Alcohol and the HCG Diet: Can You Indulge in Moderation?

Alcohol is a substance that can be toxic and addictive. It’s generally not recommended during the HCG diet due to its high-calorie content and potential interference with the metabolic process.

Can You Take Alcohol When on the HCG Diet?

HCG permits alcohol in moderation, but it is better when you avoid them. 

·      Alcohol is packed with calories. On average, one gram of alcohol contains approximately 7 calories.

·       Moreover, alcoholic beverages often come with additional calories from sugars, mixers, or additives.

These extra calories can add up quickly and hinder your weight loss progress during the HCG diet. But if you have to, drink tiny quantities or in moderation. You can follow this guideline below: 

·      The volume of alcohol is 1.5 oz. for actual alcohol and 4.0 oz. for red or white wine.

·      At least three non-beer and sugarless alcohol drinks per week.

Risks Associated With Alcohol During the HCG Diet

It disrupts ketosis 

The HCG diet wants to get your body into ketosis, where it burns fat instead of carbs for energy. But guess what? Alcohol can mess with this process. 

When you have alcohol in your system, your body focuses on breaking down the alcohol instead of burning fat. It’s like hitting the pause button on your fat-burning progress, which can put a damper on your weight-loss goals. So, be cautious about alcohol if you’re aiming for those results!

It causes dehydration and water retention

Alcohol is a diuretic. That means it causes your body to lose fluids and can actually dehydrate you. Dehydration can lead to water retention and that dreaded bloating feeling. This is not what you want when you’re trying to shed some pounds. 

Staying well-hydrated is super important during the HCG diet because it helps flush out toxins. It also keeps your metabolism running smoothly and helps with digestion. 

It stops fat burning 

It lowers your metabolism and may interfere with HCG’s efficacy. Instead of eating your regular meals, your body will use alcohol as fuel. Protein and carbs from the foods you ate will be converted into fats as this occurs.

It makes portion control difficult and stimulates appetite

Drinking beverages suppresses brain control and makes people more hungry. The combination of more hunger with less control is very dangerous for some dieters. No doubt the lowering of inhibitions and willpower that follows drinking may account for many of the problems including bad snacks, and the wrong choices in entrees and large portions. 

It Causes Poor Sleep

Small amounts make you feel sleepy but too much can result in poor sleeping, often resulting in falls in blood sugar in the middle of the night. Poor sleeping in itself contributes to weight gain. As we all age, our metabolism slowly decreases. 

List of Alcoholic Beverages to Avoid

Limit your alcohol to no more than three days each week. Also, your maintenance phase is the most suitable for consuming Beer. For instance, you can have a glass of cocktail or wine during Phase 3 of your HCG diet. Avoid drinking grain-based drinks that may include gluten like:

• Grain-based vodka
• Beer
• Whiskey
• Gin 
• Bourbon

While it’s best to avoid alcohol altogether during the HCG diet, we understand that social occasions may arise where you may choose to have a drink. If you decide to consume alcohol, it’s important to be mindful of its caloric content, potential interference with ketosis, and the impact it may have on hydration and willpower. 

Moderation is key, and it’s crucial to stay hydrated and prioritize your weight loss goals. Remember, the HCG diet is a short-term weight loss plan, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, in the long run, requires balance and sustainable habits.