One of the questions that our HCG Coaches frequently get is if they can have turkey on the HCG Diet. Turkey is not listed on the original Dr. Simeons protocol, but there have been some instances where we do recommend clients trying turkey on Phase 2 of the HCG Diet.
Some of these instances include if you aren’t able to eat beef due to IBS or other medical conditions. Our coaches have had a few customers with these types of conditions use turkey on the HCG Diet very successfully. We also recommend turkey on the HCG Diet for people who have limited access to meat options (people going on vacations or trips, or people on restricted budgets).
If those conditions don’t apply to you but you still want to add turkey on the HCG Diet, here are a couple things you should consider:
1. It is not on the original Dr. Simeons protocol. While there isn’t too much information behind Dr. Simeons’ reasoning, we do know that all of the foods that are allowed were planned out based on his expertise.
2. Turkey contains L-Tryptophen which is an amino acid that can make you feel lethargic and relaxed. It can also cause your metabolism to slow down. The entire diet is designed to help you speed up your metabolism so we do not want you taking anything that would make you regress in any way. Tryptophan also can be metabolized into serotonin and melatonin, neurotransmitters that exert a calming effect, and when you feel that calm relaxing feeling you can get sleepy. There are other foods that contain as much or more tryptophan than turkey (0.333 g of tryptophan per 100 gram of turkey), including chicken (0.292 g of tryptophan per 100 grams), pork, and cheese.
Another alternative for protein is the Triumph Slim shakes or the Gnarly Slim shakes. Both provide you with a low calorie option at only 80 calories per scoop. Triumph slim has 8 grams of protein per serving and Gnarly Slim has 10 grams of protein. Getting enough protein is very important on the HCG diet. According to WebMD.com “Protein is an important component of every cell in the body. You body uses protein to build and repair tissues.” It is an essential part of your daily diet. So regardless of which options you choose on the HCG Diet, remember that it’s better to get some protein in than none.
