Side Effects and Dangers of the HCG Diet
- Constipation. You'll be eating a lot less than you're used to, and there will naturally be less to excrete. ...
- Headache. During the first week of the HCG diet your body has to adjust, and you may experience headaches. ...
- Dizziness. ...
- Leg Cramps. ...
- Rash. ...
- Hair Thinning. ...
- The side effects mentioned above
- Other Concerns. ...
What are the dangers of HCG diet?
People on such restrictive diets are at increased risk for side effects, including gallstone formation, an imbalance of the electrolytes that keep the body’s muscles and nerves functioning...
What are the side effects of HCG diet?
Jun 03, 2019 · The HCG diet is highly unsafe, unhealthy, and illegal. This article should be used solely for informational purposes since health experts discourage anyone from trying it. There are many other weight loss options to consider that are much safer. What Experts Say
How to lose the most weight with the HCG diet?
May 30, 2013 · A new diet craze, the hCG diet, is unsafe and unsustainable for long-term weight loss, health experts warn. People who go on the fad diet eat about 500 calories a day and take supplements (either...
What are the side effects of hCG?
Mar 14, 2011 · While hCG may be safe on its own—the FDA says it's safe as an infertility treatment—pairing it with an extremely low-calorie diet could have unexpected side effects. Two years ago, Lori Hill, 40,...
Is the HCG diet Unhealthy?
A new diet craze, the hCG diet, is unsafe and unsustainable for long-term weight loss, health experts warn. People who go on the fad diet eat about 500 calories a day and take supplements (either via drops or injection) of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) several times a week.May 30, 2013
What are the cons of the HCG diet?
The downside: Like most other ultra-low-calorie diets, the HCG diet may cause muscle loss, which results in a reduced ability to burn calories ( 61 ). Such severe calorie restriction further reduces the number of calories your body burns.
Is HCG diet hard on kidneys?
A. Even though metabolizing large amounts of protein makes your kidneys work harder, reports that it can bring on kidney failure are exaggerated. However, you could become dehydrated, which can make you feel pretty crappy, because your body uses extra water to flush out extra urea, a byproduct of protein digestion.Jan 15, 2011
What does HCG do to your body?
HCG or human chorionic gonadotropin is a protein-based hormone that supports the normal development of an egg in a woman's ovary, and stimulates the release of the egg during ovulation. HCG is used to cause ovulation and to treat infertility in women, and to increase sperm count in men.
Does HCG have side effects?
Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible: allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue. breathing problems. breast enlargement.
What are the long term side effects of the HCG diet?
Side effects have also been reported with the HCG diet and include fatigue, irritability, restlessness, depression, fluid buildup (edema), and swelling of the breasts in boys and men (gynecomastia). Another serious concern is the risk of blood clots forming and blocking blood vessels (thromboembolism).
Does hCG cause hair loss?
Hair loss during the HCG Phase 2 is typically transitory, and most individuals note that very little hair comes out throughout the HCG Phase 2. Any subsequent hair loss is generally simply hair that would have come out naturally over those months but didn't.Oct 3, 2021
What happens if you take too much hCG?
HCG can cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have: severe stomach pain or bloating, swelling, rapid weight gain, chest pain, trouble breathing, severe nausea and vomiting, decreased urination, pain or swelling in one leg, or sudden numbness on one side of the body.
How long can you stay on hCG injections?
3-6 weeksThe diet is prescribed in three phases: Loading: You receive the hCG injection and eat high-fat, high-calorie foods for two days. Weight loss: You continue to receive injections and stick to a 500-calorie limit for 3-6 weeks.
What happens if you take HCG and don't follow diet?
The prolonged calorie restriction in the HCG diet often causes metabolic damage and thyroid changes which almost always result in regaining any weight that was lost during the diet.Feb 26, 2018
Will I gain weight back after HCG diet?
Unfortunately for most, they gained all or most of the weight back. Many of them even added a few additional pounds. On top of this, studies have shown that individuals that try to do the HCG diet a second and third time are not getting even close to the same results as the first.Dec 17, 2020
Can you exercise on HCG diet?
Exercise While Using HCG While on the HCG diet, you are not able to burn lean muscle. Therefore, strength building exercises are strongly discouraged. The HCG hormone is only able to burn fat. While on the diet, you may engage in light cardiovascular activity, such as walking and jogging are permitted.
What are the side effects of HCG?
