HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) and Weight Loss

Although diets based on food reduction and more activity in a person’s lifestyle are considered ideal, some also turn to drugs and diet pills to help them lose weight faster and more effectively. One possible option that many turn to is the use of a substance called hCG, or Human chorionic gonadotropin. HCG is produced by the body during pregnancy and helps maintain chemicals in females. It has since been suspected that hCG also encourages the rapid breakdown of fat in a low calorie diet instead of disintegrating lean muscle in order to protect the fetus in times of famine or low food availability. HCG has since been studied in several research projects and remains a controversial way to treat obesity and to use as a weight loss solution.

The main side effects and dangers associated with hCG are usually not life threatening. Some users report a headache for the first couple days of taking hCG, which usually passes within a few days. Other side effects may also include the enlargement of breasts in males. This is caused be a hormone imbalance involving testosterone. Body builders will sometimes use hCG to kick start testosterone production, and since testosterone is naturally converted to estrogen, more testosterone means more estrogen, causing enlarged breasts. The same principal applies to weight loss in males using hCG. HCG can also cause multiple pregnancies and over-activity of the ovaries in egg production. Other side effects include hair loss, edema from fluid retention, fatigue, and mood swings.

The benefits of using hCG include faster, easier weight loss, and the ease of use associated with an injection versus something more drastic, like weight loss surgery. Instead of going through an invasion procedure, an injection can be used to reduce body weight. These injections are taken at regular intervals, much like a diabetic taking insulin shots. This is used in correlation with a low calorie diet, and after a few days, hunger subsides and 1-2 pounds can be lost per day.

The main problem that hCG poses to individuals on a weight loss plan is the possibility that hCG doesn’t work at all. Several studies have shown that hCG really has no effect on the weight loss programs of many individuals and is not effective. Rather, it is said that the 500 calorie per day diet is the real secret behind the weight loss, a diet that is unhealthy in and of itself. Health care experts warn against the use of hCG until further testing verifies or discredits the use of the drug. For now, however, it is up to the dieter to use their discretion in the selection of a diet that uses hCG.

Dieting and the Christian Faith

Diets exist that are catered for many different individuals. Diets for Hinduists, Muslims, and other religions exist around the world. For a Christian or those wanting to try a Christian diet, there are many different options to pick from. Whether an individual is a Protestant who doesn’t eat meat or a Catholic who does, or anywhere in between, there are Christian diets that cater to a variety of interest groups and religious faiths. One of the many reasons that Christian diets exist is the fundamental belief that the body is special. Because of this, Christians and individuals interested in a Christian diet may often be trying to live a healthy, biblical life. There are even countless books that relate to the relationship between Christian diets and living healthfully and biblically.

One of the main components of a Christian diet is balance. Just like many things in Christianity, such as sex, money, and material possessions, there must be a balance. The same goes for food, and it is important to keep in mind that a diet based on Christianity will discourage being a “glutton,” or one who consumes too much food. This also means eating the correct diversity of food and getting the correct servings of fruits, vegetables, dairy products, carbs, and sugars/oils. It also means that an active lifestyle is maintained. Christian beliefs customarily discourage against idleness, so it is important to make sure proper exercise is performed each day.

As for diets, there are many different diet programs and options to choose from. One diet calls for 85% pure raw foods, and 15% cooked foods—all vegan. Diets like these often strive to follow the diet originally held in biblical times. Other diets include meditation and prayer with reading the Bible along with proper diet and exercise. Another diet, holding a religious title as its name but with little or no affiliation to religion calls for no manmade food at all. These are said to some of the best diets because they cut all processed foods from a diet and demand only naturally obtained nutrition, aiding is speedy weight loss. 

Before considering a Christian diet, it is important to decide if a typically naturalistic diet with spirituality tied into it is for you. A Christian diet is usually designed to help the body as well as the mind and spiritual elements of an individual. However, providing that you do choose a Christian diet, the weight loss programs and health benefits are usually worth the stricter eating protocols.

