IS THE HCG DIET A SAFE, healthy and effective way to drop pounds? Or is it a gimmicky, unhealthy and even unsafe regimen that doesn’t help its followers achieve long-term weight loss? Many experts think poorly of the hCG diet – which combines an extremely low daily calorie intake with ingestion of the hormone hCG – as an effective way to lose weight. “The hCG diet is almost the quintessential fad diet,” says Mike Israetel, chief sports scientist for Renaissance Periodization, which provides online dieting and training templates and coaching. There are no clinical studies suggesting using hCG helps with weight loss.
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Is it just us, or are supplements *everywhere* these days? There are magic pills to boost your brain power. You can find beauty-enhancing vitamins to make your skin glow, your hair grow, and your nails get strong. Or, if you’re feeling more high-tech, there’s even a fitness device that creates personalized health supplements based on your activity. But do we really need all of these boosters, or are we just paying for a quick infusion of hope? We checked with the pros to find out which vitamins and supplements are worth shelling out for — and when to save your money.
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Low-carb diets tend to be pretty polarizing. Some people think they’re ineffective, while others believe that they encourage bad habits like eating fatty bacon cheeseburgers.

But low-carb, high-protein diets can yield real health benefits if you take the right approach to them. In fact, a study published this month in the journal Pediatrics found that low-carb diets could possibly help Type 1 diabetes patients control their blood sugar.
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