HCG Diet and Hypothyroidism – What Is the Truth?
It is easy to find doctors on both sides of the fence when it comes to the HCG Diet and hypothyroidism.
Does the HCG Diet damage the thyroid or does it actually help improve thyroid function?
The answer depends on whom you ask, and whether or not they have real experience with the HCG Diet protocol.
Doctors who have long used the HCG Diet to help overweight adults shed excess fat from their bodies will tell you that the program is beneficial for people on thyroid medications.
Can the HCG Diet cause hypothyroidism in a person who does not have this condition?
Again, depending on whom you ask the answer can go both ways. Doctors with little to no actual knowledge of how HCG weight loss works are not the best judges of this question.
In reality, what we typically see is that HCG helps boost thyroid function. HCG signals go directly to the hypothalamus, where crucial chemicals are released to the pituitary gland. When the pituitary receives these signals, it, in turn, sends other hormones out to help boost thyroid action.
Since the thyroid controls the body’s metabolism – it regulates the amount of energy consumed and burned. HCG helps increase that amount.
What is Hypothyroidism and How Does the HCG Diet Impact this Condition?
Hypothyroidism is the name of the medical condition for when a person’s thyroid gland does not function correctly.
There are two primary forms of hypothyroidism:
- When the thyroid gland does not function at all
- When the thyroid gland is still working but underactive
A low functioning thyroid gland will have an adverse impact on a person’s metabolic rate, causing food intake to convert to fat rather than fuel.
Doctors will prescribe thyroid medications to help the thyroid glands – medications that a person must remain on for life.
The HCG Diet can help a person with hypothyroidism shed unwanted fat easier than many other methods of weight loss.
Using Thyroid Medications for Hypothyroidism While on the HCG Diet
The HCG Diet effect on hypothyroidism will not prevent the use of thyroid medications. One important thing to note is that the doctor prescribing and supervising the HCG Diet does need to know about all medical conditions before you begin the HCG Diet, and you will most likely need bloodwork with your primary doctor as you lose weight to adjust your medication levels.
*Blood testing before starting the HCG Diet is not typically necessary. We recommend speaking with your health care provider about further monitoring of your thyroid medications as you lose weight.
Do not stop taking your thyroid medications without the direct authorization of your prescribing physician. Doing so could further influence hormonal fluctuations that could make weight loss increasingly difficult.
The original HCG Diet protocol by Dr. Simeons did not recommend the use of thyroid medications during HCG weight loss, which is why there is some confusion about this fact today. That is different from the protocol followed at this time. Research has taught us a lot since the 1950s when the HCG Diet began. We now understand the benefits of the HCG Diet for hypothyroidism in people who are overweight.
Individuals who are on thyroid medications for hypothyroidism will tend to lose weight at a slower pace than those who are not taking these drugs; however, do not let that influence your decision. Weight loss will most likely still be quicker than with any other diet program.
We recommend speaking with a clinical advisor at Weight Loss Medical Center to find out more about how the HCG Diet can help you lose weight if you have hypothyroidism. Each person is unique, and we provide superior service and affordable prices to men and women throughout the US. Complete the form on this page or call today for your free consultation.