Green Tea and Dieting

One of the newest dieting techniques that has started catching on in the last few years is the use of green tea in dieting. Normally, dieting includes a reduction in calorie intake and increased exercise to cause a calorie deficit in a person’s day to day activities. This deficit and exercise forces the body to burn fat by providing just under the amount of calories your body needs per day to run. Green tea works by increasing metabolism and the amount of calories it takes to heat your body. The chemical in green tea, epigallocatechin gallete, works to help raise the metabolism in your body, ultimately helping you burn more calories.

One of the advantages of this kind of diet is the simplicity in its use. People on a green tea diet usually find it to be fairly straightforward and easy if they like or don’t mind green tea. A cup of green tea is about 1-1½ teaspoons of dried leaves per 6-8 ounce cup, so it is fairly easy to brew and drink because it can be brewed like any other tea and can even be iced. The ingredients in green tea are also powerful antioxidants and have been used as prevention for some diseases and cancer. Because of small caffeine content, a dieter on green tea can also experience elevated awareness.

The concerns that some medical professionals and nutritionists have is the side effects of drinking green tea in large or consistent quantities. Although green tea contains less caffeine than coffee, drinking it during a diet will mean taking in larger amounts than would normally be ingested during a normal dietary plan. Because green tea contains active chemicals, it can also react with other medications a dieter is taking. Because of these possible problems, it is recommended that a person see their physician before starting this kind of diet to ensure that they will not experience any adverse affects.

When using a green tea diet, many nutritionists say that it is more important to have a weight loss plan that includes the use of green tea rather than using green tea on a large scale basis. The amount of caffeine that is consumed overtime can be unhealthy if green tea is taken in large amounts. Rather, it is suggested that no more than one cup per meal be taken, but at least 1-2 cups per day. This will raise the metabolic activity in the body to the optimum level for weight loss and help with the calorie deficit an individual is already using as a weight loss solution. In general, expect small but slow results, so stay consistent and use green tea as an aid rather than an instance solution

Detoxification and Dieting: How They Relate

Detoxing is a way to rid the body of unwanted toxins and impurities. Many times these diets call for fruit juice-only diets, or diets that consist of mainly pureed or liquid forms of foods. Detox dieting has been used alongside of weight loss programs because the benefits of the two combined have been hailed as good for the body. Many of these diets have been made popular by celebrities who use them before movies, such as Angelina Jolie. A detox diet allows the dieter to lose weight and still cleanse their body because they call for healthy foods that are usually low in calorie content.

One of the main features of a detox diet in correlation with weight loss is the ability to lose weight while naturally cleansing the body of impurities through natural foods. Often times, these involve restriction diets that keep the dieter on only one kind of food. Some, such as the Joshi diet, restricts acid forming foods that may cause the body to build impurities or damage the digestive system. Other diets restrict the eating of solid foods, so the body has a chance to purify itself by devoting fewer resources to digestion.

One the key things to also remember in the use of detoxification diets is the amount of nutrition and nature of the diet. Detoxification diets that restrict the eating of foods to only one particular food group have been called dangerous by some experts because they lack the balanced nutrition that the body needs—for instance, the essential amino acids your body makes proteins out of. Because of this, it is important to choose a detoxification diet that will allow for balanced, holistic nutrition. The best diets will include a mix of fruits and vegetables, with limited but available amounts of calcium, carbs, amino acids, and other vitamins and minerals your body needs.

By choosing a good detoxification diet and using it as a weight loss solution, dropping a few pounds and feeling healthier is easier and natural. Some individuals report weight loss that is significantly faster than normal dieting because the body is receiving wholesome, natural, and unprocessed foods rather than prepackaged diets that are low calorie, but processed. To get started, the best option is to consult a nutritionist and ask about a detoxification diet used as a weight loss program. A nutritionist can set up a proper diet that is both wholesome and cleansing and will aid in weight loss.