Other less serious side effects of HCG can include, but are not limited to: headache; feeling restless or irritable; mild swelling or water weight gain; depression; breast tenderness and swelling; and or injection site inflammation and pain.
What are the side effects of HCG injections?
HCG Side Effect: Common side effects of hCG injections for weight loss. Other less serious side effects of HCG can include, but are not limited to: headache; feeling restless or irritable; mild swelling or water weight gain; depression; breast tenderness and swelling; and or injection site inflammation and pain.
Do HCG drops have side effects?
These variations have absolutely no HCG hormone and are considered to have virtually no side effects. They typically consist of water and amino acids along with a preservative. Because there are so many variations of these drops, the individual brands need to be consulted. However, for your convenience, we have found a sample side effect warning from the following homeopathic diet drop company:
Can HCG cause ovarian hyperstimulation?
Some women on the HCG diet have developed a side effect known as ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome (OHSS), especially during the first round of treatment. While OHSS is rare, it can be a life threatening condition, so call your healthcare provider right away if you experience any of the following symptoms: Severe pelvic pain; swelling of the hands or legs; stomach pain and swelling; shortness of breath; weight gain; diarrhea; nausea or vomiting; or urinating less than normal.
Is HCG injection safe?
With a few simple precautions, the HCG diet is considered a safe and effective way to lose weight in a healthy manner. Side Effects of HCG injections for Weight Loss. Read also: HCG Lowers Risks of Breast Cancer. Side Effects of HCG diet Injections/shots.
Can HCG injections cause weight loss?
Side Effects of HCG diet Injections/shots. While indeed a natural substance produced in the human body, there is a slight possibility of unwanted side effects when using HCG injections for weight loss. Your doctor will advise you on the potential risks when you begin treatment.
What is OHSS in a syringe?
OHSS (Ovarian Hyper stimulation Syndrome) is a side effect when large amounts are used for extended periods of time. This is typically found when HCG is used as a fertility drug rather than weight loss, considering the amount used for weight loss is significantly smaller.
How many calories should I eat a day to lose weight?
Perhaps it's because the diet recommends severe calorie restriction — typically just 500 to 800 calories a day. People who follow diets so low in calories are likely to lose weight, at least in the short term. Some research has linked HCG weight-loss products to a possible increase in cancer risk.
Does HCG cause cancer?
Some research has linked HCG weight-loss products to a possible increase in cancer risk. HCG might encourage the production of androgen cells, which could result in the growth of certain types of cancers.
Is HCG a prescription drug?
HCG is human chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone produced during pregnancy. As a prescription medication, HCG is used mainly to treat fertility issues. HCG is not approved for over-the-counter use, nor has it been proved to work for weight loss.
What is the HCG diet?
The HCG diet promises rapid, extreme weight loss, which may appeal to those who are looking to lose weight quickly. An early iteration of the diet began during the 1950s when British endocrinologist Albert T.W. Simeons became interested in using the HCG pregnancy hormone as a weight-loss aid.
How long does it take to lose weight with HCG?
Divided into three phases, the diet is a short-term eating plan intended to help people lose dramatic amounts of weight in three to six weeks. Many HCG proponents claim the diet can cause weight loss ...
How does HCG work?
Some supplement-based diets claim to boost metabolism, but the HCG diet is based on the idea of altering the body’s hormones to turn fat into fuel . A typical HCG diet plan is divided into the following three phases: 1 Loading phase: The loading phase claims to prepare the body for the caloric restriction it will enter during the weight loss phase. During this brief two-day “primer,” people preparing to begin the HCG diet eat extremely high fat, high-calorie foods—up to 250 grams of fat per day—and are encouraged to eat as much fat and as many calories as possible. (For reference, this is 2,250 calories a day just from fat.) Daily HCG hormone supplements or injections also begin at this time. Theoretically, this phase “stocks” the normal fat cells you want to keep and prepares the body to burn “abnormal” fat. 2 Weight loss phase: Next, adherents continue their HCG supplements while consuming either 500 or 800 calories per day, spread over two meals. The weight loss phase may last from three to six weeks, depending on an individual's weight loss goals. 6 3 Maintenance phase: Once someone on this diet has shed their desired number of pounds, they gradually discontinue supplementation of the HCG hormone while slowly increasing calories. Though HCG diet resources do not specify the number of calories you’ll eventually reach to maintain weight loss, some state that 1,200 to 1,500 is an appropriate target.
