Welcome to our exploration of the hCG Diet, also known as the Metabolic treatment 21. This diet, sometimes associated with the affluent, faces criticism from medical professionals and nutrition scientists. This article provides information for your knowledge and does not constitute a recommendation. Let’s delve into the principles, execution, and both the perceived benefits and drawbacks of the hCG Diet.
Principles of the hCG Diet:
The hCG Diet, standing for human Choriongonadotropin, a hormone produced during pregnancy, was developed by British physician and hormone specialist Albert T.W. Simeons. Introduced in his 1954 book “Pounds and Inches,” the diet involves hCG administration, typically in the form of pills, globules, or injections, combined with reducing daily calorie intake to a range between 500 and 1,000 kcal. The diet comprises a 21-day phase, followed by a stabilization phase of the same duration. Two days of “loading,” involving a high-calorie intake, precede the diet.
Execution of the hCG Diet:
The initial step in the hCG Diet focuses on boosting metabolism. This is achieved through a two-day “all you can eat” phase with a calorie allowance of up to 4,000 kcal per day. After these two days, accompanied by hCG intake, the allowed calorie intake drops sharply to just 500 kcal. Prohibited items include milk, sugar, sweeteners, carbohydrates, oils, butter, and alcohol. Permitted foods include lean meats, soy products, vegetables, select fruits, eggs, low-fat yogurt, and cottage cheese. To prevent nutrient deficiencies, supplements in the form of pills can be taken.
The diet phase concludes after 21 days, transitioning into the stabilization phase. Caloric intake is now permitted between 1,000 and 1,200 kcal, with sugar and carbohydrates remaining off-limits. Throughout the hCG Diet, the emphasis is on recipes with a high protein content. Advocates believe that hCG administration directs the body to utilize fat reserves in areas such as the abdomen, hips, and thighs, mirroring a process observed during pregnancy. In contemporary times, only the messenger substance is administered, believed to provide hunger suppression.
Pros and Cons of the hCG Diet:
Assessing the success of a diet solely based on weight reduction, the hCG Diet proves effective. Some testimonials even report double-digit percentage weight loss within a few weeks or approximately a 10% reduction in body weight after three weeks due to the low-calorie intake. Supporters claim thorough detoxification and skin smoothing accompany these outcomes. The hCG Diet has remained relevant for six decades, continually evolving during this time.
However, the hCG Diet is among the most intensely criticized diet forms. Many medical professionals deem it dangerous, issuing warnings. The administered hormone or its messenger substance lacks substantial proof of effectiveness, according to most experts. Critics argue that calorie reduction alone accounts for the weight loss, triggering the body to enter hunger mode with potential post-diet rebound effects. Considering the recommended daily intake of around 2,000 kcal for women and 2,400 kcal for men, nutrient deficiencies are likely, risking kidney stones, heart arrhythmias, menstrual irregularities, and thrombosis due to insufficient vitamins and minerals.
Critics of the hCG Diet include organizations such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Federal Trade Commission, the German Society of Endocrinology, and the German Obesity Society, among others. Legal actions and imprisonments related to false statements about the hCG Diet occurred in the U.S. in 1976.
