Dukan Diet For Weight Loss: How Effective Is This New Type Of Fad Diet?

Dukan diet is a new type of dietary practice that people are following to lose weight. Let us find out whether or not it is really effective.

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Written By: Kinkini Gupta | Updated : May 9, 2024 2:44 PM IST

Dukan diet is a new type of diet which follows a low-carb, no calorie rule. It was first discovered by Dr Pierre Dukan in the 1970s on whom it is also named. As per a study published in the Journal of Food Science and Nutritional Disorders, this types of diet has three phases. In the first one, you are supposed to lower your carbohydrate and fat intake, in the second phase you are expected to switch up your diet and load up on protein and the last phase is to follow a progressive and slow intake of other and all nutrients such as carbohydrates, fat and fibre. The design of this diet is very specific and requires everyone to follow it in an orderly fashion. If followed, it is said that this FAD diet can help anyone lose weight. Let us learn more about how effective it is and whether or not it has any side effects.

The Dukan Diet: All About It And Its Phases

Here are the phases of the Dukan diet and here's how you can follow it:

  1. The Dukan diet has four important phases. As described above, the first diet involves calories cutting and carb cutting, the second phase is all about protein loading and the last phase is about loading up on all good nutrients.
  2. The first phase is called the Attack Phase, the second phase is called the Cruise Phase and the last phase is called the Consolidation Phase.
  3. All the three phases are supposed to help you lose weight in a certain controlled manner. The first step will help you lose weight the fastest and will be noticeable, in the second phase it will help you decide how much more weight you want to target and lose and in the last phase you are supposed to help maintain the amount of weight that you lost in the first two phases. That is why it is called the consolidation phase.

Are There Any Side Effects Of This Diet?

What are the side effects of this diet? Typically, following a FAD diet means that you have to focus a particular set of foods and nutrients and avoid the rest which may lead to weight gain. For people who are overweight and obese, it is a good diet for weight loss but it may not be as good for people who are already lean. Experts note that, this diet may cause nutritional deficiencies especially in vitamins and minerals and may lead to more complications later.

Who Should Avoid The Dukan Diet?

Here is a list of people who should not follow this FAD diet:

  1. Pregnant women
  2. Women who are breastfeeding
  3. People who are facing kidney problems
  4. People with cardiovascular issues
  5. Other underlying health conditions
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