Dukan diet is the diet plan that is based on food intake that is high in proteins with less or no intake of carbohydrates, at least in the initial stages. This diet plan has four different stages: attack, cruise, consolidation and stabilization. The first two stages helps in losing weight and the next ensures that you don’t put on back the lost weight. It is better to understand the Dukan diet side effects before you decide to make this diet plan part of your life.
The first stage, as already mentioned above, is based on only-protien diet which forces your body to function on the already stored fats in the body. This is called ketosis. This is key to losing your body weight. Most other diet plans are also based on ketosis. The process of ketosis forces the body to start using its own reserve of fat. Some physicians do not consider this healthy.
The various dukan diet side effects are as follows: since it’s a high protien low carbohydrate diet it could have an adverse effect on the kidneys and could end up with various kidney related diseases. Since the initial phase of this diet plan insist on protein-only diet, it could lead to diarrhea or constipation because of the less intake of fiber in the diet. Fiber as we know plays a major role in our metabolism. Also when the protein is digested it leaves behind uric acid as its by-product. High uric acid levels in the body can have advers effect on the kidneys leading to kidney stones and gouts. It is also considered unsafe for those who have a history of electrolyte imbalance. The most effective way to get rid of the uric acid level in the body is to drink lots of water, to enable the body to flush it out. The side effect of constipation that comes as part of the first stage of the diet plan can also be overcome by drinking plenty of water. Also the dukan diet encourages having oat barn and/or wheat flakes to over come this unpleasant side effect.
Another expected side effect is the induction flu because of the lack of carbohydrates and fats in your diet, especially in the first phase of the diet plan. A person with induction flue experiences headaches, nausea, lethargy, and it could also leave you irritable and cranky. The high protien diet could also affect the cholesterol levels in the body. This diet plan is also said to have an adverse effect on your teeth causing tartar.
The dukan diet side effects vary from person to person. It’s not proven scientifically how healthy dukan diet plan actually is. Hence it is recommended to consult your doctor or dietitian, before you plunge into this diet plan, especially those who have a family history of gout and cholesterol.
See also THE DUKAN DIET REVIEW
