The Dukan diet: why it is dangerous, the consequences of its use

Among those who want to lose weight, the Dukan protein diet is quite popular. But the British Dietetic Association called it the worst in the list of famous diets, moreover, it believes that the Dukan diet is harmful to the body. Why is the famous Dukan diet so dangerous, which promises very impressive results? Before you risk your health, it’s worth understanding this.

The Dukan diet can cause irreparable harm to your health

Benefits of the Dukan Diet.

The Dukan diet is effective and this has been confirmed by hundreds of nutritionists and thousands of satisfied girls. Correcting your figure, losing excess weight, normalizing metabolism - all this is the result of following the basics of the Dukan diet.

The first 3-7 days is the attack phase, which is also called a protein diet. During this period, the body should receive the maximum amount of protein, thereby creating the basis for further weight loss. Then vegetables and some fruits are added to the diet and at the moment of complete normalization of weight, the person switches to his usual diet. There are no significant restrictions in the future. Eat the same things you ate before the diet, only have a protein day once a week. Combined with daily exercise, this diet shows the best results among similar healthy nutrition systems. The only difference is that other systems strictly limit a person’s diet from the first day and imply this restriction even after the diet is completed.

Carbohydrate fasting

In order for fat to “burn”, it must combine with carbohydrates, which are catastrophically low in the diet (2 tablespoons of bran per day). With a deficiency of carbohydrates, the body processes “reserves” of fat, but is unable to do this safely - the very same ketones are formed that poison all organs. The skin turns grey, the sweat and urine stink disgustingly, the breath smells like something rotten, the hair becomes dull, the muscles become decrepit. Not particularly concerned about the harmful effects of the Dukan protein diet in the long term? Think about your appearance and well-being, which is getting worse every day. The author knows the consequences, but he calls dizziness, nausea, chronic constipation and headaches “the body’s reaction to the rapid burning of fat.” Absurd.

Side effects of the Dukan diet.

I would like to immediately note that before you go on the Dukan diet, you should definitely consult a doctor. Any minor deviation in the body can lead to unpleasant consequences.

There are few contraindications to the Dukan diet, but you should definitely familiarize yourself with them:

• Lack of vitamins and nutrients in the body. The attack stage involves a purely protein diet and there is a possibility that your body simply cannot cope with such stress. If you go on a diet and after a couple of days you feel very unwell, stop the diet immediately.
• Prohibition of diet for nursing mothers and pregnant women. Any diet is stressful for the body. But in your case it is stress for two organisms. A lack of nutrients, both during the pregnancy and lactation stages, will definitely affect the health of your child, which can lead to the formation of chronic diseases.
• Weak kidneys. If you have weak kidneys, then the Dukan diet is not your choice. Due to the lack of fruits and vegetables, as well as the ban on coffee, tea, carbonated drinks, etc., your body will receive less water. Of course, these points are discussed in the Dukan diet, but the fact remains a fact.
• Lack of vitamin B. If your body lacks this vitamin, then during the diet you will receive it in even smaller proportions.
• Ban on sweets. At all stages of the Dukan diet, sweets are prohibited, but sweeteners are actively recommended. Not all of them are equally useful and it is difficult to imagine what effect they will have on your body.
• Problems with stool. By limiting yourself in protein foods in the first stages of the diet, you are guaranteed to have problems with stool. Of course, you should drink more fluids. But this point cannot be overlooked.

In addition to the above points, there is a list of diseases for which the Dukan diet is immediately considered contraindicated. Such diseases include:

• Pyelonephritis and renal failure
• Stomach ulcer
• Duodenal ulcer
• Gastritis, gastroduedenitis
• Cholecystopancreatitis
• Hypertension
• Atherosclerosis
• Gout
• Diabetes
• Allergic reactions to food or vitamin complexes
• Problems with stool
• Increased acidity
• Dehydration

What is the meaning of the Dukan diet and why do people lose weight so quickly on it?

