When Kate Middleton's quick weight loss and tiny waist was attributed to the Dukan Diet, many began the quest for a reduced waistline. Here's sifting the reality from the royalty!
Phases of the Diet
It has four phases: Attack, Cruise, Consolidation and Stabilisation. In Attack, which lasts 5-7 days depending upon your level of obesity, you have to eat only certain kinds of protein and 2 tablespoons of oat bran with protein for breakfast. In the Consolidation phase, on certain days, protein and vegetables should be combined. On other days, pure protein and oat bran (Attack menu) is followed. In the Stabilisation phase, carbohydrates and fruits are introduced.
What is the Dukan Diet?
Somewhat akin to the Atkins Diet, developed by French nutritionist Dr Pierre Dukan. (I'd trust the French any day with diets rather than the Americans!)
The rules
Less or no oil.
A good 25 minutes of walking per day is necessary.
No carbohydrates for the first three weeks.
What is wrong with it
Too much protein puts pressure on the kidneys and liver. People with arthritis can feel increased pain, those with heart disease will put their health at risk. Vegetarians will not be able to do this effectively even though some veg protein like tofu and curd are allowed. Those who are healthy, could take this for some time, but will have to be careful about Consolidation and Stabilisation phases, lest they put the weight back on. Twenty five minutes of exercise is too little if you want to stay healthy.
We recommend
The Dukan Diet with some changes for those who are healthy. All through the diet, make sure you take two ayurvedic syrups: Safi and Jigreen Liver, so that you are detox-ing and strengthening your liver as you lose weight (and you will lose weight. This diet is effective).
Do 25 minutes of exercise during the protein days, and 35-40 minutes in the consolidation phase, and 40-45 min regularly post that.
Include fruit during the consolidation phase to detox and increase roughage.
Take a good, all-round B-complex pill, as you will not be getting sufficient B-complex vitamins, present in carbohydrates.
What to watch out for
If you have any illness/ disease/ disorder, high uric acid or cholesterol, check with your doctor before you do. B-vitamins are nerve vitamins, hence you will feel cranky or ill-tempered when you stop taking carbohydrates. So do not go off carbohydrates for more than three weeks.
Sleep Deprivation
Anyone who has pulled an all-nighter knows the effects the next day: trouble focusing, a fuzzy memory and other cognitive impairments. Now, researchers at Penn have found the part of the brain and the neurochemical basis for sleep deprivation's effects on memory-the hippocampus and nucleoside adenosine, respectively.
Ted Abel, a professor of biology in Penn's School of Arts and Sciences, led the research team. "Researchers have known that sleep deprivation results in increased levels of adenosine in the brain," Abel said. Now, there is evidence that this adenosine causes sleep deprivation and memory loss and attention deficits.
Combat Osteopenia
Has a bone density scan placed you at risk for osteoporosis, leading your doctor to prescribe a bone-building medication? Not so fast! A University of Illinois study finds that an effective first course of action is increasing dietary calcium and vitamin D. Karen Chapman-Novakofski, a professor of nutrition at the university, reported that adults who increase their intake of calcium and vitamin D usually increase bone mineral density and reduce the risk for hip fracture.
Reproduced from Outlook Business's Wellness Column by Rachna Chhachhi.