New Pounds and Inches. Richard Lipman M.D.

HCG diet you are free to have as much caffeine as you want in the form of coffee, tea or unsweetened beverages as long as they are sugar and fat free.

      WHEN You Eat Increases or Decreases Your Metabolism

      Skipping Meals, Large Meals at Night and Wrong Snacks Can Lower Your Metabolism

      Skipping meals and eating too much in the evening can lower metabolism and not only stop weight loss, but actually cause weight gain. However, depriving yourself of snacks and pleasurable foods can make the whole problem worse. Traditionally, this has been the most common cause of slowing metabolism and is a very popular subject on the Internet. Most of the most recent scientific research has shown that the effects of skipping a meal here and there have little effect on decreasing metabolism. Skipping meals can lead to a low blood sugar and weight gain due to overeating. has a lot of effect, however, on potential weight In the HCG diet you should never skip meals. High protein snacks and fruits are encouraged because a low blood sugar is always a problem on the HCG diet.

      Supplements Increase Your Metabolism and Are Required on the HCG Diet

      Make Sure To Take Adequate B Vitamins.

      Dr. Simeons wrote that vitamins and minerals are not need on the HCG diet. Perhaps, that might have been true in 1954. However, with the increasing number of processed foods, it is not true today. Vitamins and mineral are needed. Among supplements, if you are suffering from low energy, you need to make sure that you are getting enough B vitamins. Vitamin B 12 in particular is one that is essential for energy. To ensure you're getting enough B vitamins, consider taking a B complex, plus a separate sublingual B-12.

      Some Supplements That Have Been Found Helpful are Those that are Naturally Produced in the Body:

      L- Carnitine NADH (Nicotinamide Adenine Finucleotide) which helps cells convert food into energy. Carnitine is produced by the amino acids lysine and methionine. It is essential for moving fat into the mitochondria of your body cells, where it is consumed. Dairy and red meat contain the greatest amounts of carnitine.

      Green Tea extract: Green tea is the main source of epigallocatechin gallate, known better as EGCG. This healthy catechin speeds up your brain and nervous system, causing your body to burn more calories.

      Chinese Herbs: Schizandra--a Chinese herb that is used for fatigue and Ginseng are also popular for energy. Before trying any herbs, supplements, or vitamins, you should of course consult with your practitioner to ensure they are safe for you.

      Capsaicin is found in red hot peppers. Human studies have shown that it causes an increase in thermogenesis. In one long-term study, capsaicin produced a sustained fat oxidation over time.

      Choline is essential for fat metabolism. Without it fats and bile can become trapped in the liver, causing cirrhosis. The Linus Pauling Institute recommends 550 milligrams (mg)/day for adult men and 425 mg/day for adult women. A varied diet should provide enough choline for most people, but vegetarians who consume no milk or eggs may be at risk of inadequate choline intake. A choline supplement would help such people.

      Hydroxycitric Acid (HCA) is found in a citrus fruit called garcinia cambogia. It inhibits the enzyme in the body responsible for converting carbohydrates into fat. HCA works best in a combination with a change in eating habit changes and exercise. HCA and chromium together suppress appetite.

      Are thermogenesis products real or merely hype? A number of scientific journals have published articles on this question, including The International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders, Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental, American Journal of Physiology have reported on increasing thermogenesis (fat burning) from ephedrine, and green tea.

      Exercise Increases Your Metabolism

      Speeding Your Metabolism By Building Muscles

      Muscle tissue is your largest organ. Most lay articles and trainers overestimate the effect of muscle on metabolism. The best estimate is that muscle contributes 6 kcal/ lb, to the overall metabolism which is about 20% to the day’s total.

      What is the Effect of Increasing Muscle Mass on Daily Metabolism?

      Not as much as you might think. The majority of peer reviewed resistance studies in humans (lasting 2 to 12 months) reported an increase of only 2.2 to 4.5 lbs. of muscle mass! Not what you hear in the gym. This would increase the metabolic rate by about 50 calories per day at best. Perhaps the real value of building muscle mass is that it helps prevent the loss of fat-free mass. Therefore the additional muscle you build up, the greater you’re resting metabolic rate (RMR). Every muscle fiber burns up calories for you, even while you rest, and increases even more when you exercise. This is the only way to truly increase your metabolism permanently. More on exercise in the HCG diet in chapter 11.