The HCG diet is based on a very low calorie menu and daily use of human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (HCG), which is a hormone naturally produced by the placenta during pregnancy; In this diet, the use of the hormone would help inhibit hunger and stimulate fat burning, without promoting muscle loss.
However, research on the HCG diet has shown that this hormone has no effect on appetite and does not stimulate fat burning, and that the weight loss that occurs with this diet is only related to low calorie intake.
The HCG diet can also carry serious health risks, including the use of HCG and caloric restriction, such as:
In addition, this diet also promotes the accordion effect, because, of course, the great dietary restriction increases the desire to eat sweets and industrial products immediately after the weight maintenance phase. Another problem is that it does not teach a healthy diet, which It forces the individual to go through cycles of weight gain and loss.
The HCG diet is divided into four main phases
This phase lasts 48 hours and it is necessary to take the hormone 1x / day after a medical follow-up, but it is not necessary to start the diet, in fact, the diet should be high in food and calories and consists mainly of fatty foods, such as avocado, nuts, meat, olive oil, pizza and fried foods.
The intention of this phase is to show the body that there is already enough fat stored and that it can begin the process of fat burning and weight loss.
At this point, HCG use is maintained, but the diet is limited to 500 kcal per day.This means very small, light meals throughout the day, consisting mainly of teas, vegetables, fruits and small portions of meat and eggs.
The weight loss phase should last a maximum of 40 days, being able to stop in advance if the weight loss reaches the desired level, in addition, it is necessary to drink at least 2 liters of water a day to help eliminate toxins from the body and fight water retention.In general, women lose 8 to 10 kg per month.
When you reach the desired weight or have completed 40 days of diet, stop using the HCG hormone and continue with the 500 kcal diet for 2 more days.
This phase is used to remove hormone from the body and stabilize the lost weight, thus stimulating the body to return to its normal metabolism.
This phase is characterized by a return to a normal and varied diet, seeking to find the balance so that there is no new weight gain, for this you must re-include the food and increase the amount of meals gradually, always observing the changes in balance.
To facilitate the process, you should prefer to eat whole foods rich in protein and good fats, avoiding sweets, fried pastas, soft drinks, white bread and refined wheat flour. The diet should consist mainly of foods such as vegetables, fruits, lean meats, cheeses, nuts, avocado, coconut, olive oil and peanuts.Carbohydrate-rich foods, such as sweet potato, English potato, cassava and wholemeal bread, should be introduced gradually and in small amounts.
The following table shows the example of a 3-day menu in phase 2 of the diet, in which 500 kcal per day should be consumed.
It is important to remember that it is forbidden to use oils to prepare meals and that the liquids that are released are only water, coffee, infusions and sugar-free lemon juice.
One drawback of the HCG diet is the high caloric restriction, which also limits the consumption of vitamins and minerals, which can cause problems such as hair loss, weak nails, general weakness, lethargy and discomfort.In addition, the use of the hormone is costly, and can cause changes in metabolism and increase the risk of complications, especially when not performed under medical supervision.
In addition, as this diet is very low in calories, it should not be practiced by people with any type of disease, especially without medical supervision, including diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, anemia and depression.
To lose weight healthily it is necessary to maintain a balanced diet consisting mainly of natural and whole foods, such as meats, cheeses, eggs, fruits, vegetables, brown rice, wholemeal bread, nuts, peanuts, seeds and olive oil..
In addition, it is important to reduce consumption of processed foods high in artificial fats, such as sausages, sausages, mortadella and margarine, high-sugar foods such as ready-to-use fruit juices, sweets, biscuits and soft drinks.and foods high in salt, such as chopped spices, prepared soups and frozen prepared meals.See the full menu for healthy weight loss.