hcg diet.

Last week, a nurse I work with asked me about the hCG diet. I responded with two words: "sooo dangerous."
Why is this diet so horribly dangerous?  OMG where do I begin! Maybe with the use of a fertility hormone unapproved for weight loss or with the severe calorie restriction.  Lets tackle about both.
hCG stands for human chorionic gonadotropin.  hCG is a hormone produced naturally during pregnancy, but it is also prescribed to treat fertility issues.  During pregnancy, hCG is produced naturally to support placental growth and nourish a fertilized egg.  hCG signals to the brain to move nutrients to the developing embryo.  
The hCG diet plan claims that the hCG hormone is beneficial to weight loss by decreasing hunger and preventing the body from entering stravation mode.  A number of studies have researched hCG's effect on weight loss, but none have shown any positive link. Yet, doctors can still prescribe hCG injections for weight loss.  The FDA does require all doctors that are prescribing hCG for weight loss to provide patients a written document that says: “These weight reduction treatments include the use of hCG, a drug which has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as safe and effective in the treatment of obesity or weight control. There is no substantial evidence that hCG increases weight loss beyond that resulting from caloric restriction, that it causes a more attractive or ‘normal’ distribution of fat, or that it decreases the hunger and discomfort associated with calorie-restrictive diets.” 
Even though hCG is a prescription only medication, it is still widely available on the internet in the injection and droplet form for anyone to buy.  
So, why do people lose weight on the hCG diet if the hCG injections are not effective?  Easy!  Dieters are also required to follow a 500 calorie per day energy restriction. The diet recommends spending the whole 500 calories on organic meats, vegetables, a small amount of fruit and fish.  Dairy products, most carbohydrates, alcohol, and sugar are not allowed, but tea and coffee can be consumed is unlimited amounts.  So what does 500 calories on the hCG diet look like? 
This:  1 large apple and black coffee for breakfast; a small piece of skinless chicken breast, a 1/2 cup of a broth based soup and black tea for lunch; a small salad for dinner; a protein shake for snack. Oh! And a 125 IU injection of hCG! 

Anyone would lose weight if they followed this plan, not because of hCG, but the severely decreased intake.  By consuming only 500 calories, dieters not only lose weight, they also lose important nutrients and put themselves at risk for serious health risks such as gallstones, heart arrhythmias and electrolyte imbalances. The hormone itself also has it's own risks including headaches, blood clots, leg cramps, hair thinning, constipation, and breast tenderness.
This is simply a crash, yo-yo type of diet, the kind that leads to quick regain.  And once the weight comes back, the metabolism sucks.

Need to drop some pounds?  Stick to the tried and true: a healthy lifestyle -- one that you can sustain for a lifetime.  Eat natural and clean foods, avoid added sugars, drink water, watch portion sizes, and be active.