The Dukan Diet

By Ebony

Popular in France the Dukan diet has reached the U.S. With a growing obesity epidemic in this country this diet is already taking off for many yo-yo dieters and first time dieters.
Developed by a French physician 10 years ago this diet is similar the Atkins diet. The diet has an emphasis in eating lots of protein, few carbohydrates, drinking plenty of water, along with a daily dose of healthy oat bran and a 20 minute walk each day.
The diet includes four steps, or phases, and you are warned not to take them out of order. Here are the four Dukan Diet phases:
Phase One- Attack: Eating only pure proteins in lean meats, lean cured meats, seafood, eggs, fat-free dairy products;
Phase Two- Weight loss: Add vegetables to the protein choices;
Phase Three- Consolidation: Add fruit, bread, low fat cheese and even pasta
Phase Four- Stabilization: One protein only day per week
You lose weight on The Dukan Diet because it cuts calories drastically. The lack of carbs also helps keep hunger at bay. But the bottom line, experts say, is that this eating plan does not include all the nutrients you need for good health. Side effects include constipation, bad breath, dry mouth, and fatigue.