A person can lose up to ten kilograms of pure fat tissue in just 14 days of dieting. However, such a huge plumb line cannot pass “just like that” and not affect the general state of health. In particular, eating protein alone puts a lot of strain on the kidneys, which often leads to an exacerbation of existing diseases (pyelonephritis, urolithiasis, glomerulonephritis, etc.), as well as to the proliferation of existing infections in the organs of the urinary system.

As mentioned above, rapid and rapid weight loss occurs due to the fact that the body begins to draw energy from its own fat reserves. It would seem that this is the key to a slim body. But not everything is so simple; in some cases, such a diet can bring a person to a hospital bed.

Is the Dukan diet harmful?

It is impossible to answer this question unequivocally. Each diet, like each course of treatment, has its own contraindications. It all depends on your body. If you do not have the above diseases, and you are ready to follow all the rules of the diet, then the result will definitely come. By building your diet correctly and not abusing foods, negative consequences can be avoided. If you have one or more diseases, then the Dukan diet will do more harm than good. But, in this case, almost any diet will be contraindicated for you.

So, the diet of the French doctor Pierre Dukan answers the eternal question, like the light of the sun itself: “What should I eat to lose weight?” And he does it specifically and thoroughly. But! Let's leave miracles for fairy tales and look at the mechanism of action of the system in more detail.

Helped us:

Elena Tikhomirova Dietitian, member of the National Association of Dietetics and Nutritionists

Main contraindications

Dr. Dukan's protein diet has its contraindications. Pregnant women, people with kidney disease, gall bladder, diseases such as ulcers, gastritis, cholecystitis should not start eating according to Dukan. Hypertension and atherosclerosis are also significant contraindications. It is better to leave thoughts about the Dukan protein diet for diabetes, various allergies, constipation, and intestinal atony. Even if you do not have any of the listed diseases, and you think that you are quite healthy, it is better to think several times and carefully weigh everything before you start. Still, the Dukan diet can be harmful.

What is the Dukan diet

Let us remind you that the diet includes 4 stages: Attack, Cruise, Consolidation and Stabilization. It is necessary to drink at least two liters of water daily and consume oat bran in small quantities.

Attack
.
At the first stage, a citizen who is losing weight eats strictly protein, low-fat foods. And this disgrace can continue for up to 10 days! What happens during this time? Oh yes, the fat burning process is very active. Surprised by the sharp restriction of carbohydrate consumption, the body begins to look for energy inside, that is, to use up reserves deposited on the sides
. Sounds great. But at the same time, it receives a considerable amount of almost pure protein, the digestibility of which is not too high: 2 grams per kilogram of body weight.

Everything else is excreted from the body - creating additional stress for the liver and kidneys

. And believe me, these organs have a hard time anyway. By the way, apathy and a general decrease in tone, noted at the Attack stage by many diet fans, appear precisely because of the lack of carbohydrates.

• Cruise
  .
  Finally, someone losing weight begins to consume carbohydrates, but the list of products is strictly limited. Plus, nutrition follows the following scheme: 1 day: pure protein / 1 day: proteins + carbohydrates (easier to say, vegetables). You have to live under such a system for a long time, sometimes for a couple of months. All this time, the body continues to experience stress
  , since the diet is not balanced and cannot be considered healthy. And we all know: where there is no health, there is no beauty.
• Consolidation
  . At the third stage, a little bread, fruit, cheese, and starchy foods are added to the diet of an individual who is emaciated beyond recognition. The diet can already be called healthy, plus or minus, but the restless doctor still suggests setting aside one purely protein day a week and leaving it that way for life. The duration of the stage is calculated as follows: 10 days for each kilogram lost.
• Stabilization
  . And finally, you can eat a balanced diet, without forgetting, however, about the protein day. Of course, the scheme must be followed throughout your life. And then - voila! - everything discarded will remain in oblivion, and will not stick to the body of a diet fan.

What else is harmful about the Dukan diet?

If you are still willing to risk your health for the sake of jeans a size or two smaller, here is an additional argument for you. Another harm of the Dukan diet is that at some point a process with the cute name gluconeogenesis starts in the body . In fact, it means a terrible thing. The body begins to slowly feed on the liver, which, against the background of a lack of carbohydrates coming from outside, produces its own from amino acids. At the same time, undigested protein is excreted through the same long-suffering liver and kidneys. The risk of developing urolithiasis increases significantly.

