Before Kate Middleton married Prince William, it was rumored that she, along with her mother, were both on the Dukan Diet. Photos showed that they both lost a lot of weight using this program. The Dukan Diet has been all the rage in France for years, but did not become popular in the U.S. until the Royal Wedding. The diet was formulated by Dr. Pierre Dukan, a French physician, who has been promoting his diet for over 30 years. It is said that this diet is how French women stay so svelte.
This high protein diet is done in four phases. It is essential to eat a lot of meat, so this diet is not going to be one that a vegetarian or vegan can use. It starts out with your eating pure protein, followed by slowly adding fruits and vegetables. You are also required to eat a lot of oat bran. There are many pros and cons to consider before deciding if the Dukan Diet is for you:
Pros
• If you are looking for a way to drop weight quickly, you will be able to see weight loss in a rapid manner, even in as soon as 2 days.
• You get to cheat occasionally and have a meal of anything you want as a reward.
• The diet is really easy to follow; no calorie counting or weighing of food.
• After following all 4 phases, you will have learned how to maintain your goal weight.
• Unlike other diets, you will not lose muscle on this diet, and may actually gain more muscle.
• You feel full on this diet plan because of the oat bran that you eat daily.
• You are required to exercise or the diet will not work.
Cons
• You really have to love to eat a lot meat and dairy.
• Studies have shown that this diet is rough on the liver and kidneys. Check with your doctor before starting this diet.
• Because there is an increase in uric acid in the blood, you could develop gout.
• Because of the high fat and cholesterol in the diet, it is not heart-healthy.
• When starting the diet, many people get headaches and feel very lethargic.
• This diet changes your body chemistry, and can cause bad breath.
• There is not a lot of fiber in this diet, and it also lacks a lot of needed vitamins
• Numerous people report that the weight comes back when they enter the final phase.
This diet is very similar to the Atkins Diet that was popular in the 1980’s. As with any diet, before you start you should see your doctor to be sure it is a healthy choice. Understanding the pros and cons before starting any diet is crucial before considering a new regimen.
