HCG Diet: A Comprehensive Guide to Effective Weight Loss Tuesday, September 24, 2024
HCG Diet: A Comprehensive Guide to Effective Weight Loss Tuesday, September 24, 2024
The HCG diet is a controversial weight loss method that involves combining human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) hormone supplementation with a very low-calorie diet (VLCD) of around 500 calories per day. Proposed by Dr. Albert Simeons in 1954, the diet claims that HCG promotes fat loss while preserving muscle mass. However, several studies have disputed its effectiveness, attributing weight loss to the calorie restriction alone rather than the hormone. The HCG diet is divided into four phases: loading, calorie-restriction, stabilization, and maintenance. While some claim significant weight loss of up to two pounds per day, the diet has been criticized for its potential risks, including nutrient deficiencies, muscle loss, fatigue, and gallstone formation.