For those who have decided

If your friend (not you?) is determined to go on the Dukan diet, warn her in strict terms what to do first:

If during the examination a high level of cholesterol, uric acid, an increase in the level of AST, ALT, creatinine, urea is determined, and salts are found in the urine - urates or phosphates, during an ultrasound examination - stones in the gall bladder or kidneys - the diet is PROHIBITED.

Protein diet and alcoholic drinks

Many people who want to lose weight in the French method are incredibly upset by the taboo on alcohol. They think that the Dukan diet and alcohol are incompatible concepts. However, not everything is so sad. Pierre prohibits drinking alcoholic beverages only until he reaches his optimal weight. As you understand, this period varies among people, since the period of weight loss depends both on the initial body weight and on the intensity of losing extra pounds. As a rule, those losing weight using the French method achieve perfection of shape at the third or fourth stage. From now on, you can consume up to 2 glasses of wine (ideally red) twice a week. It is this portion of the life-giving drink that can enrich the body with useful substances and lift your spirits without harming your health.

Those who are wondering whether alcohol is allowed on the Dukan diet simply do not fully realize what they are asking. After all, alcohol is a very high-calorie and nutritious product that interferes with losing weight, inhibits metabolism and provokes the formation of fat.

When you reach your optimal weight, you can relax and indulge in a couple of glasses of red wine.

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Dukan diet: everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask

The Dukan diet - there's so much in this phrase. In any case, for those who want to get rid of extra pounds. Today, the protein diet of Pierre Dukan, along with the Atkins diet, fractional meals and the blood group diet, is one of the most popular nutrition systems.

The book "I Can't Lose Weight" has sold 1.5 million copies worldwide and remained a long-time bestseller in many countries. And celebrity fans of the Dukan diet include Jennifer Lopez, Penelope Cruz and Pippa Middleton.

Have you decided to try the Dukan nutrition system? In this material we have collected everything that will be useful for a beginner to know.

Features and content of the stages, practical recommendations

The core principle of the diet is:

• Refusal of carbohydrates
• Mainly protein food.

The technique is built on four stages, each of which has the task and consequence of certain changes in the body of those involved in the fight against excess weight; involves a “basket” stocked with necessary/acceptable products and a “bin” of unacceptable ones.

I. Attack

The first stage of the process. The most difficult and effective. The essence of which is the absolute replacement of carbohydrate products with protein, forcing the body to draw energy reserves from fat accumulations.

During this period, metabolic processes and fat burning occur highly actively.

Weight decreases within 4-7 kg.

How long to follow the recommendations of the first stage?

This is decided individually, through calculations based on the desired result. The more weight you plan to lose, the longer the duration of work in this phase, but no more than 10 days.

If necessary, reduce weight to 20 kg - 5 days is enough. Above this figure - 10.

The recommendations represent 72 types of protein products that can be processed in any way, excluding frying with oil, and can be consumed in any quantity.

Ducan's diet. "Attack" - permitted products:

First stage menu:

On a note:

For a more detailed assortment of foodstuffs for each period, look in the book by Dukan “I Can’t Lose Weight”

II. Cruise

Objective: prevention of negative consequences in the form of exhaustion and atrophy of organs due to insufficient intake of vitamins and excessive intake of proteins.

At this phase, many people break down, unable to withstand the duration of the stage - 2-6 months, depending on how soon the scales show the required numbers.

The recommendations of the author of the method consist in alternating intake of protein foods and vegetables: every other day. But adjustments are possible at the user’s request: two after two, three after three, five after five.

Authorized products:

Ducan's diet. Menu for every day for the “Cruise” phase:

III. Consolidation

Task: recording achievements.

At this stage, there are certain concessions that provide for a smooth return to a normal diet, allowing the consumption of carbohydrates, including desserts and cakes, but without weight gain.

To do this, you must make accurate calculations and strictly adhere to the specified framework.

