian or nutritionist to determine which method may be right for you.

  What is the hCG diet plan?

  The hCG diet requires dangerously low daily calories in addition to the intake of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), a hormone produced by women during pregnancy. While it’s true that 500 calories a day will lead to temporary weight loss, it’s unclear if hCG actually has anything to do with it.

  HCG Diet Basics

  Dieters who follow this diet significantly reduce daily calories. Depending on the diet option, dieters will consume 500, 800, or 1200 calories per day, which is generally not enough for adults to function normally. In addition to reduced calories, dieters take hCG as a tablet or injection; injections are available only to medical professionals. Dieters are given a specific menu for each day of the diet, which lasts up to six weeks with different phases.

  • Phase 1: The loading phase of the diet requires a higher intake of protein and fat. Some people call this the “overeating phase” as it is the last opportunity in the diet to eat a lot of food. At this stage, dieters start taking hCG.
  • Phase 2: The very low calorie phase of the hCG diet is the start of calorie restriction. Recipes suitable for the hCG diet at this stage of the diet, which lasts about a month (terms may vary depending on the diet option.
  • Phase 3: The Diet Stabilization Phase begins three days after the dieter’s last intake of hCG. Dieters slowly regain their calorie intake at this stage, but follow a specific method based on their plan to do so.
  • 1200 calorie diet
  • Simple and Healthy Diet Plan
  • Facts about low fat diet plans

  The Origins of the HCG Diet

  There are currently dozens of hCG diet options based on the original plan outlined in Dr. Simeon’s manuscript, Pounds and Inches: A New Approach to Obesity. Modified versions of the plan include an organic and vegan diet with hCG, while newer designs of oral hCG drops are marketed as a homeopathic diet plan. In addition, there are diet pills and hCG creams. In general, injections are becoming a rare method of administering hCG, although many clinics claiming medical care still offer injections.

  Pounds and inches: a new approach to obesity

  Diet Options

  Nearly 50 years after Dr. Simeon’s controversial diet plan was theorized, Kevin Trudeau released a book published in 2007: The Weight Loss Cure; a modified version of the diet that follows much of Dr. Simeon’s original protocol. Kevin Trudeau’s Modified Plan consists of an additional detox phase before starting hCG hormones, as well as modern protocols such as an organic diet, supplements, and an expanded list of acceptable foods for planning hCG.

  Does it work?

  The low calorie content of this diet encourages the body to lose weight, but studies show that hCG does not help speed up weight loss, contrary to claims that it is “How to trick your metabolism into burning fat.” It is also important to note that weight loss is likely related not only to fat, but also to muscle mass.