HCG Diet Side Effects
What is the hCG diet?
The human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone that, outside the context of pregnancy, unlocks the female body’s stored fuel reserves in the form of stubborn fat. This is nature’s way of providing food for the growing fetus in case there is famine or the mother cannot tolerate the food during the first trimester.
Without pregnancy, the hCG tells the brain to release the reserve fuel to support the body’s basic metabolic process. Thus, hCG diet is a natural and homeopathic way to burn “old” fuel that is hard to lose. Because the diet does not alter any other normal functioning of the body, the results achieved are permanent and safe, something that is hard to aim for in alternative diets (like Atkins and ketogenic) and even rigorous exercise.
Who is the hCG diet for?
HCG is high in women of child-bearing age; technically, this means anybody who has started her menses. However, the diet program is better applicable to people 18 years old and above.
The diet, however, is not recommended for women who are pregnant, suspecting they are pregnant, or planning to get pregnant.
What are the hCG diet side effects?
In injectable hCG, which is usually administered to women of childbearing age who cannot conceive under natural means, minor effects have been observed like nausea and vomiting, as the body adjusts to the surge in the levels of hCG.
However, in hCG drops taken orally, like the one used in this diet program, there are no documented hCG diet side effects. This is because over-the-counter hCG drops are several times more diluted than the concentrated form found in injectables. So the body is given enough time to adjust to the hormone. Side effects only happen when agents are introduced in concentration and rapidly. The hCG diet has none of that because it is self-administered in low concentration and gradually.
Can I take hCG even if I have my periods?
Yes. hCG is generally safe to be taken during menses, but not when pregnancy is suspected, planned or underway.
Can I start my hCG diet at the onset of my menses?
Ideally, the diet should be undertaken after or before the expected date of occurrence to be on the safe side. Menstruation is usually coupled with other conditions, like cramps, bloating, and food cravings. There is a strict diet involved with the program, and some foods (that may be part of the cravings) are altogether restricted because of their salt (that causes water-retention), sugar or starchy content. The diet usually consists of protein and complex carbohydrates, nutrients that are essential in supporting the body’s other activities while using up “old” fuel.
Are there any hCG diet side effects after I take off the program?
None. You resume with your regular eating habits and typical food choices. However, it is recommended that you steer clear of starchy and sugary foods a few weeks after the diet, as consuming them might trigger the body to hoard glucose at a fast rate, canceling out the benefit of resetting your metabolism.
The benefit of getting into an hCG diet program is that stubborn weight is lost fast (it is normal to lose a pound a day under the program) without causing the body to lose lean muscle mass. Because muscle tone is left unharmed during the hCG diet cycle, the body loses weight through homeopathic means without altering the functioning of the system.