The essence of which: every lost kilogram should be “fixed” for 10 days.

For example, 5kg - 50 days. But the length of the terms is mitigated by the pleasant bonuses mentioned above.

Table of products allowed during this period:

Consolidation. Ducan's diet. Menu for every day. Table:

Reference:

Shirataki - glucomannan noodles. A rare, filling, low-calorie product.

IV. Stabilization

Transition to the usual diet.

But that's not the point. There are conditions:

• Take 2 liters of water daily.
• Regular exercise in the fresh air.
• “Take” all the stairs under your own power, and at the same time do not miss every one you come across along the way.
• Sports or morning exercises.
• Fasting days.
• Oat bran - 3 tbsp. l./day

Don't be lazy, then the excess weight won't come back to you! Physical activity and an active lifestyle will support the achievements of your hard work, and you will be pleased with your beauty and health.

Authorized products:

The Dukan technique brings excellent results already at the first stage. However, this is quite a significant stress for the body. Before you start using the technique, weigh your strengths and consult with specialists.

How the Dukan diet works: stages

Becoming internationally popular after the book was published in 2010, the Pierre Dukan diet involves consuming large amounts of protein with moderate fat intake and reduced carbohydrate intake. As it turned out, on such a diet, even those who very slowly lose weight on proper nutrition and other diets can get rid of extra pounds. However, be prepared for the fact that you will have to give up baking, sweets and alcohol.

The Dukan diet consists of four stages: attack, alternation, consolidation and stabilization.

Phase 1: Attack

You start by consuming only "legal" protein foods, which include steak, veal, liver, ham (reduced fat), bacon (reduced fat), cooked chicken, turkey, cod, haddock, salmon, sardines, tuna, shellfish, low-fat cottage cheese, low-fat yogurt, low-fat milk, eggs and tofu.

The “attack” lasts about five days - however, the individual duration of each stage can be calculated on the official website of the diet - and during this time you should eat only (!) protein foods with a minimum acceptable error. In addition to protein, you should eat 1-2 tablespoons of ground oat bran early in the day.

Phase 2: Alternation

Here, 28 types of vegetables are added to the protein, including: artichokes, onions, asparagus, beans, eggplant, beets, zucchini, mushrooms, broccoli, cabbage, peppers, carrots, pumpkin, celery, tomatoes and lettuce. You should stick to this diet until you reach your ideal weight, which you want to maintain.

The main idea is to alternate protein days with vegetable days, but do not mix these foods within the same day.

Phase 3: Consolidation

Reason to rejoice: Bread and pasta are now officially part of your diet. But there are certain rules that are important to follow:

• Eat as much protein and vegetables a day as you want. Moreover, now they can be combined even in one dish;
• Eat 1 fruit a day, but make sure it doesn't have too much sugar. In particular, avoid bananas, grapes and dried fruits;
• Eat 2 slices of whole grain bread with butter every day;
• Eat only one serving (40 g) of hard cheese per day, but avoid excessively fatty varieties such as blue cheese, soft cheese or goat cheese;
• Pasta, preferably durum varieties, or rice are acceptable, but only once a week. In the second half of the phase, you can increase their consumption to twice a week;
• You can afford tomato sauce without sugar. Thus, it would be better to prepare it yourself.

Stage 4: Stabilization

So there you have it. Now you can truly relax and eat only what you want, and only when you want. On the other hand, to maintain the achieved weight, you need to remember that it is better to consume “harmful” foods in the first half of the day, and also have a “protein day” every Thursday, as in the first phase of the attack. In addition, regular exercise will be helpful to keep your body in good shape.

Additional recommendations

Product selection

Do not overdo it with ham and beef, remember that they increase cholesterol levels.

It is also better to avoid crab sticks because their benefits are questionable.

Choose healthy proteins:

• Rabbit and turkey meat.
• Chicken loin.
• Fish.
• Quail eggs.
• dairy products.

Bran:

Use daily, strictly adhering to the indicated dosages, in stages, art. l.:

I -1.5

II - 2 tbsp. l.;

III - 2.5 tbsp. l.;

IV—3 tbsp. l.

