The pursuit of ideal weight drives us to try out new diets from time to time and to strictly stick to a nutrition plan. The metabolic diet relies on a low-calorie and high-protein diet. It takes advantage of the metabolism through low-carbohydrate and low-fat food. The treatment lasts 21 days and is divided into four phases. Varied recipes for metabolic treatment help you carry this out.
Metabolic treatment or hCG diet – what is hCG?
The metabolic cure is still well known as the hCG diet. hCG (short for human chorionic gonadotropin) is a hormone that women produce during pregnancy to provide the baby with optimal nutrients and is therefore evidence of pregnancy. The British endocrinologist Albert TW Simeons found that patients with hCG tend to lose fatty tissue instead of muscle. He therefore recommended taking the hormone as a supplement to an ultra-low-calorie diet.
It is important to mention that the daily calorie intake is limited to just 500 to 1000 calories. Science is unanimous that it is the low amount of calories that is to blame for the rapid weight loss, and not the absorption of the hormone. If you stick strictly to the prescribed nutrition plan and go through the four phases, you can easily lose up to 10 kilos. The metabolic diet is often criticized for having a strong yo-yo effect, because it is clear: if you eat a normal amount of calories again after the treatment is over, you will gain weight again.
Phases of the metabolic treatment
A metabolic treatment lasts a total of 21 days and is divided into four different phases: loading phase, diet phase, stabilization phase and maintenance phase.
1. Charging phase – 2 days
For the first two days you can eat anything you want. You can consume 2,000 to 3,000 calories a day and drink 3-4 liters of fluid. Alcohol is generally prohibited during the diet.
2. Diätphase– 21 Take
The second diet phase is crucial as to whether the treatment is successful or not. The diet plan is very strict and only allows a daily calorie allowance of 500 to 700 calories. In addition, it is more functional and the recipes for the metabolic treatment are simple and require less preparation time.
The prescribed amount of calories is mainly consumed through proteins, which must not be mixed. Dietary supplements and the pregnancy hormone hCG in the form of globules or drops are taken before every meal. The following foods are therefore prohibited:
- Sugar and all sweeteners
- Milk and fermented milk products
- Fats and oils of all kinds
- Carbohydrates, such as bread, rice, pasta, etc.
3. Stabilization phase – approximately 21 days
After the strict diet phase, the diet must be changed slowly. It is recommended to keep the calorie level low for around 3 weeks and consume 500 to 700 calories. You can slowly increase your calorie intake every day and consume more, for example 60 calories a day. This can be 20 grams of mozzarella or 50 grams of rice. The course of this phase is particularly important so that there is no yo-yo effect.
4. Maintenance phase – unlimited in time
The final phase of the metabolic treatment is not limited in time. It's about getting used to a healthier diet in everyday life and changing completely. Everyone can calculate their individual calorie needs and make sure not to have an excess.
Food supplements
The aim of the treatment is not only weight loss, but also purification and detoxification of the organism, thereby resetting the metabolism. Food supplements are taken daily. Particular emphasis is placed on grape extract, organic sulfur, omega-3 fatty acids andGlucomannanset.
Which foods can be included?
To ensure that muscle mass is not lost, protein intake is particularly important during the metabolic treatment. Here is a brief overview of which foods can be used:
- Meat:Chicken, turkey, lean beef, pork and lamb
- Meat substitute:Tofu, Seitan, Tempeh, Lupins
- Fisch:Salmon and tuna (not in oil, flounder, sea bream, cod, pike, halibut, sole, perch, ), mussels, scampi, shrimps, crabs
- Dairy products:Buttermilk, cottage cheese, kefir, low-fat yogurt, low-fat quark, Skyr
- Vegetables:Eggplant, cauliflower, broccoli, mushrooms, chicory, Chinese cabbage, fennel, spring onions, cucumbers, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, chard, peppers, red cabbage, Brussels sprouts, leek, iceberg lettuce, rocket, radishes, radish, cucumber, sauerkraut, asparagus, spinach, Celery, tomatoes, white cabbage, savoy cabbage, zucchini, onions
- Fruit:Apples, pears, pomegranates, plums, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, currants, cranberries, gooseberries, blueberries, cherries, tangerines, oranges, grapefruits, nectarines, peaches, passion fruits
- Drinksstill water, unsweetened black coffee, black, green and mate tea
Recipes for metabolism treatment and which foods you have to avoid
As already mentioned, alcohol is taboo, as are all kinds of drinks and products containing sugar, such as ready-made sauces, mustard and tomato paste. Spices are allowed. You should avoid fruits and vegetables that are high in sugar, such as mango and pineapple, carrots, potatoes or pumpkin. You should also generally avoid legumes such as lentils and beans because of their high carbohydrate content.
Generally made from proteins and lots of fruit and vegetables
Despite a few restrictions, there is a wide variety of combinations. The recipes for the metabolic treatment can be really varied and combinative. Here we present, for example, three breakfasts, lunches and dinners. We also offer 3 great recipes that are a little more time-consuming but are perfect for festive meals. This will surely convince your guests that the metabolic diet can be healthy and delicious.
Prepare breakfast
The breakfast ideas are kept very simple. You can drink one cup of black coffee without milk and sugar or unsweetened black or green tea a day. It often happens that breakfast consists exclusively of a warm drink and perhaps a Kornspitz. For those who like breakfast, we have 3 simple offers.
Breakfast 1:two boiled eggs (you cannot consume eggs at lunch or in the evening)
Breakfast 2:a handful of fruit (only one type), 100 grams of low-fat quark, 1 crispbread (do not eat more than 1 crispbread per day)
Breakfast 3:a handful of fresh carrots with lemon
lunch
Lunch is the main meal on the metabolic diet. You should consume as much protein as possible. The lunch menu basically consists of a portion of meat or fish garnished with vegetables or salad.
Lunch 1:two eggs (if no eggs were consumed at breakfast), two tomatoes, one Kornspitz
Lunch 2:Chicken schnitzel without breading, salad dressed with vinegar
Lunch 3:a can of tuna (not in oil), salad, an egg, Kornspitz
Dinner
Dinner 1:Natural yogurt (1% fat) with fresh berries of your choice
Dinner 2:Cucumber salad, cooked ham, fruit but no banana
Dinner 3:a Kornspitz, asparagus, tomatoes
Creative recipes
Salad with shrimps:Buy, rinse and cut fresh lettuce and vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes and spring onions. There are also 120 grams of shrimp. A dash of balsamic vinegar adds spice.
Omelette with zucchini:Chop or optionally grate 1 small zucchini and 1 small onion and then add them to the hot pan. Fry until most of the liquid has evaporated. Only then add 1 egg. To make the omelette nice and fluffy, add a little water to the egg and stir constantly into the pan. Season with salt and pepper.
Fish garnished with fresh tomato salad:Season 150 grams of fish fillet with salt, pepper and paprika powder. Then fry in the preheated pan for a few minutes on both sides. Cut fresh tomatoes and basil into a plate and add the fried fish.
Important
Any methods, information, and tips in this article are based on current studies and medical sources (at the time of publication). However, they are not suitable for self-diagnosis and treatment and in no way serve as a substitute for competent medical advice.
The nutritional method described is safe for many people, but not for everyone. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a medical condition, talk to your doctor before starting.
