The second phase of the HCG is a low-calorie phase. You are only allowed to eat 500 calories per day. The VLCD is done along with your daily HCG shot. The period of this phase is from 3 to 6 weeks. Your 500 calorie meal must have a portion of protein, vegetables, and fruits. The food choices on the VLCD are carefully chosen to work along with the diet hormone.
The HCG diet also allows a vegetarian protocol. You can modify your calorie intake. You will not undergo too much modification. You will only be replacing the meat choices with vegetables. Take note that most of the calories you are eating are from non-meat choices. Consult your diet doctor if you are planning to follow the vegetarian protocol.
Vegetables on the HCG diet
The list of vegetable choices during the HCG diet is low in calories. It is an important source of many nutrients like fiber. Vegetables also are rich in folic acid, vitamin A, and vitamin B. It also helps the HCG in burning your body fats. Vegetables can also protect your cells from weight-related diseases.
Vegetable replacement for protein choice on HCG diet
The main source of protein during the P2 of the HCG diet is lean meats. However, if you are following the vegetarian protocol you can have it from vegetable choices. You can get high levels of protein from spinach, sprouts, and asparagus. Broccoli also has a high value of protein as well as mushroom. You can stick to the original protocol if you have second thoughts with a vegetarian diet.
Increasing your vegetable servings on the P2 of the HCG diet
You can increase your vegetable portions to help you compensate for the protein requirements. It’s recommended to consume high protein vegetables like asparagus. You can also eat spinach. Monitor your daily meals on the VLCD. See to it that you do not go beyond the allowed calories per day. You have to be careful with whatever protein replacement you have to use.
Are protein powders allowed during the P2 of the HCG diet?
Be careful with protein replacements that you are going to use. The HCG diet is sensitive even to the slightest mistake that you will do. Protein powders or protein shakes are not allowed. These are already sweetened with unhealthy sweeteners. The added sweeteners will lead to issues in your metabolism. Thus, causes hormone imbalance. The best bet is to use the food choices from the protocol of the HCG diet.
The disadvantage of the vegetarian protocol of the HCG diet
There is a minor disadvantage to the vegetarian diet. You can only get limited protein choices. The other vegetable choices can interfere with the work of HCG. You cannot eat tofu and legumes because it can cause metabolic issues. It is better to stick to the original 500 calorie protocol of the HCG diet. The original protocol has more choices for protein such as lean meats.