Drinking regime

To digest proteins, a large amount of water is required: the proportion of g/ml is 1/42.

• Stages 1-3 - enough up to 1.5 liters.
• During the stabilization period, increase to 2l.

Moderate physical activity is required

Strictly carry out daily walks according to the following stages:

I - 20 min.

II—30 min.

III—25 min.

IV—20 min.

And to this + play sports.

Disruption

What to do if you deviate from the diet?

This can be fixed.

Recommendations:

• Spend the next 2 days eating strictly protein assortment.
• Drink up to 2 liters of water.
• To sleep more.
• Take a longer walk.
• Reduce salt intake.
• Increase the duration of the stage by two days.

Who is the Dukan diet suitable for?

“Any person who wants to lose weight and is willing to spend some time on it can follow a diet,” says Pierre Dukan in an interview with goodtoknow.co.uk. — People often ask why my diet works. To this I answer that it simply does not look like a diet. There is no calorie counting or restrictions that lead to a constant feeling of hunger and breakdowns. But it has a plan that provides a specific result in a specific time frame.”

At the same time, the nutritionist notes that the rate of weight loss, as well as the total number of kilograms that you will be able to lose, depends on individual health indicators and lifestyle. But despite the fact that the time may increase slightly, Pierre Ducane is confident that in any case you will get the result you were originally striving for.

The essence and principles of the diet

Let's start with the history of its origin. The diet is named after its developer, French nutritionist Pierre Dukan. This respectable man is already over 70, but he looks great and leads an active lifestyle. The nutritionist claims that this is due to the nutrition system he created.

Among his followers are world stars and celebrities, for example, Jennifer Lopez and Kate Middleton. Dukan became especially famous for his book “I Can’t Lose Weight,” published at the beginning of the 2000s. At that time, an unknown nutritionist first offered the world a protein diet as a method of treating obesity. The book instantly became a bestseller and was translated into many languages.

To achieve truly amazing results, Dr. Pierre Dukan developed a number of principles that formed the basis of the diet:

1. Counting calories and strict, unsystematic dietary restrictions are not able to cope with obesity. Nutrition should be structured in such a way that the body does not receive substances from which it creates a fat layer, namely fast carbohydrates and fats.
2. There are no restrictions on how many times a day you need to eat or at what time. The body must receive food on demand.
3. A variety of protein menus, which includes both meat and dairy products.
4. Disruption is unacceptable! However, it is allowed to leave one stage to another earlier.
5. You definitely need food with hard fibers so that the intestines work stably. You can’t do without fiber or bran.
6. High protein content leads to dehydration. Drink plenty of water throughout the day!

Physical activity keeps you healthy and supports your metabolism. If you don’t have the opportunity or strength to go to the gym, first give up the elevator and start walking. Gradually add squats, abdominal exercises and other muscle groups.

Dukan diet: harmful to health

“I am a doctor, and I know that this diet is not harmful to health. By following it, you consume natural foods and avoid processed foods, which will only benefit your body. It's similar to what our ancestors ate many years ago, so it's probably one of the healthiest diets out there," says Dukan.

However, you should know that in 2014 Pierre Dukan was expelled from the medical register for commercially promoting his diet, and before that, in 2011, his nutrition system was seriously criticized by his colleagues (in particular, nutritionist Jean Michel Cohen).

Today, the expert community agrees that the Pierre Dukan diet should be considered dangerous to the same extent as other protein diets (Atkins diet, Kremlin diet, glasses diet). Before following a high protein diet, be sure to consult with your doctor. The fact is that an increase in the amount of meat and sausage in the diet can provoke a jump in “bad” cholesterol, and a lack of fiber, which is found mainly in vegetables and cereals, will most likely lead to digestive disorders.

Be attentive to your health, and then finding the ideal diet, as well as maintaining an optimal weight, will be much easier than you think.

Detailed description of the Dukan diet, contraindications and side effects

Several million books have been sold about the nutritional system developed by Dr. Dukan, and he has even more followers. Does the Dukan diet have contraindications? Of course, like all diets aimed at losing weight and limiting certain foods.

