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The controversial HCG diet outlined by British physician Dr. A.W.T. Simeons, continue to gain a lot of interest with its quick weight loss guarantees.  Although there are people, even celebrities, attest to the effectiveness the diet provides, experts do not dismiss the danger of HCG diet.

 

The HCG diet program consists of three phases, but the protocol of the diet is the restriction of 500 calorie intake combined with the oral ingestion or injection of the HCG hormone.  And marketers and endorsers of the diet claim one to two pounds loss of body weight daily.  However, medical experts and researchers today contradict the role of the HCG hormone in the weight loss program.

 

Role of HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin)

 

The HCG is a hormone released in the placenta cells by women during pregnancy.  Its role is to control body metabolism of women during the early stage of pregnancy.  In Dr. Simeon's study, he claimed that this hormone has properties which are vital key to weight loss.  He further stated that the use of the HCG hormone could suppress hunger signals to the brain.

 

With his findings, researches and health agencies conducted their own research.  And most of these researches did not find any conclusive results that HCG contributes to weigh loss.  As such, the FDA released a statement of the legal use of the HCG hormone as a fertility drug and stated that the hormone does not in any way contributes to weight loss or act as a hunger suppressant.

 

500 Calorie Diet

 

With some experts providing this information, one must be aware of the primary danger of HCG diet.  If you are on a strict low calorie diet, your body will be forced to use the stored glycogen as a source of energy required for metabolism.  But is it not the goal of the diet program?  Technically, yes, but the hormone does not act in contributing to the use of these stored fats in the diet.  So, using the hormone is useless.

 

Furthermore, if your body continues to undergo a crash dieting technique, your resting metabolic functions will not function properly.  When this happens it can lead to irritability, weakness, light headedness and food cravings.

 

Dangers of HCG hormone

 

Many people who are in the program reported the side effects of using the HCG hormone.   The most common observed side effects are headache, restlessness, nausea, and vomiting.  Pregnancy symptoms like swelling of the hands and feet, water retention, breast tenderness, blood clots and muscle cramps are also observed.

 

Moreover, some women developed Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) leading to severe nausea and vomiting, excess urination, pelvic and stomach pain, breathing difficulty and weight gain.  As for men, aside from having pregnancy symptoms it could lead to breast lining and prostate enlargement.

 

More Dangers of the HCG Diet

 

Since you are on a restricted 500 calorie diet, your body will undergo a starvation syndrome.  Following such case will lead to malnutrition. Though, the main goal of a rapid weight loss is achieved it can lead to a more an abnormal functions of your metabolic processes such as failing of the immune system, heart beat irregularity, heart palpitation and sudden drop of blood pressure that may lead to more complications.

 

The HCG diet program may be an easy way to lose those unwanted pounds.  But before deciding to go with the program it is important that you take consideration of the dangers of HCG diet to your overall health.  Remember, a well-balanced diet and some exercise might do you more good than any weight loss program.

 

Think carefully before starting the program and always consult your doctor and health provider.  Awareness of the danger of HCG is vital information that everyone must be mindful of.