The hCG Diet Part1

HCG is a very remarkable and very potent hormone. A very underestimated hormone. HCG is officially used for the treatment of infertility.  Now all kinds of new medical uses are found. In a small study, HCG injections provided remarkably effective pain relief for patients with fibromyalgia and others who suffered from severe, intractable pain. For women who suffer from PCOS (Polycystic ovary syndrome) and who have problems with ovulation, taking hCG  could stimulate the body to ovulate.

HCG is commonly used during and after steroid cycles to maintain and restore testicular size as well as normal testosterone production. HCG helps restore and maintain testosterone production in the testes by mimicking LH and triggering the production and release of testosterone.

HCG is also used for people who suffer from hypogonadism ( underdeveloped testes), as it can stimulate their growth and function, therefore increasing testosterone production.

Even though on March 2014 a new study on pain management was published: "Combined use of oxytocin and human chorionic gonadotropin in intractable pain patients."  And I do find oxytocin (OT), sometimes referred to as the "bonding hormone" or the “cuddle hormone”,. OT exerts powerful action in the neuroanatomy of intimacy and also acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain.

Without any doubt these medical uses of HCG are much more relevant for all people involved, I would like to post on the “HCG DIET”. Well.. users report less pain in the joints and muscles and a mood improvement, while losing weight. It looks like a “win-win situation” to me.

Patented

HCG usage as a treatment for pain-management are already patented: US20120265712 titled: Methods for Chronic Pain Management

Globesity

An escalating global epidemic of overweight and obesity – “globesity” – is taking over many parts of the world.

In the USA more than one third is considered overweight. He diet, nutrition and supplement industry has become a 29 billion industry and there is no indication that it will slow down anytime soon

With billions of dollars at stake supplement companies and pharmaceutical companies alike are rushing to get more products and options out to market in order to grab a piece of the pie. In some cases older remedies are being made available even though the studies have been inconclusive in regards to its effectiveness.

One product that has enjoyed a rise in popularity has been hCG or human chorionic gonadotropin. HCG is a hormone produced by woman early on in pregnancy and currently used to treat infertility. Other reported uses for the hormone include testosterone replacement, increase in sperm count and of course weight loss, which was made popular by Dr. Simeons.

Is Oral HCG and Sublingual HCG a Fraud?

The short answer to the above question is YES, oral and sublingual HCG is a complete and utter fraud. HCG is only biologically active when injected into the body via a hypodermic needle. This fact apparently does not stop numerous web sites from offering “oral” or “sublingual” forms of HCG for sale in order to avoid the need for injections. Advertisements promoting these forms of HCG do not contain actual HCG since HCG must be dispensed by prescription only and must to be given by injection to be effective.

Claims that HCG can be absorbed in the oral mucosa are nonsense. To date, science hasn’t been able to produce a way to deliver the intact HCG hormone into the blood stream in any way except by injection, just as insulin has to be given by injection to be effective. HCG is over 5 times larger than insulin and it is not possible for that size of protein to be absorbed through a person’s mucus membranes. If it is taken orally the HCG protein is digested by enzymes that break it up into amino acids and it is no longer HCG. The 244 amino acids in this large, fragile polypeptide hormone (HCG) are in exact sequence with a specific 3-dimensional shape, which fits cell receptors like a key in a lock. Even if the chemical formula remains the same, a change in shape blocks HCG activity. Once dissolved in a solution, the cross-linkages maintaining the shape break quite easily and can become unstable.

Why do people claim they are not hungry? The decrease in hunger emphasized in HCG ads is likely attributed to the dietary emphasis on higher protein intake and/or carbohydrate restriction resulting in ketosis. These dietary regimens are associated with diminished hunger sensation. [1]

What about homeopathic or chiroHCG sold by chiropractors? Homeopathy is based the belief that disease symptoms can be cured by small doses of substances which produce similar symptoms in healthy people. All HCG drop formulations are inert, or having no pharmacological action, due to high molecular weight. Moreover, it is the specific shape and structure of a molecule on which the hormone’s action depends. In other words, it has to fit like a “key into a lock” or nothing happens. Therefore, it would be impossible to “take a small dose” or “a segment” of a hormone and expect to cause any kind of biological action.