In fact, there has long been debate about the benefits of the nutritional principles that the doctor promotes. Many nutritionists around the world categorically prohibit following a diet, claiming that it is seriously harmful to health. And these beliefs are based on scientific research.

The essence of the Pierre Dukan diet

The enormous popularity of the Dukan diet can be explained by the fact that it was followed by world-class stars who achieved impressive results and, most importantly, maintained them. Of course, usually many publications omit the fact that the weight loss took place under the control of not only a professional nutritionist, but also a trainer, who vigilantly monitored the well-being of the celebrity.

The essence of the diet that Pierre Dukan developed is to maintain different diets in stages:

1. "Attack". During the period that this stage lasts, the bulk of excess weight is lost. You will only have to eat protein. There are 72 approved foods on the list, so you can easily figure out what to cook for lunch. The method of preparation may be different, and proteins are allowed in any quantity.
2. "Alternation." This stage involves alternating all-protein days with protein-vegetable days.
3. "Consolidation". By this point, the desired weight has usually already been achieved, so the person losing weight should gradually return to their usual diet.
4. "Stabilization". Dukan himself claims that this stage should last throughout life so that the weight is always within the normal range. You can eat any food (in reasonable quantities), but on Thursday you must have a completely protein “fasting” day.

Those who are losing weight are attracted not only by the authority of the opinions of the stars, but also by the fact that the amount of food on a diet is not limited. After all, everyone is accustomed to the fact that the expression “I’m going on a diet” implies hunger and eating lettuce leaves. In addition, many recipes have already been developed for the Dukan diet, and the doctor himself gives many concessions - you can drink Cola, and even eat smoked foods. The main thing is to reduce fats and carbohydrates to the maximum. However, all this threatens with serious consequences for the body.

Nutritionists have a negative attitude towards the Dukan diet. It is even included in the list of the most dangerous diets, since weight loss occurs incorrectly and with irreparable damage to the body.

Dukan weight loss and motherhood

Children are the most valuable thing in our lives. Meanwhile, due to the desire to look perfect, many expectant or new mothers make irreparable mistakes, going on the Dukan diet and depriving themselves and their baby of valuable nutrients and vital substances. As you know, during breastfeeding and pregnancy, strict dietary restrictions (including its diversity) are prohibited. You can blame Pierre Dukan for ruining the fates of newborns and their mothers. Meanwhile, if you carefully study his legendary book entitled “I Can’t Lose Weight,” you will understand that the French nutritionist actually took care of the health of pregnant and breastfeeding young ladies. It’s just that magazines and other sources of information rarely cover this topic, and we mostly get interesting articles about losing weight from them, don’t we?

In fact, it is possible to lose weight according to Dukan during breastfeeding and pregnancy, but you need to take the third stage of the program - Consolidation - as a basis. In addition, make some adjustments for this phase, namely:

1. Eliminate the mandatory weekly protein Thursday.
2. Add another serving of berries/fruits to your daily menu.

If you carefully follow the advice given by Dr. Dukan, then everything will be wonderful with you, with your baby, and with your figure.

During pregnancy, it is not forbidden to lose weight according to Dukan, the main thing is to do it in strict accordance with his recommendations

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The benefits and harms of diet

If we talk about the positive aspects of the diet, there are not many of them:

• Constant feeling of fullness
• Increased motivation, as the weight comes off quickly at first,
• Sweetener, chewing gum, candy and sugar-free are allowed.

There are no restrictions on the quantity or time of eating.

Now it’s worth talking about the disadvantages of the Dukan diet. Why are professional nutritionists so categorical about it? Indeed, the structure of the diet is quite strange, since carbohydrates and fats should be reduced to a minimum. However, the body needs complex carbohydrates every day to produce insulin and for full brain and physical activity. The same can be said about fats.

If you do not cover the daily requirement of 50-70 g of fat, it will be impossible to renew cells and absorb fat-soluble vitamins. It turns out that with Dr. Dukan's diet, metabolism will be disrupted.

