Injections might have once deterred some from taking hCG, but the hormone is now easy to swallow in drop form. One hCG drop producer, Pure HCG Diet, recently suggested on PRWeb that their product “eliminates side effects and dangers” of hCG. However, further reading reveals the only side effects the Pure HCG Diet eliminates are those specifically related to injections. Although these side effects are not outlined, we assume they mean the pain of the injections. There are several other producers of hCG drops, like those used in The Zola Diet.
The fact remains that there have been no high-quality third-party clinical studies that show hCG has benefit for weight loss. The diet requires followers to eat a restrictive 500 calories per day, and this fact alone can account for the diet’s success. However, this near-starvation quantity of calories is a dangerously low number, about one third of the daily recommended amount, and can cause many unwanted health conditions, from faintness, hair loss and irregular heart rates.
The hormone itself has been shown in clinical studies to have several severe side effects. Those taking hCG may experience fatigue, irritability, headache and male breast enlargement. No studies have been conducted to compare the effectiveness or side effects of the drops versus the injections.
Neither the FDA nor the American Society of Bariatric Physicians recommends the use of hCG for weight loss. It’s important to keep in mind that the FDA also does not regulate the sale of hCG online, which means no one oversees if the products are what they claim. “Not only will you waste your money on hCG, but there are also potential consequences — from side effects of the product and self-injections to nutritional deficiencies,” writes Kethleen M. Zelman, MPH, for WebMD. No matter how the hormone is administered, the hCG diet is not a healthy way to lose weight.
Sources: Mayo Clinic and WebMD.
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