One of our most frequently asked questions is, “What is hCG?” This question is quickly followed by this question, “Why does it help with weight loss?” In this article and video, we answer these common questions.
HCG stands for human chorionic gonadotropin, a large glycoprotein made up of 244 amino acids that is found in great abundance in pregnant women. It is structurally similar to three pituitary hormones – the luteinizing hormone (LH), the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), all of which are important for regulating growth, sexual development, and other functions for the fetus.
Scientific interest in gonadotrophins started to peak in the 1920s when several teams of scientists independently observed and described the “gonadotrophic effect” and recognized that HCG could only be detected in pregnant women. This pioneering work was the basis for the A-Z test developed by Selmar Aschheim and Bernhard Zondek, which identified the presence of HCG in the urine of pregnant women and which resulted in the very first scientific pregnancy test.
Although the process has been considerably improved and refined, modern pregnancy tests still rely on measuring HCG levels in urine. HCG is actually naturally produced by both men and women, even non-pregnant women, but in very small quantities. During pregnancy, HCG levels rise significantly from the onset of implantation of the fetus and doubles every 48 to 72 hours up to about the 14th week of pregnancy, after which it starts to taper off. This hormone also has been referred to as the “survival hormone” as its main goal is to ensure the fetus goes full term even if the mother has a restricted or no food supply.
The main responsibility of HCG is to support the growing fetus by ensuring it consistently receives all the nutrients it requires. HCG does this successfully, despite inconsistent and/or inadequate food intake from the mother, by utilizing the stored unhealthy “abnormal” fat in the mother’s body, this hormone will literally trigger the release of up to 2500 calories per day from the fat in order to meet the caloric needs of the fetus. The result is weight loss during pregnancy for women who do not eat enough to meet the baby’s nutrient requirements.
The HCG diet, which combines the use of HCG and a very low calorie diet is designed to simulate this combination of conditions to cause rapid weight loss in both men and women. With the presence of HCG and the restricted food intake, the HCG will signal a calorie deficit and cause the body to burn the unhealthy abnormal fat thus releasing the nutrients to be utilized by the body to meet energy and nutrient requirements so no sense of deprivation or hunger is experienced by dieters despite the very low calorie diet.
Dr Albert T.W. Simeons, a British scientist found this fascinating. He clinically studied and proved in Europe that HCG could be used by a woman that is not pregnant and even a man as the hormone acted the same way when present in the body and faced with a restricted caloric intake.
Dr Simeons committed his life to studying how much HCG would be needed and exactly what the restricted caloric intake would look like and thereby resulted in The HCG Protocol which we at South Shore Wholistic Weight Loss follow. We have tweaked it to add the Wholistic approach as many foods that were used so many years ago are now too toxic and back then there were no personal care products deemed HCG safe either.
Ellen Piernick, Wholistic Nuitrionist and HCG Expert Coach, actually gained more than 25lbs to be able to “guinea Pig’ herself on the program and test products for HCG safety so as to be the best coach for the clients along with her partner Wholistic MD Dr. Dekel.
HCG is natural, completely safe, and effective for weight loss for both men and women. HCG will also help the body to literally reset its metabolism by “tuning up” the way the body burns calories, removing the food triggers that plague so many people who have issues with weight gain and is considered a “last stop” to weight loss once and for all!
We educate, empower, and encourage our clients to look at this as not just a way to finally lose all that unhealthy abnormal fat, but as a way to continue in amazing health for the rest of their lives as moving forward understanding where the toxins are, what to use to keep the body clean and PH balanced as well as arming our clients with tools, recipes, products, and so much more to ensure excellent health!
For more information on the HCG Story and Dr. Simeons, check out our HCG Story page. You can also sign-up for our FREE VIP Membership and you will receive a FREE copy of Dr. Simeons’ ebook, “Pounds and Inches.”