The second major problem is the abundance of protein in the diet. At first you will have to eat them constantly. But for complete absorption of protein, fiber and vegetables are required. Otherwise, the fish or meat will simply cease to be digested normally in the stomach. This will cause the food to rot, resulting in instant poisoning. Everyone who has lost weight through this method notes that daily bowel movements disappear and it becomes difficult to go to the toilet. Dukan himself suggests solving this problem by taking bran and fiber. However, this is hardly a reasonable approach.

How to determine your weight according to Dukan

According to the Dukan method, a person's weight is determined by such a factor as waist circumference. The author explains this by the fact that a significant amount of fat deposits between the internal organs interferes with their normal functioning, contributing to the occurrence of serious diseases. You can calculate your weight according to the Dukan diet using the following formula:

W/P2 , where

W – human body weight in kg;

P is a person’s height in meters.

If the indicator is 5.0–8.6, then this is normal. A value of 5.1–30 indicates that a person has the first degree of obesity; a value of 30.1–35 is the second degree, indicating a high risk. With an indicator of 35.1 or more, we can talk about the highest degree of risk.

Side effects

The following side effects are common when following the Dukan Diet:

• Nausea,
• Dizziness,
• Bad breath
• Malaise,
• Bloating,
• The skin becomes gray-yellow in color, it becomes dry, peeling occurs,
• Hair loss,
• Frequent colds due to decreased immunity,
• Weakness,
• Absent-mindedness.

The listed symptoms are observed in the vast majority of those losing weight. However, these are not all the negative aspects of the diet.

What are the disadvantages and dangers of the Dukan diet?

If you can say a firm “no” to all the points in the “contraindications” section, this does not mean that protein nutrition is completely suitable for you. The fact is that an imbalance in the diet leads to changes in metabolism, and this is already accompanied by various side effects.

Thus, the disadvantages of the Dukan diet are as follows:

• In the absence of carbohydrates in the menu, along with fats, the breakdown of muscle tissue begins. The heart also consists of striated muscles, and therefore it is influenced by diet. This results in weakness, fatigue, and even rapid heartbeat. These disadvantages of the diet are completely unacceptable for people for whom concentration is important.
• Carbohydrates are necessary for nerve cells, and therefore it will be difficult for the brain to do without them. If your job involves mental stress, then be prepared for the fact that irritability, mood swings or headaches may accompany you throughout the entire weight loss period.
• A lack of B vitamins in the body will definitely make itself felt: brittle nails, dull, weak hair, wrinkles on the face - all this is harmful from the Dukan diet, and significant disadvantages for girls who care about their appearance.
• An excess of protein substances in the diet in the absence of dietary fiber, even in a healthy person, will manifest itself as bad breath and constipation, from which silicone oil and bran do not always help.
• The disadvantages of the Dukan diet include the use of sweeteners, which, according to many studies, are not so harmless. Consumption of, for example, aspartame in large quantities can, over time, lead to a number of diseases, including cancer.

How can the Dukan diet be dangerous?

In fact, such rapid weight loss at the first stage of the diet occurs due to the fact that the body quickly gets rid of accumulated water. And since for a long time he simply will have nowhere to get the necessary fats and carbohydrates, the muscles will be “burned” first and only then the fat. This is because maintaining muscle tissue requires much more energy. Then ketosis will begin, and it will last for a long time. This is the process of burning fat. In this case, ketosis is dangerous precisely because it lasts for a long time. At this time, the immune system is greatly weakened, ailments, headaches occur, and even the smell of acetone appears on the breath (one of the signs of diabetes!).

Most importantly, the risk of cardiovascular problems, including coronary heart disease, increases many times over.

