"HCG Diet"- thoughts and opinions please

My ND is recommending this HCG diet to a friend of mine and I know nothing about it. Please share any info or opinions. Thanks

HCG has some pros and cons, so here are the basics. The placenta makes this hormone, and if hCG shows up in the urine of a women, that is a pregnancy sign.

Based on research compared to placebo, HCG did not fair better than placebo if both groups consume a very low calorie diet. However HCG does help reduce the appetite in most people (not all).

Other studies followed up in major journals and the result was the same, no benefit over placebo, if both are calorie restricted.

As far as safety, that's another issue. The immune system is attenuated with the presence of HCG, most likely to accommodate the growing baby. This effect also appears to allow the trophoblast cells via the placenta to take over. This is identical to cancer. It's not researched but it's unclear this effect would create a problem with existing cancer.
At any rate, the pancreas releases enzymes to counter this effect, although by then the HCG levels have normalized by then.

I have heard of problems with the kidneys with HCG, so that is another concern, and in some cases some female problems.

Still, there are some cheaper ways and here is just one. It does not require a physician and you can order it right here.
Also, check out the feedback on it. Maybe it's worth a try. Its most favorable effect is just the ability to deal with eating a very low calorie diet for a while.

http://www.iherb.com/Stuart-Consumer-Product-Labs-Inc-HCG-Formula-RestorHCG-1-69-fl-oz-50-ml/26137?at=hil335

As always, thanks a million CS. I'll pass on this info to my friend so she can decide.

HCG is also used to raise testosterone levels in males. It can be very estrogenic so if you take it, it would be wise to use an aromatise inhibitor like anastrozole or aromasin.

cassanova wrote:HCG is also used to raise testosterone levels in males. It can be very estrogenic so if you take it, it would be wise to use an aromatise inhibitor like anastrozole or aromasin.

I took it years ago after a steroid cycle (when I was doing that). As far as I remember HCG mimics LH right? So there would be = 5ar conversion as well as aromatase from test. Just curious why you'd single out est and not DHT? Of course this is a female friend too.

yes correct, Hcg mimics LH. And it does convert to DHT also. It's just that it raises Estrogen levels to two to three times normal levels in males, which is often a problem. That is why post cycle an anti E like arimidex or nolvadex is beneficial in addition to stimulating your feedback loop. Ive never really heard anything out of the ordinary of the rise in DHT is causes.