Up until recently, vegetarians have been left out in the cold when it comes to the HCG diet. There was no official HCG diet protocol designed with the eating habits of vegetarians in mind, and they were left pretty much in the dark as far as what to eat. Now, however, there is an official HCG diet protocol designed for vegetarians. It replaces the meat in the diet with legumes or soy-based proteins, and vegetarians are finally able to enjoy the rapid weight loss results associated with the HCG diet.

One thing to take note of, though, is that legumes and soy-based proteins often contain less protein per serving than meats do. As such, vegetarians are often found to be lacking in protein when it comes to dieting. Nowhere is this more so than with the HCG diet. Because of the very low caloric requirements, it an be very difficult, if not impossible, for vegetarians to stick to only eating 500 calories a day and still get adequate amounts of protein. It may therefore be more beneficial for vegetarians to follow the 800 calorie a day HCG diet as opposed to it’s 500 calorie alternative.

During the 800 calorie HCG diet protocol, vegetarians can eat an extra meal a day, allowing them to get the added protein that their body will need in order to function. Aside from bodily functions, protein helps you feel full. When you’re eating a very low calorie diet, feeling full is hard enough. If you eat a diet primarily consisting of carbohydrates, though, your body will burn through these very, very quickly and leave you feeling hungry far sooner than someone who eats a high-protein diet.

Legumes and soy-based proteins are typically low in calories, so vegetarians can eat larger amounts of them without breaching the 800 calorie a day limit. This can often be even more beneficial than eating meat as the larger quantity of food can help you feel full longer.

Vegetarians need to take extra care, though, to be sure that they are getting adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals. Especially on a low calorie diet. Often, regular HCG dieters are given vitamin B supplements to help with energy and general well-being. Vegetarians should look into supplements as well, but they should be even more concerned. Vitamin B is often found in meats, and not eating meat could easily lead to a deficiency in this particular vitamin. If you’re a vegetarian and want to try the HCG diet in order to lose weight, talk to your doctor about possibly getting supplements prescribed. They may come via the form of injections, but the tiny amount of pain associated with shots is far preferable to the large amount of organ failure that malnutrition can bring.

Ultimately, the 800 calorie HCG diet may very well be more beneficial for everyone, not just vegetarians. It can be extremely difficult to reduce your caloric intake when you’re constantly bombarded by food advertisements and surrounded by restaurants and eateries. Eating more calories per day and ensuring that you don’t feel hungry can be a potent tool in the fight against weight gain and it will definitely make it easier to stick to your diet.