What fruits are HCG compliant?
As with vegetables, a limited number of fruits are approved for HCG-compliant meals. These include berries, citrus fruits, and apples, which can be consumed once at lunch and once at dinner.
What is the HCG hormone?
HCG, which stands for human chorionic gonadotropin, is known as the pregnancy hormone since it is produced during pregnancy by the placenta.
Is HCG a prescription drug?
1. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only approved prescriptions for HCG drugs for the treatment of female infertility. 2 No HCG supplements may be legally sold in the United States for weight loss ...
How many phases are there in HCG diet?
A typical HCG diet plan is divided into the following three phases: Loading phase: The loading phase claims to prepare the body for the caloric restriction it will enter during the weight loss phase. During this brief two-day “primer,” people preparing to begin the HCG diet eat extremely high fat, high-calorie foods—up to 250 grams ...
Who is Amanda Chan?
Amanda Chan. Amanda Chan was a staff writer for Live Science Health. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communication from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, and a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University.
Is hCG good for weight loss?
Treating a disease can cause weight loss by balancing hormones in the body.". But for most people who don't have hormonal imbalances in the body, taking hCG does absolutely no good, he said. Pass it on: The hCG diet is dangerous because it promotes an extremely low intake of calories, and it is not good for sustained weight loss, experts say.
Is the HCG diet dangerous?
HCG Diet is Dangerous, Experts Say. A new diet craze, the hCG diet, is unsafe and unsustainable for long-term weight loss, health experts warn. People who go on the fad diet eat about 500 calories a day and take supplements (either via drops or injection) of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) several times a week.
How many calories should a woman eat a day?
There's no question that 500 calories a day is tantamount to malnutrition—dieters should never dip below 1,200, say experts—and federal dietary guidelines recommend more than three times the amount of calories the diet prescribes for women ages 19 to 30.
What are some good foods to eat for breakfast?
Dairy, carbs, alcohol, and sugar are all off limits. A day's meals might consist of coffee and an orange for breakfast; a little tilapia and raw asparagus for lunch; a piece of fruit in the afternoon; and crab, spinach, Melba toast, and tea for dinner.
Is a syringe a scam?
While some believers are so convinced of its power they'll willingly stick themselves with a syringe, the government and mainstream medical community say it's a scam that carries too many health risks and doesn't lead to long-term weight loss.
Is HCG good for infertility?
And any benefit is not going to last.". HCG is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat infertility in both men and women. But its weight-loss roots trace back to the 1950s, when British endocrinologist A.T.W. Simeons realized that giving obese patients small, regular doses of the hormone helped them lose stubborn clumps of fat.
Does HCG cause weight loss?
What's more, all hCG products, including injections prescribed by a doctor, must carry a warning stating there's no proof they accelerate weight loss, redistribute fat, or numb the hunger and discomfort typical of a low-calorie diet.
Is HCG diet dangerous?
But the so-called hCG diet is either a weight-loss miracle or a dangerous fraud, depending on who's talking.
What are the side effects of hCG?
Other less serious side effects of hCG can include, but are not limited to: headache; feeling restless or irritable; mild swelling or water weight gain; depression; breast tenderness and swelling; and or injection site inflammation and pain.
Can you have multiple births with HCG?
Using HCG may increase a woman’s chances of having a multiple birth ( twins, triplets, quadruplets, etc). A multiple pregnancy can be a high risk pregnancy for both mother and child, so consult your doctor for instructions if you are pregnant or may become pregnant.
Can hCG cause ovarian hyperstimulation?
Some women on the hCG diet have developed a side effect known as ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome (OHSS), especially during the first round of treatment. While OHSS is rare, it can be a life threatening condition, so call your healthcare provider right away if you experience any of the following symptoms: Severe pelvic pain; swelling of the hands or legs; stomach pain and swelling; shortness of breath; weight gain; diarrhea; nausea or vomiting; or urinating less than normal.
Can you take HCG injections for weight loss?
While indeed a natural substance produced in the human body, there is a slight possibility of unwanted side effects when using hCG injections for weight loss. Your doctor will advise you on the potential risks when you begin treatment. If you choose to begin the HCG weight loss protocol on your own and see any of the following symptoms stop treatment and call your healthcare provider immediately. Read on to learn some of the possible side effects of hCG.