Other equally serious problems often arise:

1. Loss of cycle or complete disappearance of menstruation. For men, giving up fat is not as catastrophic as for girls. Not only are metabolic processes disrupted and some vitamins cannot be absorbed, but the production of female hormones is also reduced. Fats are required for their production. In the future, the problem of lack of menstruation can lead to many diseases, ranging from the formation of cysts to infertility.
2. Constipation and disruption of the gastrointestinal tract. The above explains why this happens. Restoring normal digestion can be difficult, but the main thing is that frequent constipation contributes to the formation of hemorrhoids and bleeding if a person already has hemorrhoids.
3. Intoxication of the body. The risk of poisoning is higher if you have problems digesting food. Heavy protein foods can cause stagnation in the stomach, and the rapid proliferation of microorganisms will lead to intoxication.
4. Violation of metabolic processes and metabolism. The Dukan diet involves significant restrictions. The production of almost all hormones is reduced, especially the thyroid gland, adrenal glands and sex hormones. If a person’s metabolic processes are already disrupted, this will seriously affect his health.
5. The emergence of chronic kidney and liver diseases. Problems with these organs appear even in healthy young people. Due to the abundance of proteins, they can not only start to get sick, but also have a higher risk of cholecystitis, kidney failure, and other kidney and liver diseases. And in the future, this threatens with exacerbations that are life-threatening.

As a result, when the diet ends and regular food inevitably comes, the extra pounds will return. Often even in excess - this happens in 80% of people who followed Dukan's recommendations. However, the structure of the body will be different, because there is much less muscle left, and fat has returned in its place. As a result, the person looks even worse than before the diet. But the important thing is that such a diet has a destructive effect on internal organs.

The Dukan diet is quite monotonous and expensive, since it is based mainly on protein products . This is emphasized by the doctor’s followers themselves.

Do carbohydrates really make you gain weight?

Regular consumption of simple carbohydrates really inevitably leads to the formation of adipose tissue. Even if a person regularly plays sports and his daily activities involve physical activity, obesity cannot be avoided with regular consumption of simple carbohydrates. These foods are too high in calories. Simple carbohydrates include:

• sugar and all products that contain it;
• fruits high in fructose;
• baked goods and confectionery;
• baked goods made from white flour;
• pasta, rice, some types of cereals.

It should be noted that, for example, pasta can be made from special types of flour, in which case they will already be complex carbohydrates. Bread made from rye flour will also not be a source of simple carbohydrates.

You can eat complex carbohydrates without fear of gaining excess weight. Dishes made from foods that consist of complex carbohydrates are especially good for breakfast. Unlike simple ones, the latter will gradually feed the body with energy as they are digested and released into the blood, as a result of which the person will be collected, cheerful and energetic.

Contraindications

In some cases, it is strictly forbidden to follow the Dukan diet:

• The period of feeding and pregnancy, since a woman’s body must receive all microelements and vitamins, and the diet must contain proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Otherwise, the child’s full development is impossible.
• Presence of cardiovascular diseases. Any problems with the functioning of the heart, be it high blood pressure or atherosclerosis, are a contraindication to maintaining the Dukan diet. It is important to get all the necessary microelements.
• Adolescence and childhood. Children's stomachs are less able to digest an abundance of protein foods. In addition, for full development and growth you need a balanced diet that covers the daily need for vitamins.
• Chronic liver and kidney diseases. Moreover, you need to give up the diet even if exacerbations have never happened, otherwise you can seriously harm your health.
• There are problems with the gastrointestinal tract. Ulcers, gastritis, atony, a tendency to constant constipation - if these diseases are present, it is better to choose other nutritional principles.
• Violation of metabolic processes. If you have diabetes, thyroid disease, or hormonal imbalance, you should abandon the idea of ​​maintaining the Dukan diet.
• Age 50 years and older. Before and during menopause, you need to eat right. Moreover, the stomach is no longer able to cope with a huge amount of protein, so there will certainly be problems with its digestion.

Nutrition according to Dukan will be neither balanced nor complete. You can take vitamin complexes and eat fiber in any quantity, but this will not help reduce the harm that diet brings to the body. Without carbohydrates and fats, some vitamins will not be absorbed. It turns out that even if you successfully lose weight, the appearance of your skin, nails, and hair will deteriorate. And this is not to mention the colossal harm to internal organs.

An excellent alternative to the new-fangled diet is regular healthy eating. The speed of weight loss may be slower, but you will be able to lose weight for a long time and without harm to the body.