goodbye carbs? goodbye bread?

The Dukan Diet is being called a French version of Atkins. So as this new book makes its way into the hands of Americans – are we in for another carbs-are-bad and fat-is-good revolution?

The New York Times calls the Dukan Diet, “the French diet you’ve never heard of.” And they also compare Pierre Dukan to Dr. Atkins. Saying he is the “Atkins of France”. Well can America handle another dieting revolution or are we doing just fine on our own? Clearly with obesity rates still soaring, Americans can use some help, but is another trendy diet book the answer? Lets see what the Dukan Diet has to offer, shall we?..

Atkins vs. Dukan. Yup, just as I had feared, the Dukan Diet is basically a French-glammed-up version of the standard high protein, low carb diet – made famous by Dr. Atkins.

Personal side note: You may not believe this, but (my full story here) I actually tried Atkins for a month in college (it was the first time I went back to meat since turning vegetarian) and after one month I was done! I felt so horrible I decided to go back to being vegetarian and turn full vegan. So in some ways, I can say thanks to Atkins for turning me vegan. ..But back to Dukan - the French-version of low carb dieting..

Wait, why in the world would the French want to shun carbs? I mean they have some of the best in the world! Baguettes, crepes, croissants .. I could go on and on, right?

Well according to folks who have reviewed to book – Dukan is really just another less carbs, more protein plan. But here’s where it gets interesting. It has diet stages called 1) attach 2) cruise 3) consolidation 4) stabilization. Dukan says about the phases, “4 phases which occupy the dieter from day one so that they never again feel like abandoning the diet.”

Here are the Dukan Diet basics: “The diet’s high-protein, low-fat approach is organized into four phases, the first of which encourages dieters to eat as much as they want of non-fatty, protein-rich foods, including oat bran — a key component — washed down with oceans of water. The second stage introduces vegetables, but no fruit; the third brings with it two slices of bread, a serving of cheese and fruit and two servings of carbohydrates a day, with two weekly “celebration” meals with wine and dessert (the diet is French, after all); and the final stage — six days a week of “anything goes” and one day of reversion to strict stage one.” -NYT

When asked about Atkins, Dukan said: “I have a lot of respect for Atkins,” Dr. Dukan said. “He was a legend in his time.” But now, he added, “Atkins is dead.” -NYT

Wow. That’s harsh.

The Dukan Diet website describes its method: “To lose weight when there is an abundance of food around you is not natural, is difficult and often unsuccessful. The Dukan method proposes a healthy eating plan that returns to the foods which founded the human species, those eaten by primitive man, the hunter-gatherers, proteins and vegetables, 100 foods including 72 from the animal world and 28 from the plant world. This offer also features the magic words: “AS MUCH AS YOU LIKE”.”

Alright, I’ll be honest. As a vegan, this diet scares me! There are 100 foods you eat and only 28 of them are from the plant world? Wha? And just what are these 72 animal world foods? Beef, chicken, cheese, milk, pork, I’m running out of ideas. But trust me, I could name many more than 28 foods from the plant world that we should all be eating in abundance! In fact my dinner salad last night probably had more than 28 ingredients. You can see Dukan’s Safe Foods list here. Only 28 plants and a whole host of animal products.

I am certainly curious about this diet since it has so much buzz. But do I think that another diet book will turn Americans into a healthy weight/healthy relationship with food society?..

No.

official site: The Dukan Diet

bread and oil - no bread with my oil please?

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