Alert: Dangerous New Diet (Please read)
January 22, 2013
This is the everything-you-need-to-know-to-be-as-healthy-as-possible newsletter, brought to you by Kristy Russ, pharmacist and health consultant. I have close to 20 years experience in helping people improve their health. I specialize in nutritional medicine, which is the secret of "true" preventative medicine. Yes, if I'm successful in getting people to follow my advice, I will put myself out of a job.
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Whatever You Do,
Do NOT Do The HCG Diet!
Well, here we are, 3 weeks into 2013 already! The weather has been unseasonably warm here in this part of Canada so I really can't complain about the cold. But it really doesn't feel like it could possibly be January... Oh well, I'll muddle through ;)
I know that lots of people look to lose weight at this time of year- it's a new year and you want a new start and just all that overeating from the holidays right? So I really wanted to do an article about this diet that I see many people doing because I want to make sure that none of my subscribers (or their friends) are doing this to themselves...
You may have heard about this new diet that people are claiming to have lost upwards of 20lbs in 4 weeks with...
...it's called the HCG Diet and it's supposed to reduce cravings and balance your hormones.
What Is The HCG Diet?
This diet was actually popular back in the 1950's until it became clear that there really wasn't any evidence to support using HCG for fatloss. Unfortunately, the HCG Diet has resurfaced and makes some pretty outlandish claims. Many of the products declare that the diet will "reset your metabolism", change "abnormal eating patterns" and give you a weight loss of 1-2 pounds per day.
HCG itself is actually a hormone produced in women during pregnancy. HCG is sold as a prescription drug approved for various medical conditions including the treatment of female infertility (but NOT weight-loss).
The HCG diet requires a daily injection of this hormone along with a scary obligation to eat a very low calorie diet of ONLY 500 CALORIES A DAY!
Why Do People Lose So Fast?
Well, did you catch that calorie requirement? Basically people are actually losing twenty pounds and more per month because they are starving themselves! If you stop eating, you will likely drop weight quickly no matter WHAT you are injecting into your body.
It will cost you hundreds of dollars a month and the real "secret" to this diet is starvation. You don't have to pay for that, you can starve yourself free of charge! (Which I don't recommend of course).
Some HCG diets actually state in the fine print that there is no substantial evidence: a)that it increases weight-loss beyond that resulting from caloric restriction; b) that it causes a more attractive or normal distribution of fat; or c)that it decreases the hunger and discomfort associated with calorie-restricted diets.
They're actually admitting it straight out, yet people are still signing up? Crazy.
Is It Safe?
No matter how big or small you are, that level of calorie restriction is severe and it does not lack consequences. These can include, but are not limited to, gallstone formation, irregular heartbeat, vitamin & mineral deficiency and electrolyte imbalance. This means that the HCG diet is not only unhealthy, it is more than potentially hazardous.
And your metabolism will go so far into the toilet (unless you are doing some crazy amount of muscle building to keep it up), that as soon as you stop it, you'll gain every pound back, plus more...
Keep in mind that following this diet could give you an increased risk of headaches, blood clots, restlessness and depression. In addition, the HCG could give you pregnancy-like symptoms, such as water retention, breast tenderness and swelling. And finally, HCG could also cause a condition called OHSS, or ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, which is potentially life-threatening.
Remember, you're INJECTING yourself with a hormone that shouldn't be there. Never ever mess with hormones because it messes up all your other hormones too.
In addition to the calorie restriction being unsafe, the HCG hormone is actually illegal for over the counter sale for any reason. In fact, it's not approved for weight-loss even as a prescription. The FDA has even taken a position warning any consumer currently using HCG for fat-loss to stop taking it and to stop following the dieting instructions immediately. In case you haven't guessed, I recommend this too!
My suggestion?
Stick to what we know works: eating natural, wholesome foods, with the right type of exercise along with healthy supporting supplements. Don't be fooled, misled or tempted by fad starvation diets and DANGEROUS fixes that require you to inject questionable hormones in your body!
Fortunately, we're still accepting participants in our New Year 2013 Healthy For Life Reset program. It's a medically designed health program that just happens to have weight loss as a side effect.
Because we actually ARE correcting the underlying hormonal imbalance that MAKES your body hang onto fat and crave foods you know you shouldn't eat. No willpower necessary!
Go to www.healthyreset.com and watch the video. You'll find out how to REALLY correct that imbalance so you can lose weight healthily AND permanently.
Whether you decide to join the program or not, go and educate yourself- I bet you'll be surprised...
And be sure to forward this to anyone you know doing the HCG diet. PLEASE! Stop the insanity!
Because Laughter Really IS Good Medicine...
Diet Stand Up Comedy (hilarious)
What's New at Antioxidants-Make-You-Healthy.com
Low Glycemic Diet
Not only is eating a low glycemic diet the healthiest way to eat, it is truly the most effective AND, more importantly, permanent weight loss diet you could ever do.
Create your very own webpage on my site! (Don't worry- you don't need to know anything about how to do it. If you can type, done!) If you have an interesting story to share or have a comment or question about a topic on the site, you can post it right onto the website. Read about how others have been affected by antioxidants, make a comment on someone else's submission or post your own.
It's fun. It's free. And you don't have to register for anything.
Comments? Ideas? Feedback? I'd love to hear from you. Just reply to this zine and tell me what you think!
See you next month...
Good Health to You,
Kristy Russ, BScPharm
Pharmacist and Health Consultant
P.S. Give your body the best nutrition possible. You'll not only feel better now, but you'll also have that quality of life in the future that you've always imagined for yourself.Click here to find out more.
