It’s all abuzz – you’ve probably heard about the hCG or “hormone diet.”  If not, there’s a book out, injections available, many doctors are talking about it, as are bloggers and reporters.  I think the hCG/hormone diet is just another fad diet, and might even be dangerous. I would definitely stay way away from it!

Here’s an article on WebMD, by Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD basically in favor of it.  She reviews a book, “The Hormone Diet” by Kathleen Turner, a naturopathic doctor.  It’s a program eliminating allergy causing foods, gluten and citrus from one’s food plan – and using herbal hormone therapies.  It supposedly also regulates the hormones with the addition of tons of herbs, vitamins and supplements.  Not a good idea to take a lot of supplements, I think, without consulting your doctor first (as always, with any changes you choose to make).  Quoting the Huffington Post, Elizabeth Miller, who leads the FDA’s Internet and health fraud team, tells USA Today that even if not dangerous, the products are, at minimum, “economic fraud.”  This book stops short, though, when it comes to the latest and most dangerous weight loss fad, taking hormone injections.

The hormone injections supposedly “trick” the body into making hormone adjustments, like when a woman is pregnant. There’s no proof that I can find that substantiates this.  Messing with hormones can be dangerous, too.  There are studies that link hormone therapies with cancer, blood clotting problems, pulmonary embolisms, severe nausea, and God know what else.  There are doctors saying that the injects don’t make an difference, when tested with placebos.  One of those is Dr. Mehmet Oz.

There are a ton of articles all over the web.  Check out this one on the Huffington Post that talks about the book, and the injections, and Dr. Oz’s reactions and advice.

Or on ABC News’s website they say’s it’s a throw-back to a diet popular in the 1970’s.

Here’s what the New York Times says. 

A big caution needs to be made about “do-it-yourself” hCG treatment.  There are lots and lots of phony drops and supplements available on the web and in some stores.  Don’t buy them: they either aren’t real or don’t work, or might be very dangerous.

Ask your doctor.  Eat more fruits and vegetables, less carbs and fatty foods, and exercise daily – with a lot of prayer and mediation.  THOSE are the real weight loss methods that work.

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“Mysteries of the Jesus Prayer,” my movie on ancient and modern spiritual practices is available on selected Comcast and Verizon FiOS Video-On-Demand in the SnagFilms Collection.  Also available in the ITunes store (US only).  Coming soon to DVD.  My companion book, same title, is available for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and IndieBound.com