
The hCG diet involves taking a hormone produced in the body during pregnancy, called human chorionic gonadotropin, and following a very low-calorie diet. The diet is split into three phases: the loading phase, the weight loss phase, and the maintenance phase. During the weight loss phase, individuals consume only 500 calories per day while receiving hCG injections or drops. The low-calorie intake forces the body to use stored fat for energy, resulting in weight loss. However, it is important to note that the hCG diet is not FDA-approved for weight loss and there is no scientific evidence that it works.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Loading phase | Eat high-calorie, high-fat foods to rev up your metabolism and get your body ready for weight loss. This phase lasts two days. |
Weight loss phase | Eat a very low-calorie diet, usually 500 to 800 calories per day. This phase usually lasts three to six weeks. |
Maintenance phase | Stop taking hCG and eat a well-balanced diet and exercise. The goal in this phase is to stick to your new eating habits and maintain weight loss long-term. |
HCG meal plans | Each meal should contain butter, oils, and sugar. Drink a lot of water. |
Side effects | Gallstones, an irregular heartbeat, low electrolytes, allergic reactions, mood changes, facial hair growth, swelling of the breasts or penis, nausea, vomiting, and an upset stomach. |
What You'll Learn
How to take HCG drops
The HCG diet involves taking a hormone made in the body during pregnancy and following a very low-calorie diet. HCG drops are one of the ways to take the hormone, along with injections and tablets. The diet is split into three phases: the loading phase, the weight loss phase, and the maintenance phase.
During the loading phase, you eat high-calorie, high-fat foods to rev up your metabolism and get your body ready for weight loss. This phase lasts for two days.
The weight loss phase involves eating a very low-calorie diet, usually 500 to 800 calories per day. This phase usually lasts three to six weeks, or even longer for those seeking significant weight loss. During this time, you take HCG drops. You are only allowed to eat two meals per day, usually lunch and dinner, and you should avoid butter, oils, and sugar.
The maintenance phase involves stopping taking HCG drops and gradually increasing your food intake while avoiding starches and sugars for three weeks. The goal of this phase is to stick to your new eating habits and maintain weight loss long-term.
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What to eat on the HCG diet
The HCG diet involves taking a hormone made in the body during pregnancy and following a very low-calorie diet. During the weight loss phase, you're only allowed to eat two meals per day, usually lunch and dinner. Each meal should contain one protein, one vegetable, one bread, and one fruit. You may also get a list of approved foods to select from in specific amounts. Butter, oils, and sugar should be avoided, but you're encouraged to drink a lot of water.
The low-calorie diet phase lasts for three to six weeks, during which individuals consume only 500 calories per day while receiving HCG injections or drops. The low-calorie intake forces the body to utilise stored fat for energy, resulting in weight loss. The makers of these products claim they can boost your metabolism, reduce hunger, and help you shed up to 30 pounds in a month or two.
The HCG diet is not without risks. The U.S. FDA warns that very restrictive diets, such as the HCG diet, are dangerous. A very calorie-restricted diet can cause side effects such as gallstones, an irregular heartbeat, and low electrolytes. HCG injections may also cause allergic reactions, mood changes, facial hair growth, and swelling of the breasts or penis. Nausea, vomiting, and upset stomach are other side effects linked to this hormone.
The HCG diet is not a quick fix. After completing the low-calorie phase, individuals gradually increase their food intake while avoiding starches and sugars for three weeks. This phase helps to stabilise the new weight and reset the metabolism. The goal is to stick to your new eating habits and maintain weight loss long-term.
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Side effects of the HCG diet
The HCG diet is not approved for weight loss and there is no scientific evidence that it works. The U.S. FDA warns against its use, saying that very restrictive diets, such as the HCG diet, are dangerous. The HCG diet involves taking a hormone made in the body during pregnancy and following a very low-calorie diet. This can cause side effects such as gallstones, an irregular heartbeat, and low electrolytes. Other side effects linked to this hormone include nausea, vomiting, an upset stomach, allergic reactions, mood changes, facial hair growth, and swelling of the breasts or penis.
The HCG diet has three phases: the loading phase, the weight loss phase, and the maintenance phase. During the loading phase, you eat high-calorie, high-fat foods to rev up your metabolism and get your body ready for weight loss. This phase lasts two days. During the weight loss phase, you eat a very low-calorie diet, usually 500 to 800 calories per day, while taking HCG through an injection, tablet, or other form. This phase usually lasts three to six weeks, although some people may follow it for up to six weeks or repeat all phases of the cycle several times. During this phase, you're only allowed to eat two meals per day, usually lunch and dinner, and you're encouraged to drink a lot of water. Butter, oils, and sugar should be avoided. The maintenance phase involves stopping taking HCG and eating a well-balanced diet with exercise. The goal is to stick to your new eating habits and maintain weight loss long-term.
