Are There Dangers With the HCG Diet Plan?


So you are looking to lose weight and have come across the HCG Diet Plan. Are there any dangers by following the HCG Diet plan?  As with any quick fix type of diet, it is prudent to investigate all possibilities.

HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) is a hormone found in the blood and urine of pregnant women. In using the HCG Diet Plan, as part of the program, it is encouraged to use HCG Diet Drops or Injections as a supplement to your diet. It is always important first check with your physician to find which best diet plan would benefit you.

The diet plan in itself may make many question the safety of such a rigid and VLCD (very low caloric diet) form of eating. The most calories you may have during a 24 hour period ranges from 500 – 800 calories per day. The recommended caloric intake for an adult is not less than 1,200 calories per day. The difference between the HCG Diet Plan and the Department of Health suggestions are enormously different. The program actually states that during certain phases of the program, you will be putting your body into starvation mode.

Any weight loss plan that actually uses the word “starvation” should send up red flags.  When you are dealing with your body’s chemical makeup, you always need to err on the side of caution.

For the purposes of argument, the proponents for the HCG Diet Plan state it is a healthy, fast way to lose pounds. The program says you will lose up to 1 pound a day.

For women deciding to try the HCG Diet Plan, you need to be aware there have been some reports of severe stomach and pelvic pain. Also, some have reported mood swings, blood clots, headaches and depression.

If you are considering this type of weight loss plan, the dangers of the HCG Diet Plan are somewhat evident and needed caution is advisable.  Do your best to make an educated choice.


What Are Some of the HCG Diet Dangers?


What are you looking for in a weight loss plan?  There are so many on the market it is very hard to decide what is right for you.  First choice of defense, check with your doctor for his/her recommendations.

One such diet which carries many risks is called the HCG Diet.  This diet was developed by a Dr.Simeons , an obesity specialist, using the drug called HCG which uses the urine from pregnant women.

The HCG diet program is 3 three week sessions containing the intake of HCG three times daily and no more than 500 caloric intake a day.  The claimed results are to lose from 1-3 pounds a day.

Starting the diet plan gorging yourself with as many fatty foods as possible for the first two days should send up a red flag from the beginning.  Beginning on day 3 of your program you will drop your calories to 500 per day, thus the beginning of your body going into starvation mode. When this takes place your body will go looking for sugars and fat but instead of pulling the fat from your regular stores it will unlock the abnormal fat stores and you will start to lose weight.

During this first set of the program, you are also instructed if you reach a plateau, to eat nothing for 24 hours but 6 large apples and only drinking enough water to quench your thirst.  Between the gorging, starvation and lack of fluids, this diet will set your body in a tailspin and sending your metabolism into orbit.

The additive you take every day, HCG, has not been approved by the FDA, but most report success using it.   The FDA only has approved this drug to help men and women with infertility.

HCG also comes with its share of side effects such as headaches, dizziness, irritability, mood swings, blood clots, depression, and confusion.  In women it can cause Ovarian Hyper stimulation Syndrome which leads to stomach and pelvic pain.  However it’s not proven that these side effects have anything to do with HCG itself (a hormone that is naturally found in the body) but rather may be caused by a lack of food.  The vast majority of patients do not report any negative side effects.

As with any weight loss program, make sure you check with your doctor.  Many are losing weight with this program and if they can keep it off, the long term health benefits will out weigh most short term side effects.