There’s a good chance you’ve heard of the HCG diet, since this eating plan has been around for several years. The diet is seen as extreme by some, but it claims to help lose 1 or 2 pounds each day. Those who support the diet also claim that you’re not supposed to feel hungry while you’re on the diet. The FDA has asserted that the diet may not be safe, but there are still several people who are experiencing the weight loss they desire with the HCG diet.
There’s a science behind the HCG diet that keeps people interested in this eating plan. These days, HCG products are sold in several forms, so you can purchase them in sprays, pellets and drops that are taken orally. You can purchase HCG products at health food stores and on health-related websites.
Before you start the HCG diet, you should know more about the role that HCG plays in the body. HCG is a hormone that is protein-based. It is produced during pregnancy and is the indicator to a woman’s body telling the body that it is carrying a child. While a woman is pregnant, HCG maintains hormone production like estrogen and progesterone; these hormones are necessary for the healthy development of the fetus and embryo. Blood levels of HCG decrease after the first trimester.
Those who support the HCG diet claim that the hormone boosts the body’s metabolism and assists the body in losing large amounts of fat without the feeling of hunger. There are several theories that explain the weight loss mechanism of HCG. However, there are several studies that have revealed that the weight loss many people achieve by being on the HCG diet is because of the very low caloric intake, which actually has nothing to do with the HCG hormone. The study compared HCG effects and placebo injections that were administered to people who were on a low-calorie diet. In the end, weight loss was identical or close to identical between the two groups. The studies also revealed that the HCG hormone didn’t have a significant effect in hunger reduction.
While some people do experience weight loss on the HCG diet, it’s important to note that weight loss can lead to decreased muscle mass. This is particularly common with the HCG diet, since the diet is calorie-restricted. When you’re not taking in enough calories, the body may go into starvation mode and reserve calories as a survival method, which can result in less weight loss. However, those who follow or support the diet state that the diet only causes fat loss and not muscle loss.
If you’re thinking about following the HCG diet, it may be best to talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of these eating plan. It’s also best to limit the time you spend on the time so the body won’t become too accustomed to taking in reduced calories. It’s also best to adopt a healthy diet that includes healthy carbs and a variety of vegetables and fruits to maintain weight loss.