What if I swallow HCG? Even IF drop formulations actually contained HCG, the protein molecule would pass into the stomach where it would be broken down into small peptides and amino acids by gastric acid—just like your dinner portion of chicken—again, no potential for biological action!

The fact is all of the published benefits of using hCG for rapid weight loss are based on injected HCG. None of its prized benefits are seen with oral or sublingual forms. One of the major effects of receiving hCG by injection is that the person’s appetite is severely suppressed. When oral or sublingual forms of HCG are given, an additional oral appetite suppressant must also be given, thus providing additional evidence that HCG does not actually get into the individual’s circulation with these methods of administration.

There are no published reports that have been able to demonstrate a measurable amount of HCG in a person’s blood when given in either oral or sublingual forms. The one report that is cited by most web sites as providing proof actually states “On treatment days 0, 15, and 30 we have tested all volunteers, screening for the presence of plasmatic hCG. Concentrations were undetectable in all cases (data not shown).”[2] The study was poorly designed as well because it did not include proper controls. There was no group of people tested that were given HCG via injection, the only proven way of getting the benefits of using HCG for rapid weight loss. Furthermore, the study was not published in a peer reviewed medical journal. Instead, it was published on the primary author’s website.

Claims that oral or sublingual HCG are as effective as when HCG is given by injection are marketing attempts intended to deceive scientifically unsophisticated consumers. Bottom line, the only effective and safe way to receive the benefits of HCG for rapid weight loss is via injection.

Anecdotical evidence

If you start reading the threads on discussion-forums about pain-management and weight loss you will find a wealth of information. Its like the discussion about anabolic steroids in the past. We all knew it was working, but the medical and scientific community denied it. I’ll post some posts with what normally is named anecdotical evidence:

    “I previously was thinking the reason why it worked for me is because prior to hcg I was storing everything to fat. Things were not working properly in my body. The first day I took hcg, I felt so calm and peaceful all over but mainly in my entire back area. I suspect my body was finally working in harmony. It was truly amazing.  I think it fixed my body in more ways than one and it also helped to gain muscle.

The hcg stimulates the hypothalamus to balance itself. It does also stimulate muscle growth even on 500 calories a day. It also has muscle sparing effects. “

    “Hcg is a tool, but it is not a magic wand with magical properties. The real magic happens in your head when you see the pounds come off and know that you can do it, that you can change your eating style, that you can reach for something and just maybe get there. There may even be some balancing of other hormones that takes place with hcg and/or the release of adipose (fat) tissue.”

   “I did my numbers and yes I did gain muscle slowly throughout the two rounds with zero exercise. If you think about it, you are eating protein every day two times a day with the meat and vegetables on the vlcd. Well, even if you don't exercise you are using your muscles to walk, type on the computer, etc.. So, if you had a problem prior to hcg where your body was mostly turning what it ate into fat and once on hcg it starts working in harmony and more effective. Then you can see how it is possible to gain muscle without exercise.
By the way, I am type O blood and did not eat meat every day. On the hcg I ate meat every day, twice a day. There are many people who increase muscle just by increasing protein intake.”

    “I know that a lot of you don't believe it. I was baffled too. All I can tell you is that I am not lying. I have tracked my percentages weekly for fat, muscle, water & bone mass. When I did the numbers I gained 4.03 pounds in muscle since I started. For sure I did not bulk up. I notice my legs more toned but it could be that there is less fat. I was cautious on phase 2 to not exert myself, for example I would not give my niece a piggy back ride. However, I do walk leisurely thirty minutes several times a week as recommended.”

HCG’s effect on muscle (testosterone)

It is also used for people who suffer from hypogonadism ( underdeveloped testes), as it can stimulate their growth and function, therefore increasing testosterone production.
 

If hCG stimulated muscle growth, then every pregnant woman would end up looking muscular. Your percentage of lean mass may get bigger just because your percentage of fat mass shrinks.

