The Dukan Diet- The Newest Low Carb Diet

Are  you looking at trying the Dukan Diet to lose weight?  If you think the French never get overweight the Dukan Diet proves that this is untrue. Dr. Dukan developed his diet in France for the overweight French.

This is a low carb diet but it is different from the Atkins diet in that fat is out. If you loved Atkins for the bacon and eggs, the cream and the butter then you may be disapointed with the Dukan Diet. But if Atkins had worked for you as a permanent solution to weight gain you wouldn’t be here looking for another diet would you?

 The Dukan Diet

The diet begins with an “Attack Phase” in which only low fat meat and fish plus 3 tablespoons of oatmeal per day may be eaten. The oatmeal can be made into a pancake with 1 egg or some quark.  The Attack  Phase lasts from 1 to 10 days depending on how much weight you need to lose. I do hope you like prawns, low fat fish and chicken breast.  I find it hard to imagine eating nothing but fish and chicken for 10 days! You must drink at least 1.5 litres of water per day, which will presumably help to flush the high concentrastion of protein out of your kidneys.

Phase 2 is called the “Cruise Phase”. This simply adds a list of 28 green leafy vegetables for you to eat along with your protein on alternate days.  No root vegetables allowed. Take a daily 20 minute walk.

Phase 3, is called “Consolidation,” which allows you to continue eating as much meat and fish as you like and now you can include potatoes, carrots and peas to your vegetables plus a small portion of hard cheese, 1  low sugar fruit and 2 slices of whole wheat bread. In this phase you can also add 1-2 starchy foods and 1-2 “celebration” meals per week. A celebration meal is one in which you can eat whatever you like.  Take a daily 20 minute walk.

Phase 4, “Stabilization,” is the maintenance stage. Dr. Dukan says that you can eat whatever you like now and if you follow the rules and you will not regain your lost weight. The rules are to keep one protein only day each week for the rest of your life, continue to drink your 1.25 litres of water a day, take a daily 20 minute walk and never take an elevator or lift.

 What Do The Experts Say About The Dukan Diet?

“If you restrict yourself for a week, you may not really risk your health, but for a longer period of time you will miss out on important nutrients,” she says. The best answer for someone wanting to lose weight is to continue eating a balanced diet, but in sensible quantities.  High-protein diets do lead to weight loss, she says, and cutting out carbohydrates for a short period to kick-start a diet is acceptable.  “But in the long term, if you have anything that’s too restrictive you will risk your health.” Dr Elisabeth Weich of the British Nutrition Foundation

“There is no question this very restrictive diet will lead to weight loss, if you can actually follow it. But the elimination of healthy food groups, and the unpleasant side effects, makes The Dukan Diet an unlikely choice for the long haul. Protein is an essential part of a healthy diet, but it cannot stand alone. A truly healthy diet includes all the food groups — vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and low-fat dairy and healthy fats along with lean protein. Your body needs the nutrients these foods provide.   Skip this fad diet. Instead, choose a calorie-controlled eating plan that you can stick with for the long term. Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RD, is director of nutrition for WebMD.

Should You Try The Dukan Diet?

In my view this is not the best way to lose weight. I am not a nutritionist but a registered nurse. The diet excludes a whole group of foods and it provides way to much animal proteins. Animal proteins are very hard on the kidneys and the bones. You are creating an acid environment in your blood stream. The way your body will try to neutralize this acidity is by pulling calcium out of your bones. If this goes on long enough you are going to give yourself osteoporosis.

This is just another fad diet and once you come off it you will regain the weight you lost. So don’t waste your time on it.