How old is hcg diet

Find out here. This restriction also includes homeopathic HCG products. By May , the FDA and the Federal Trade Commission had already issued seven warning letters to companies that marketed products claiming to contain the hormone. The HCG hormone is legal when a doctor prescribes it in injection form. Sometimes, doctors may prescribe HCG for unapproved weight loss purposes. There is no evidence to suggest that this is effective, and it may cause several adverse reactions. There is no evidence to support taking HCG to promote weight loss, and using the hormone may cause side effects.

According to some research , reported side effects of HCG include:. A person is also likely to regain the lost weight after they stop following the diet. Those who experience side effects from following the HCG diet or using HCG supplements should see their doctor immediately.

The HCG diet combines the use of hormone supplements or injections and severe calorie restriction to promote weight loss. However, there is no research to support this diet being either safe or effective. In the U. Although people following the HCG diet may initially lose weight, this appears to be entirely due to the severe calorie restriction rather than the effects of the hormone.

Eating just calories per day is neither healthy nor sustainable, and it can cause serious adverse effects. By the way, doctor: What do you know about the HCG diet? May 1, Research health conditions Check your symptoms Prepare for a doctor's visit or test Find the best treatments and procedures for you Explore options for better nutrition and exercise Learn more about the many benefits and features of joining Harvard Health Online ».

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The Best Diets for Cognitive Fitness , is yours absolutely FREE when you sign up to receive Health Alerts from Harvard Medical School Sign up to get tips for living a healthy lifestyle, with ways to fight inflammation and improve cognitive health , plus the latest advances in preventative medicine, diet and exercise , pain relief, blood pressure and cholesterol management, and more.

I want to get healthier. Close Health Alerts from Harvard Medical School Get helpful tips and guidance for everything from fighting inflammation to finding the best diets for weight loss 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 of up to two pounds per day. While you may shed pounds quickly on the HCG diet, it is not recognized as safe by health experts. Most experts agree that weight loss achieved on the HCG diet is due to extreme calorie restriction , not necessarily the HCG hormone itself.

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. Experts warn that you should steer clear of this diet. Not only is it extreme and unsustainable, but over-the-counter HCG products are illegal. A typical HCG diet plan is divided into the following three phases:.

During the brief "loading phase" of the HCG diet, there are no limitations on what or how much to eat. But once the weight loss phase begins, however, there are a number of foods the diet discourages—and only a few that are considered acceptable. The HCG diet plan recommends eating either or calories spread over two meals per day. An intake of calories per day or lower is considered a very low calorie diet VLCD. It is not recommended to restrict one's calories to this level without being monitored by a healthcare professional.

For breakfast, the diet recommends coffee or tea, which can be sweetened with stevia or saccharine. Since HCG also allows for one tablespoon of milk per day, some people elect to put it in their coffee at breakfast time. The HCG diet requires no specific recipes, but many online resources offer suggestions for meal plans that stay within the calorie-per-day target. With calories divided between two meals a day, people on the HCG diet can expect to take in about calories at lunch and at dinner.

While the calorie version of the HCG diet is the most well-known, the alternate calorie plan, generally credited to Dr. Richard Lipman, MD. Lipman claims that his plan adheres to Dr. Proponents of the HCG diet have found the calorie version more satisfying but have experienced less dramatic weight loss. Research indicates that the HCG hormone does not work the way Dr. Simeons originally theorized. No studies have confirmed that it fuels weight loss. In fact, studies conducted on the diet reveal that HCG injections make no difference in weight reduction when compared with a placebo.

The two daily meals on the HCG diet are based around a 3. Approved choices include chicken , egg whites , white fish , crab, lobster , scallops, extra-lean beef , and bison. Only certain vegetables are allowed on the plan. To accompany lean protein at lunch and dinner, one serving of spinach , chard , beet greens, cabbage , lettuce , celery , cauliflower, broccoli , asparagus , tomatoes , onion , shallots, or radishes is allowed.

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.

HCG-compliant recipes often use garlic , lemon juice, salt, pepper, rosemary , or thyme to season meats and vegetables. People on the diet can drink as much coffee, tea, and water as they like.

Coffee and tea may only be sweetened with stevia or saccharine, however, and the diet only allows for one tablespoon of milk per day to add richness to hot drinks. The HCG diet limits not only calories but also carbohydrates.

While a single piece of Melba toast or one breadstick may be permissible at dinner depending on the level of calorie intake , grains, muffins, bread, pasta, and other high-carb foods are otherwise prohibited. This goes for salad dressings as well. Such restrictive diets can be dangerous, even potentially fatal. Very low-calorie diets are sometimes prescribed by health care professionals for people who are moderately to extremely obese as part of medical treatment to lessen health conditions caused by obesity, such as high blood pressure.

But even then, strict and constant medical supervision is needed to ensure that side effects are not life-threatening. Without medical oversight, people on very low-calorie diets may not be getting enough vitamins, minerals and — most important — protein.