How to Lose Weight Faster on the hCG Diet?
Healthful Vitality | 03/07/2022 | How to Lose Weight Faster on the hCG Diet?
The hCG diet is gaining popularity for faster weight loss. People who have practiced this diet say that it can help lose lots of weight in a short time. Some claim that it helped them lose as much as 1-2 pounds a day without staying hungry.
However, the US FDA has some problems with the broader acceptance of this diet. It is because it uses hCG hormone along with a restrictive diet. However, US FDA has never approved hCG for weight loss. It believes that such a use of hormones may cause more harm than good.
So, what exactly is the hCG diet?
It is one of the few diets that use a hormone along with dietary restrictions. Simply put, this diet recommends consuming no more than 500 calories a day and using hCG injections. hCG is a short name for human chorionic gonadotrophin.
hCG is commonly used to treat infertility in both men and women. Its production naturally increases during the early days of pregnancy. Thus, it is also used in early pregnancy detection (express pregnancy tests). Additionally, its levels may also increase in certain types of cancers like ovarian or testicular cancer.
What is the function of hCG?
The primary function of hCG is to maintain the optimal production of a female hormone called progesterone. Progesterone is essential for the continuation of pregnancy. hCG may also influence the uterus, helping it stay relaxed.
Further, it appears that hCG has a robust growth-promoting activity, especially that of the fetus.
It also appears to be an ovarian and testicular stimulant. That is why it may be used to manage both male and female infertility.
However, its access use may even promote the growth of certain cancers in the body. Thus, there are specific health concerns regarding the use of this hormone.
hCG and weight loss
Supporter of the hCG diet says that hCG helps them practice a low-calorie diet. It suppresses the feeling of hunger, boosts metabolism, helps burn fats more effectively. Thus, it may be an excellent way to lose weight faster.
However, most of its claims are not supported by science. Thus, a meta-analysis of clinical trials did not confirm the benefits of hCG in dieting. Meta-analysis is a study that combines data from all the available high-quality studies. Thus, in one meta-analysis, researchers combined data from 16 clinical studies and found no benefit of hCG for weight loss.
Researchers say that hCG does not suppress hunger. In addition, it has no role in weight loss, boosting metabolism, or fat redistribution.
Nonetheless, it is worth noticing that the hCG diet works for many. Researchers say that it is pretty simple to explain. The hCG diet works due to severe calorie restrictions and not due to hCG injections. It means that 500 calorie diets will cause fast weight loss even without the use of any hormones.
hCG diet generally has three phases. In the first phase, a person injects hCG and consumes plenty of high-fat food for two days. In the second phase, a person continues using hCG but consumes only 500 calories for 3 to 6 weeks. Moreover, in the third and final phase, a person stops using hCG, gradually increases calorie intake, but does not eat sugars and starchy food for at least three weeks or more.
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