Most of us have heard about a balanced diet as a very important part of human health. However, if we are asked to start a diet we will never think about a balanced diet, instead, we will think about starvation. It is a very common misconception that diet is usually confused with intermittent fasting. Before knowing in detail about just one type of diet it is very important to start with understanding why we need a diet and how it is important. The diet helps us to ensure a constant supply of energy so we can perform daily activities. This works out in most cases, however, sometimes we eat surplus calories which eventually get deposited in the body in the form of fat. In case the body doesn’t reactive enough energy next time, it extracts the energy from fat and uses it for daily activities.
Just a few decades ago, people were struggling with food. This was mainly because the food was organic and there was no control over the types of food that was being cultivated. With the development in science, people started getting better at producing food and now the world is moving toward obesity. To cater to this issue, physicians now recommend different kinds of diets. One of the main diets that are recommended is a balanced diet which is a lifestyle where you eat everything but you do not exceed a certain limit. However, sometimes people become impatient and they set a goal that is very short term. To meet this goal they go on intense diets and use quick fixes and even then they are not sure if it will work out for them.
With the help of this article, we will explore what the Dukan diet is and why it is very popular. We will also explore some of the dos and don’ts that are linked with the Dukan diet.
What Is the Dukan Diet?
The Dukhan diet is a high protein diet with low carbs so you can get rid of body fat. This is mostly used by actors, singers, and famous artists who want to lose weight for specific roles. So far famous singers Jennifer Lopez and royal member Kate Medilton have openly accepted the use of the Dukan diet. Dukan diet was named after its founder, Dr Pierre Dukan who was a French physician. His specialization was in handling body weight and helping people to get rid of extra body fat. In the late 90s, an overweight patient of Dr Dukan asked for help. Dr Dukan as a result recommended a simple diet that was rich in protein. By the end of the diet, the patient claimed that he had lost weight. A similar pattern was reported among other patients as well. Formally, the Dukan diet was published in 2000 and since then this diet has openly been used and accepted in more than 32 countries. Overall the results have shown that the Dukan diet works and it helps with weight loss and the individual doesn’t report hunger pangs like in other forms of diets. If we look closely, we will see that some of the basics of the Dukan diet are somehow similar to the Atkins diet and Stillman diet as well.
The Dukan diet can be divided into four major phases. Each phase has its significance and the length of each phase depends on the goal of diet and the initial BMI of the individual.
Phase one
Phase one of the Dukan diet is called the attack phase. It consists of the first one week of diet and you will start your diet that will mainly consist of lean meat with just one tablespoon of fibre. You can have oat bran or wheat brand depending on the availability. Fibre is important for bowel movement.
Second Phase
The second phase of the Dukan diet is called the cruise phase. It starts from the first month and continues till a year. You have to consume lean preparation on alternative days with some non-starchy vegetables with some fibre of your choice.
Third Phase
This phase is called the consolidation phase and it starts from five days as you start losing one pound by the end of each phase. For this, you will continue your lean meat, vegetables, and fibre diet but you also need to add some carbs and fats on at least one day of the week.
Fourth Phase
This is the last phase and it is also called the stabilization phase. There is a time limitation of this phase. You can follow the same guidelines but your fibre intake will increase over time.
Is The Diet Worth It?
The Dukan diet is very helpful for weight loss and it is very popular among celebrities. However, physicians recommend that it is much better to exercise and shed fat through the workout and better physical activity as compared to shedding fat through diet. You can start with the Dukan diet but rather than continuing it for a very long time, it is better to only continue it for a month or 6 months if you aim to get in shape. However, for obesity, you need to ask for your doctor’s recommendation.
Bottom Line
To sum it all up, the Dukan diet is a high protein diet that brings fast results. Since most people only start dieting because they want to get in shape within a certain time, they usually have a very strict time frame. This usually happens when you have an upcoming event or you have some professional commitments that are restricted between very strict deadlines. However, no matter how good the Dukan diet must be, you need to know this is just for a short time. You cannot carry this diet for the rest of your life. It is a good way to help you get rid of your extra weight and shed some extra fat, however in the long run if you do not get back to a well-balanced diet you might start to notice the impact. Another very important thing to keep in mind is that once you start this diet, within the first few days your body will feel tired, however, as time passes you will see that your body is responding so much better. You will feel much more active and your mind will feel much lighter. However, after 20 days, your body will hit starvation mode which is not good for long-term health. So within 20 days make sure you conclude the diet so you can get back to healthy living.
