A fad in the weight loss industry that continues to make periodic appearances is the use and benefits of Hcg in achieving weight loss goals. In its natural state, the hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is released by a pregnant woman's placenta. It is the pregnancy hormone that alters the hormone release of the new mother to keep her body in a hospitable environment for the growth of her child. This is the hormone that is tested for in the urine and will turn a home pregnancy test positive. In the supplement industry, the supplement version of this hormone is written as "HCG".

Key Benefits of Hcg Supplements

Fertility Benefits of Hcg

When injected, hCG can be used to induce ovulation in women and sperm production in men. In some cases, it can also be used to support the production of progesterone in women. From all of this, we can see that the use of hCG has major effects on hormone balance in both men and women. These results have not been shown with oral supplementation.

Weight Loss Benefits of Hcg

There is limited research on the use and benefits of supplemental Hcg for weight loss. The only available related evidence involves a group of people on extremely low-calorie diets, that were also injected with low-dose hCG. These people lost fat rather than lean muscle, and later this evidence was used to recommend this treatment to overweight individuals. 

Unfortunately, the US Food and Drug Administration and the Journal of the American Medical Association have stated that Hcg supplements are ineffective for weight loss and may not even be safe for use. In general, most people cite the restricted calorie intake of the diet in the studies mentioned above (1/3 – 1/5 of normal caloric intake) as the means of weight loss, and do not attribute its effects to Hcg supplementation. This product is widely considered by both the medical and naturopathic communities as a debunked weight loss myth.

Potential Side Effects of Hcg

In addition to lacking evidence of effectiveness, Hcg is a human hormone and will directly affect the endocrine system. Because of this, it can cause alterations in other hormone levels such as progesterone and testosterone. These shifts can have several side effects, including: 

  • Mood swings
  • Headaches
  • Tender breasts
  • Swelling
  • Water retention
  • Depression
  • Gout
  • Risk of blood clots

This is all in addition to the massive nutrient deficiencies involved in a 500 calorie-a-day diet, which will take a toll on health as well, that can not be sustained over time and that will likely result in a massive weight gain when normal calories are resumed. 

Shopping For Hcg

It is difficult to get HCG because many governments are cracking down on its use. Because of the risks associated with this substance, and the extreme diet required in conjunction with its use, it is probably better to use other weight loss supplements instead. Of course, diet and exercise will always play the biggest role in any successful weight loss plan.