The hCG stimulates the hypothalamus to balance itself. It does also stimulate muscle growth even on 500 calories a day. It also has muscle sparing effects. “

Forest Tennant MD. DrPH, who is the leading scientist in the use of hCG and hCG combined with testosterone and or oxytosin, to releif the pain sensations in chronical pain patients answered another MD in a mail:

“We see in fibromyalgia that testosterone levels are often suboptimal in both men and women, and that low-dose bioidentical testosterone replacement helps (as was seen also in a small study by Hillary White, PhD, in female fibromyalgia patients).
 

First, the ability of HCG to raise testosterone levels in men and women is clearly a primary, if not a major, beneficial role. I have now used it on patients who have normal testosterone serum levels and some who are on testosterone replacement. Both groups claim additional benefits from HCG. I have three patients who adamantly wanted to stay off opioids and have been able to do so with HCG. I now have patients who have taken HCG for up to two years without any side effects. In central pain patients, long-term HCG has had the effects of lowering but not eliminating opioid daily dosage, and HCG often obviates the need for testosterone replacement.

It is my belief that HCG not only has testosterone-raising ability, but a neurogenic and anabolic effect on its own. HCG has two sub-units; one the same as that in luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, and thyroid stimulating hormone while the other unit is anabolic in that it produces neurogenic growth.”

HCG study shows increased muscle retention and fat loss on low calorie diet plan

In the quest to find effective and rapid weight loss options more and more dieters and looking to human chorionic gonadotropin to solve their fat loss needs.

Because the hormone is yet to be approved by the FDA for fat loss purposes the majority of searchers are reading old, outdated or even misleading information about the product. Some of the findings include no significant difference in weight lost between control groups, regaining of the lost weight after the program is discontinued and an inability to stave off hunger while on the program.

Proponents of the weight loss plan state that hCG not only helps with the promotion of fat loss through easier metabolism of stored fat but via the same process it helps with feelings of hunger, allowing dieters to successfully complete the program.

Until recently however there have been no studies that accurately measured results between a two separate groups that analyzed the data effectively. Most studies date back to the 70’s and 80’s and all conclude that the WEIGHT lost between users of hcg and non-users of hCG are almost identical. The problem is all that was measure was weight; no other considerations were taken into account in those studies.

In this study [3] there appeared to be more control and more data gathered and the findings were as follows:

• The group that used hcg injections lost an average of 13 pounds over the course of a month using the 500 calorie Simeon’s hcg diet protocol
• The group that did not use hcg at all lost an average of 15 pounds over the course of a month using the 500 calorie Simeon’s hcg diet protocol

This is where most studies done in the 70’s started and ended but in this case body fat percentages were measured in order to track muscle loss during the diet.

• The group that used hcg lost just 2 pounds of muscle mass while on the diet
• The group that did not use hcg lost 5 pounds of muscle mass while on the diet

These figures are very revealing for a number of reasons.

1^st The research revealed a 3 lb. difference in muscle retention between groups or 250% more muscle retained.

2^nd we know that muscle weighs more than fat so the actual weight loss figures are somewhat misleading because if you take out the muscle loss from each group it shows that the group on hcg lost 11 pounds of fat and the group not on lost 10 pounds of fat.

While this is just one study, it shows some very promising results which clears up some of the controversy regarding the hormone and the diet plan. The fact this it helps retain muscle mass can also suggest that weight loss after cessation of the program can help keep the weight loss since we all are aware that the more muscle a person has the more calories they burn daily.

References

[1] Effects of a high-protein ketogenic diet on hunger, appetite, and weight loss in obese men feeding ad libitum. Johnstone et al  Am J Clin Nutr. 2008

[2] Utility of an oral presentation of hCG (human Choriogonadotropin) for the management of obesity. A double-blind study. By D. Belluscio, L. Ripamonte and M. Wolansky. Published on D. Belluscio’s website www.hcgobesity.org.

[3] Sheri L. Emma, MD own published study 2013