Is the Dukan diet - the Protal program created by the French doctor really a miracle diet? What made the Dukan diet so popular?
French internist doctor PierreDukan , who has been specializing in dietetics for 30 years, has developed a method of nutrition which - as he claims - without sacrifice and hunger, is supposed to result in large and fast, and what most importantly, permanent weight loss. How?
A complete nutritional plan consists of 4 phases.
It starts with the shock phase, the so-called attack. It consists in consuming only protein. You can only eat lean meat, fish, and low-fat dairy. This stage lasts 5 days and during this time it is forbidden to eat anything that is not on Dukan's list.
After the attack phase, it's time to alternate. It is based on eating Phase 1 products and one serving of some fruit or vegetables a day. This phase lasts a week for each lost kilogram, so if you lose 5 kg, you will have to maintain this phase for 5 weeks.
Then comes phase 3 - weight-building. Here, in addition to protein, you can eat 2 slices of bread and one serving of cheese and vegetables a day. This stage takes another 10 days for every pound you lose, so if you manage to lose 15 kg, you'll have to be content with these products for 150 days. The monotony will be broken by 2 hearty meals a week, during which you can eat whatever you want.
The last stage of the diet is the phase of permanent stabilization to prevent the yo-yo effect. It consists in eating only high-protein products one day a week (for the rest of your life!).
Alcohol is forbidden (contains carbohydrates) during the first 3 stages of the diet. But there is no need to calculate the amount of consumed products - you eat as much as you like.
Popular Dukan Diet
It seems that the lack of quantitative restrictions made this diet so popular. Usually, losing weight was associated with tedious counting of everycalories , miniature meals and a constant feeling of hunger. With Dukan, not only do you not go hungry, but also kilograms are disappearing at a dizzying pace.
Celebrities and ordinary people who dream about losing excess weight go on a protein diet. In Poland, it is so popular that Dukan has just publisheddedicated cookbook for us! Protein diets ononline forums share theirsuccesses. "Ladies, I wanted to show off, I was planning to lose 6 kg, and in a month I lost 10!" - happy Ewa writes on the forum. He attaches photos as proof. The difference is visible with the naked eye, but how does the body react to it?
According to an expert dr hab. n. med. Małgorzata Kozłowska-Wojciechowska, Medical University of Warsaw, President of the Council for the Promotion of He althy Human NutritionFashion does not count in weight loss
The difficulty of talking about the Dukan diet is that there are no years of scientific observation - it is relatively new. My doubts stem from the fact that my protein intake is more than twice the amount recommended as safe. People who used it regain weight before the diet, and very quickly.
Although all diets based on only one nutrient (e.g. protein, fat) are the most dangerous and at the same time very popular, it is worth remembering that our body is not adapted to it.
Dukan's diet disturbs the balance of ingredients in the body
The human body is made of carbohydrates, fats, proteins and water. All these ingredients play a very important role in the body. The main task of carbohydrates and fats is to provide the body with energy. Without it, he is unable to function normally. Proteins, on the other hand, are the building blocks of all tissues in the body. Thanks to them, the body can regenerate itself. The problem is that in order for a person to "function" properly, there needs to be a balance between these components. When you only supply your body with protein, it is cut off from its energy source. It begins to draw it from the reserves deposited in adipose tissue. That's why losing weight is so fast.
ImportantThe benefits of a protein diet
Despite the fact that the Dukan diet is censored in most dieters, who do not notice its advantages, it is also worth mentioning its brighter sides. It certainly draws attention to the extremely important role of protein in the body. She recommends eating fish, which are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids. You can also take a lot of good from this diet: eliminate sweets, introduce lean meat, vegetables and fruit (but in more than Dukan recommends). People on a protein diet are expected to drink plenty of water. Dukan also recommends daily physical activity - exercise has an impact on your weight.
Adverse effects of a protein diet on the kidneys and brain
The price to pay for express weight loss is he alth. Such a large amount of protein alone does not have a beneficial effect on the body.
The first victim of the diet may be the kidneys. The process of protein digestion requires the excretion of its transformation products - nitrogen compounds that are toxic to the body. This is a heavy burden on the kidneys, which are unable to remove such a large amount of toxins. Diseases of this organ can occur.
- Protein products can become oncogenes, i.e. factors that increase the risk of cancer. There is a risk that using this diet for a long time will trigger cancer - warns Assoc. Kozłowska-Wojciechowska.
The most important organ, which is the brain, must not be forgotten either. He needs glucose to function (it is as important to him as oxygen), and this must be at his disposal at all times. But the process of converting protein into glucose is one of the body's most strenuous processes, so the brain needs readily secreted glucose from carbohydrates.
Dukan diet low in vitamins and minerals
Dukan seems to forget about the necessary ingredients in vegetables and fruits. - One portion of them a day is not enough! It should be remembered that even if the deficiencies of vitamins and minerals are supplemented by supplementation, it is also not natural - emphasizes Assoc. Kozłowska-Wojciechowska. If you are thinking of switching to this diet anyway, supplements are a must.
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