Weight loss enthusiasts may have heard about it but for those new to the HCG diet, here are important things you should know. According to Fertility Pathways, the best pregnancy hormones could be the next fad.
What is HCG?
HCG stands for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. This is a hormone that is naturally produced in the placenta of pregnant women. It controls metabolism functions throughout pregnancy and is governed by the hypothalamus.
HCG can be used for a lot of different purposes. Those used in the medical field are synthetic, produced in laboratories using sterile cells, to treat fertility issues. HCG in diet protocols, however, is a variation of this HCG form and is in much smaller doses.
What is the HCG weight loss diet?
The HCG weight loss diet works around injecting the pregnancy hormone, HCG, into the body or taking it under-tongue. In addition to that, it demands extreme calorie restriction, usually within the range of 500-800 calories per day.
Is this weight loss program safe and does it work?
Claims of the effectiveness of this weight loss program have been going around for sometime now. Perhaps, this is only because anyone restricting his or her daily diet to 500-800 calories alone is expected to shed off some weight. But experts have actually asserted that there is not enough scientific evidence to support the recommendation of this diet. In fact, it has been rendered risky.
Strictly sticking to the intake of only 500-800 calories a day already risks a person to gallstone formation, electrolytes imbalance and irregular heartbeat. This extreme restriction also prevents the nerves from properly functioning. Furthermore, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to advise consumers to avoid using over-the-counter weight loss products which contain HCG as these have never been approved for consumer use. Companies selling HCG weight-loss items are actually breaking the law.
As you can see, it takes processes that are gradual to be able to shed off unwanted fats safely. Anyone attempting to lose weight should always first seek their physician’s advice. After all, experts are the best to turn to for recommendations when you want to ensure that your weight loss plan will be effective.