What Foods Contain High Nutrients and Can Help With HCG Diets?

One of the most crucial phases a person must complete with the HCG diet is known as the VLCD or Very Low Calorie Diet. The VLCD prescribes that the participant consumes no more than 500 calories daily. The diet period is typically 40 days and lasts during the period that the participant is taking HCG injections or sub-lingual drops. Besides experiencing hunger (which is harmless), a significant risk of the VLCD is not getting the vitamins and nutrients needed in order to sustain healthy metabolism. Here are some recommendations for foods allowed on the VLCD that contain high nutrients and can help with HCG diets.

You can find calcium in vegetables like broccoli. Calcium is essential for healthy bones and not getting enough of it could put them at risk of breakage. The mineral is also beneficial for strong teeth and for the immune system. Broccoli is allowed on the HCG diet and instructions are to consume no more than 100 grams at either lunch or dinner. Other vegetables that are good sources of calcium include peas, spinach, asparagus, and cauliflower.

White fish is beneficial for muscle development and the cardiovascular system. This is prescribed as one of the protein sources in phase II of the VLCD. White fish includes cod, whiting, and sole. The reason white fish is so beneficial is that it is very low in saturated fats while being high in the polyunsaturated fatty acid Omega-3. Omega-3 has been proven to be beneficial for the cardiovascular system which can counteract the risk of blood clotting—a risk that has been identified with the HCG diet. You can have one 100 gram serving of white fish at any one of the two meals (lunch or dinner).

Shellfish is also allowed on the HCG diet. Besides being a source of protein, shellfish is a great source of iron. In fact, 100 grams of some shellfish (the recommended protein serving for one HCG phase II VLCD meal) will give you the recommended daily allowance for iron which is very important to women’s health. Shellfish also is high in zinc which is another important mineral that helps to boost your immune system and promotes brain functions. Shellfish allowed on the HCG diet include crab, shrimp, crawfish, lobster, and prawns.

Peppers are a great way to spice up your recipes and get the vitamins you need. When food is bland, there is a tendency to want to eat more because you have a sensation that you didn’t eat enough. Red peppers like Cayenne add flavor plus spice allowing you to savor each bite and eat more slowly. Consider also that Cayenne peppers are loaded with vitamins to include A, C, E, and K. It has the highest percentage in vitamin A which is beneficial for the eyesight and fighting against cancer.

The allowed fruits provide additional benefits. They also help to take away the craving you more than likely will have for sweets. Allowed fruits are apples, strawberries, one-half of a grapefruit, and oranges. The HCG diet protocol prescribes 2 fruits per day with at least a six-hour interval between eating. Apples with the peel provide an excellent source of fiber which are good for providing the bulk you need to alleviate the constipation that could occur with this diet. Strawberries provide a rich source of antioxidants which helps in the prevention of cancer. Of course all of them provide vitamin C which helps strengthen the immune system.