The HCG diet was invented by Dr. A.T.W. Simeons more than fifty years
ago. A quick search of the Internet will turn up hundreds of search
results regarding the HCG diet. The basic premise of this diet calls for
a severely restricted diet of only 500 calories a day, accompanied by
daily injections of HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) to lose weight.
HCG is a hormone that is most commonly found in women who are pregnant.
As a hormone, its basic function is to assist the body in preserving
lean muscle and to mobilize store fat for energy in lieu of the reduced
caloric intake.
The injections of HCG that a participant in this diet program receives are fairly low, generally just 125 milligrams. The duration of this diet should not exceed forty days maximum. If an individual has not lost the amount of weight they wish to during this time period, then the diet cycle may be repeated again once the human body can safely receive more injections of HCG. As aforementioned, these injections are given on a daily basis. The foods that an individual consumes on this diet should be high in protein and low in fats and carbohydrates.
The belief is that the underlying premises of this diet encourage the human body to activate its defense mechanisms to protect itself and the unborn (non-existent) fetus when the HCG is injected. Under this theory, the HCG diet is only effective in women, as men do not have the genetic makeup for childbearing. Copies of Dr. Simeons' manuscript regarding the HCG diet can be obtained online for free, but since he has long since passed away, most of the organizations that offer the HCG diet work independently of his research.
The HCG diet has been lampooned by the medical community as ridiculous. It was based upon research performed over 50 years ago when doctors' understandings of the medical science were much more limited. The severely restricted diet of only 500 calories is quite difficult to follow, and it can produce numerous negative side effects on the human body. Furthermore, daily injections of HCG, even in low doses, are quite expensive, with some resources listing them as costing more than $700.00 per injection. According to medical research that was published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, the HCG diet is completely ineffective as a means of losing or controlling one's weight. For other reviews and advice check out You can give vinegar a try, check out how to lose weight for more advice.
The injections of HCG that a participant in this diet program receives are fairly low, generally just 125 milligrams. The duration of this diet should not exceed forty days maximum. If an individual has not lost the amount of weight they wish to during this time period, then the diet cycle may be repeated again once the human body can safely receive more injections of HCG. As aforementioned, these injections are given on a daily basis. The foods that an individual consumes on this diet should be high in protein and low in fats and carbohydrates.
The belief is that the underlying premises of this diet encourage the human body to activate its defense mechanisms to protect itself and the unborn (non-existent) fetus when the HCG is injected. Under this theory, the HCG diet is only effective in women, as men do not have the genetic makeup for childbearing. Copies of Dr. Simeons' manuscript regarding the HCG diet can be obtained online for free, but since he has long since passed away, most of the organizations that offer the HCG diet work independently of his research.
The HCG diet has been lampooned by the medical community as ridiculous. It was based upon research performed over 50 years ago when doctors' understandings of the medical science were much more limited. The severely restricted diet of only 500 calories is quite difficult to follow, and it can produce numerous negative side effects on the human body. Furthermore, daily injections of HCG, even in low doses, are quite expensive, with some resources listing them as costing more than $700.00 per injection. According to medical research that was published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, the HCG diet is completely ineffective as a means of losing or controlling one's weight. For other reviews and advice check out You can give vinegar a try, check out how to lose weight for more advice.
