hCG diet indeed provides quick weight loss, but it is also accompanied by many side effects. Here is more on how this diet affects the menstrual cycle.
The hCG diet is the current buzz word among men and women yearning a quick weight loss. hCG or the human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone, which is secreted by women during pregnancy. The hormone basically controls metabolism in pregnant women. Dr. A.T.W. Simeons, a British Physician, was the first to notice the possible use of hCG hormone in weight loss, and since then, the popularity of this diet for quick weight loss has seen an upward rise, with both men and women benefiting from the diet. The hCG diet demands total commitment from the person, and the diet also puts a lot of restrictions on the type of food to eat.
Side Effects of hCG Diet on Menstrual Cycle
hCG diet is specifically a craze among women, and it was bound to be one as women are more conscious about their physique and weight. Exercise is a hard and slow way to lose weight, and so many simple techniques were formulated by dietitians and researchers to facilitate quick weight loss. One among the many fad diets is the hCG diet. When women undergo menstruation, a lot of hormonal changes occur in the body, one of the changes is increased levels of the hormone progesterone. The effect of hCG to burn fat, fails due to the increased progesterone level, so it has been recommended by hCG weight loss experts to stop the intake of the hCG supplements during periods.
The woman can continue with the diet during periods, and the weight loss doesn’t stop. The primary aim of the injections is to help control hunger pangs, so a menstruating woman may experience some tough moments as she cannot control her hunger. hCG experts recommend that women may start using hCG hormone supplements immediately after the periods are gone. If a woman uses hCG supplements during menses, she may experience some unpleasant side effects, such as:
- Irregular Periods: The monthly cycle is disturbed. There is an increased probability of the cycle of menstruation going haywire. You may get an early or a late period. A slight delay in periods can cause a headache! With the hCG injections and supplements, the headache may turn severe.
- Flow Changes: Proper blood flow is very important in the menstrual cycle, and the hCG hormone may affect the blood flow. The flow may get disrupted, with you experiencing a heavy flow or light flow.
- Others: The other side effects of hCG during menstruation include rash and cramps.
It is better to avoid taking hCG supplements during periods, rather than experiencing such consequences. I would recommend that you consult your dietitian to determine how safe is the hCG diet for you during the menstrual cycle. As the side effects are not so serious, many women tend to continue with the supplements, but this is not correct. If this happens, seek medical attention.
Pitfalls of hCG Diet
Generally, the person has to eat low-fat food, and the calorie intake is limited to 500 calories per day. The hCG hormone comes in handy to tackle the sudden hunger pangs that the person on this diet generally experiences. This diet has come under a lot of criticism from health experts, because they believe that hCG is the wrong way to lose weight. The person has to take hCG shots in the form of injections or other supplements, along with the diet, and then the weight loss is guaranteed. The diet can also cause side effects like nausea, feeling of tiredness and fatigue, abdominal pain, hair loss, mood swings, and depression. The effects of this diet on women include hair loss, rashes on skin, and fatigue.
hCG diet is as such a safe diet if properly followed, and it has also shown excellent weight loss results. If you are on this diet during those ‘unwanted’ days, please make sure that you don’t take any hasty steps, and before taking any course of action, do consult your doctor. Stay safe.