The Risks and Benefits of Hoodie and Dieting

In a diet craze world of supermodels and thin body images, dieting usually takes the form of abundant exercise with little or reduced food consumption. This allows the dieter to lose weight by reducing calorie intake and increasing calorie burning. Another option that many dieters use is a pill commonly called the hoodia or “hoodie” pill. The hoodia pill acts by using a plant called Hoodia gordonii, a plant found mainly in South Africa. The chemical in the hoodia plant, P57AS3, mimics chemicals that tell the brain enough food has been received. This action curbs the appetite by stunting hunger, making you feel full.

The main risks associated with the use of hoodia are impure forms of the extract, or additives that are mixed with the diet pills. There is speculation that about 80% of the pills marketed to contain hoodia are counterfeit or scams, so the risks of receiving an impure product with unforeseen side effects can be high. Hoodia is also suspected to be hard on the liver, possibly causing mild liver problems that may or may not develop into a significant problem over time. Skeptics also claim that hoodia curbs thirst, and can cause extended periods of dehydration, which is counterproductive during a diet. Hoodia is also not recommended for those with diabetes, since the brain may be tricked into thinking it has more sugar than it does, causing dangerous or even fatal consequences. In general, hoodia products are not approved by the FDA, and only the purest forms of the hoodia extract are suggested for use by professionals and experts, if it is to be used at all.

Some of the benefits that hoodia has for dieters includes the ability to reduce the appetite without the hunger involved. Hoodia is available in many forms, so it is also extremely convenient to take. Hoodia is available in drinks, shakes, pills, syrups, bars, and other foods, making it a versatile and easy diet solution without undesirable or unpleasant foods. This, combined with several studies and claims that it works, has led to a mass craze in the celebrity and diet world.

In general, experts are saying if you can, go without the hoodia pill. It simply has too much controversy and dangers associated with it to be used in a safe manner at the current time. However, if you must use hoodia, 100% pure hoodia extract is recommended as the best. Experts also warn that counterfeits should be avoided, since they will most likely not have the ingredients that foster a good weight loss solution, and may contain harmful and even dangerous substances. In other words, it is suggested that you check labels for pure extract and use hoodia pills with caution, consulting a nutritionist or diet expert beforehand.

A Vegetarian’s Weight Loss Diet

A vegetarian lifestyle is characterized by a meat-free diet consisting of only plant and dairy based foods. Some vegetarians, called vegans, eat only a plant based diet and consume no dairy products at all. Weight loss dieting between vegetarians and non-vegetarians can be very different because eating habits can vary quite a bit. For instance, the Atkins diet calls for high protein and low carb diets, so meat in some quantities may be okay. Even Jenny Craig weight loss centers have meat in some of their food menus. This sometimes presents a challenge for vegetarians who want to diet, and it can result in a different kind of diet than a non-vegetarian would use.

A myth is that vegetarian food is naturally less fattening, when actually, they can be even more fattening than meat diets if eating habits aren’t good. Because of this, when dieting, vegetarians must be careful to balance their diet evenly. A vegetarian that tries to get protein from only eggs can be faced with health risks, such as high cholesterol. Rather, the diet must contain an even portion of foods that will make sure all the necessary nutrients are obtained without adding risk factors, like high amounts of fat and too much protein. In order to do this, it is recommended that vegetarians make grains the largest serving of food in their diet, somewhere between 5-8 servings. Vegetables are next at 3-5 servings, followed by 2-4 servings of fruit, 2-3 servings of milk or dairy, one serving of the beans/nuts/seeds group, and an overall fat intake of no more than 60g. This will ensure that there is a balance of diet and nutrition while on a weight loss program, without an excess of fatty foods.

The foods that vegetarians need to watch closely when eating are products like Mayo, high amounts of meat substitute, high carb foods, rich granola bars, and sugared dehydrated fruit. These all contain high amounts of salt or ingredients that your body will turn to fat. Rather, vegetarians should eat consistent meals that are well balanced and drink plenty of water. When dieting, take your weight and divide it in half and you’ll have how many ounces a day you should drink. The one exception is to make sure this isn’t below 8 glasses of water a day.