Sunday, August 28, 2011

Ready for a Comeback? The HCG Diet is Making a Big One

By Lawrence Greene, MD


The HCG diet plan has gained incredible popularity over the past few years due to its effectiveness shedding pounds. However, a lot of critics exist. Researchers discredited the HCG diet in the 1970's.

HCG is the short term for human chorionic gonadotropin, and pregnant females have high levels. Most of the HCG utilized for the diet comes from the urine of pregnant females. It allows hunger pangs to be curbed, making it easier to maintain sticking to the calorie restricted diet. This is important because for 6 weeks individuals are not permitted intake of over 500 hundred calories daily (800-900 on the modified diet). Diet advocates say that HCG releases body fat from problem areas such as the hips, belly, and thighs.

There is only minimal evidence showing HCG to be effective versus placebo, and no long term safety data exists.While the HCG diet is increasing in popularity with internet sales sites and natuopathic physicians, more medical doctors have been advocates lately. It is increasingly being offered as part of a "doctor supervised" weight loss plan.

It is not hard to locate success stories anecdotally in sufficient numbers on talk shows, medical practice websites, and around the internet. One can expect impressive weight loss from the diet, and it occurs quickly. Completely ignoring these reports could be inappropriate considering the substantial success rate so far.

The weight loss can feed on itself. The results start quickly, and patients just "feed off it" and become super motivated. With evidence lacking, the FDA requires a label to say that the hormone is "not an effective adjunctive therapy" for weight loss.

Potential side effects of the HCG diet include headaches, fatigue, hair loss, irritability, and increased risk of blood clots. Some beginning evidence exists that HCG stimulates the ovaries, insulin, and cortisol.

HCG stimulates testosterone in males, which is the reason HCG is classified as a performance enhancing substance. The FDA has approved the injected version to treat endocrine disorders and fertility issues. The diet comes in a variety of forms including injections, nose spray, or oral drops (under the tongue). The non-injection versions are over the counter products considered supplements and are not tightly regulated. How much HCG is actually in these products is not standard.

The biggest problem with the HCG diet, like most diets, is maintaining the weight loss. That is why doctor supervision is recommended along with nutritional supplementation (vitamins) to prevent malnutrition.

At this juncture, the HCG diet program continues to increase in popularity. It will be interesting to see if this rise continues.




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