Perhaps you’ve just stumbled upon the HCG diet, or you’ve heard of the wonderful results. Regardless, now you want to know more specifics. What is it, exactly, and what is the HCG diet food list?

Many people have the experience of trying endless diets and tactics in an effort to lose weight, with frustratingly disappointing results. The scale reads the same every week and your body remains unchanged. It’s aggravating, discouraging, and at times even heartbreaking. The HCG could be the answer to all your troubles.

The HCG diet has been proven to be successful, however, the positive results are inextricably linked with the calorie-restrictive diet. In order to ensure your success, we’ve laid out the HCG diet food list – a compilation of approved foods, drinks, and additives that comply with the diet.

What is HCG?

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) is a hormone produced naturally by the body. It’s produced primarily by pregnant women in order to metabolize fat to use as energy for both mother and baby. Medically, it has a number of uses, but in small doses, it can be utilized to aid fat loss. It doesn’t mimic pregnancy, and can be used safely by both women and men.

What is the HCG Diet?

A distinguished physician, Dr. A. T. W. Simeons, first published a report on the use HCG for drastic weight loss in 1954, while practicing in Rome, Italy. He administered this diet with great success in a spa for celebrities and royalty. Through the advancement of science over the years, the HCG treatment is now available for all.

In conjunction with the genuine pharmaceutical grade HCG medication, one must also follow a diet restricted to 500 calories per day for the treatment duration, which is about 40 days. The diet aids the rapid weight loss and produces results. Without the restricted diet, the HCG treatment won’t be as effective, if at all.

The HCG Diet Food List

Most people aren’t familiar with such a restrictive diet, and are unsure of what foods they are or are not allowed to eat. In addition, there are other aspects that most don’t consider, like the elimination of condiments and seasonings (i.e. ketchup, mustard, hot sauce, creamer, oils, etc).

The food list for the HCG diet comprises of low-fat whole foods that are not processed and low in naturally occurring sugars. Below, we’ve arranged it according to food category:

Proteins: Beef, veal, chicken breast, fresh white fish, lobster, shrimp, or crab. All visible fats should be carefully trimmed away before cooking.

Vegetables: Spinach, chard, beet greens, asparagus, onions, red radishes, fennel, tomatoes, green salad, chicory, cabbage, cucumbers, celery, asparagus

Fruits: Grapefruit, apples, oranges, strawberries

Beverages: coffee, tea, water (plain or mineral)

Condiments/Flavorings: You may use the juice of one lemon (per day) to flavor water or meals. Seasonings like salt, pepper, marjoram, vinegar, thyme, mustard powder, garlic, parsley, sweet basil, etc. may be used to flavor foods, however, avoid pre-made seasoning mixes as they may contain sugar. No butters, oils, or dressings of any kind are allowed. You can have one teaspoon of milk per day to add to coffee or tea. Stevia may also be used.

It may sound intimidating at first, but your body will adjust after a few days. Though your calorie intake is much lower than what you’re accustomed to, the HCG will be working to provide your body with stored fat to burn for fuel. So though you’re only consuming 500 calories in a day, your body is actually burning hundreds, if not thousands, of calories in the form of fat. This creates the drastic weight loss often seen with the HCG diet.

Attempting the HCG diet without physician supervision is not recommended. Lorraine Maita, M.D., offers a guided program that’s more comprehensive than most, with an initial visit, metabolic assessment, daily support emails, and follow up included. You can check out more about her HCG diet program, and other services. Still have questions? Contact us today for your weight loss consultation.