Dukan Diet: What Can You Eat?

What Can You Eat On The Dukan Diet?
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For anyone looking to start losing weight quickly or wanting to give their metabolism a big old kick up the backside, the Dukan diet might be worth considering.

But the diet has a reputation for being more than a little confusing.

Pioneered by French doctor Pierre Dukan, the diet recommends that the best way to encourage weight loss and start dropping pounds is to swap carbs for protein-rich foods in the short term.

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The Dukan diet involves four (very strict) stages. During the first phase (attack), dieters should just eat protein, then during 'cruise', they can introduce vegetables.

Finally comes the 'consolidation' stage, when more foods, such as wholemeal bread, cheese and fruit can be added in controlled portions.

The approach bears similarities to the Atkins diet, which also encourages dieters to limit their intake of carbohydrate-heavy foods and load up on high-fat alternatives.

Despite the diet's growing popularity, it has been criticised by the public and dietitians alike for being too restrictive, often finding itself included in 'worst diet of the year' polls.

In their annual round up of the worst celebrity diets, The British Association of UK Dietitians gave the regime a less than favourable summary: "The rigid Dukan Diet works by restricting food, so restricting calories. Initial weight loss will be fluid.

"Even the creator of the diet, Pierre Dukan, who, in 2013 was banned from practising as a GP in France, has warned of associated issues with the diet such as lack of energy, constipation (due to lack of fibre/cutting out food groups), the need for a vitamin and mineral supplement (due to lack of variety/cutting out food groups) and bad breath."

But is the Dukan diet really that limiting?

What You Can Eat On Dukan Diet
(01 of23)
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I. The Attack Phase(1-10 days), you eat all the lean protein you can handle, plus 1.5 tablespoons of oat bran and at least 6 cups of water daily (credit:http://www.webmd.com/)
Chicken and turkey (except skin and outside part of the wings)(02 of23)
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(credit:Nino Mascardi via Getty Images)
Any fish (except canned in oil or sauce)(03 of23)
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(credit:Image Source via Getty Images)
Eggs (up to two per day, unlimited egg whites but watch the yolks if you have high cholesterol)(04 of23)
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Sweeteners (except fructose based)(05 of23)
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(credit:Emilio Ereza via Getty Images)
Vinegar, mustard, onion, herbs, garlic (as spices)(06 of23)
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(credit:Tetra Images via Getty Images)
Lean beef, veal or rabbit (07 of23)
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(08 of23)
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II. The Cruise Phase(which can last several months), alternating rhythm of pure protein days and vegetable and protein days by adding unlimited amounts of non-starchy veggies every other day, plus an extra half-tablespoon of oat bran. (credit:http://www.webmd.com/)
Mushrooms(09 of23)
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(credit:J. Debru via Getty Images)
Artichoke (10 of23)
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(credit:Michele Lugaresi via Getty Images)
Broccoli(11 of23)
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Cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts(12 of23)
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(credit:Adam Gault via Getty Images)
Asparagus(13 of23)
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(credit:Paul Strowger via Getty Images)
Tomatoes(14 of23)
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1 portion of fruit a day(15 of23)
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(credit:Martin Barraud via Getty Images)
2 pieces of wholegrain bread a day(16 of23)
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(credit:Martin Barraud via Getty Images)
40grams of cheese a day(17 of23)
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Avoid goat cheeses, camembert, roquefort (credit:Image Source via Getty Images)
2 portions of starchy products a week(18 of23)
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Avoid white rice and potatoes (credit:Duncan Davis via Getty Images)
Some pork and lamb once a week(19 of23)
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Celebration meals twice a week(20 of23)
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(credit:Caiaimage/Paul Bradbury via Getty Images)
1 day of pure protein a week(21 of23)
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On this one day, you can only eat the foods allowed in the Attack phase. (credit:Adam Gault via Getty Images)
(22 of23)
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IV. Stabilization PhaseYou can eat whatever you like, except for one day a week when you follow the all-protein rules from the diet’s “Attack” phase. In this phase, you also eat 3 tablespoons of oat bran a day and walk 20 minutes every day. (credit:http://www.webmd.com/)
Stick to the Protein Thursday(23 of23)
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You can eat whatever you want for six days a week, but the Protein Only day will be your way to remember the effort you have put in to achieve your new, healthy body. Also, you might want to choose a day (credit:Image Source via Getty Images)

We took a look at the foods you can eat while trying out dieting the Dukan way...