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How much weight can you lose with HCG drops?
The HCG diet involves taking a hormone made in the body during pregnancy and following a very low-calorie diet. The diet is split into three phases: the loading phase, the weight loss phase, and the maintenance phase. During the loading phase, you eat high-calorie, high-fat foods to rev up your metabolism and get your body ready for weight loss. This phase lasts two days. During the weight loss phase, you eat a very low-calorie diet, usually 500 to 800 calories per day, and take HCG through an injection, tablet, or other form. This phase usually lasts three to six weeks. During this phase, you're only allowed to eat two meals per day, usually lunch and dinner, and you may get a list of approved foods to select from in specific amounts. Butter, oils, and sugar should be avoided, but you're encouraged to drink a lot of water. The low-calorie intake forces the body to utilize stored fat for energy, resulting in weight loss. HCG is believed to signal the body to release stored fat into the bloodstream, making it available for energy. During the maintenance phase, you stop taking HCG and eat a well-balanced diet and exercise. The goal in this phase is to stick to your new eating habits and maintain weight loss long-term. After completing the low-calorie phase, individuals gradually increase their food intake while avoiding starches and sugars for three weeks. This phase helps to stabilize the new weight and reset the metabolism.
The makers of HCG drops claim they can boost your metabolism, reduce hunger, and help you shed up to 30 pounds in a month or two. However, HCG is not approved for weight loss and there is no evidence that it helps. The U.S. FDA warns against its use, saying that very restrictive diets, such as the HCG diet, are dangerous. The American Society of Bariatric Physicians also recommends against using the HCG diet for weight loss. Despite this, some people who have used HCG drops have reported weight loss of 1-2 pounds per day, with weight loss ranging from 0.5 pounds to 3 pounds per day.
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HCG diet: is it safe?
The HCG diet is not approved by the FDA and there is no scientific evidence that it works. It involves taking a hormone made in the body during pregnancy and following a very low-calorie diet (VLCD). The diet is split into three phases: the loading phase, the weight loss phase, and the maintenance phase. During the loading phase, you eat high-calorie, high-fat foods to rev up your metabolism and prepare your body for weight loss. This lasts for two days.
The weight loss phase involves eating a very low-calorie diet, usually 500 to 800 calories per day, and taking HCG through an injection, tablet, or other form. This phase usually lasts three to six weeks, although some people may repeat it several times. During this phase, you're only allowed to eat two meals per day, usually lunch and dinner. Butter, oils, and sugar should be avoided, but you're encouraged to drink a lot of water.
The maintenance phase involves stopping HCG and eating a well-balanced diet with exercise. The goal is to stick to your new eating habits and maintain weight loss long-term. This phase lasts for three weeks, during which individuals gradually increase their food intake while avoiding starches and sugars.
The HCG diet is not considered safe by the FDA and the American Society of Bariatric Physicians, which recommend against using it for weight loss. A very calorie-restricted diet can cause side effects such as gallstones, an irregular heartbeat, and low electrolytes. HCG injections may also cause allergic reactions, mood changes, facial hair growth, and swelling of the breasts or penis. Nausea, vomiting, and an upset stomach are other side effects linked to this hormone.
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Frequently asked questions
HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) is a hormone produced in the body during pregnancy. The HCG diet involves taking this hormone and following a very low-calorie diet.
The HCG diet has three phases: the loading phase, the weight loss phase, and the maintenance phase. During the loading phase, you eat high-calorie, high-fat foods to prepare your body for weight loss. The weight loss phase involves eating a very low-calorie diet (usually 500 calories per day) while taking HCG injections or drops. This phase lasts three to six weeks. In the maintenance phase, you stop taking HCG and gradually increase your food intake while avoiding starches and sugars.
HCG is not FDA-approved for weight loss and there is no scientific evidence that it works. The FDA warns that very restrictive diets, such as the HCG diet, can be dangerous. Side effects of the HCG diet may include gallstones, an irregular heartbeat, low electrolytes, allergic reactions, mood changes, facial hair growth, and stomach issues. Talk to your doctor before starting any new diet plan to ensure it is safe for you.