Can't Decide Between The Dukan Diet Or The Atkins Diet, Read This First

The Dukan diet is becoming more and more popular in the United Kingdom and the United States. Ever since French nutrition expert Dr. Pierre Dukan published his revolutionary diet book in English earlier this year, success stories from English-speaking countries have been rolling in. On the face of it, the Dukan diet seems very similar to the already popular Atkins, so what is the difference?

Both diets depend on a regime of low carbohydrate intake as part of a high protein menu. However the Atkins diet, as is already well known, requires the dieter to create a menu consisting of very high fat foods. The Dukan diet on the other hand goes against this idea with a more intuitive weight loss plan that avoids fat and seeks leaner cuts of meat.

The theory behind low carbohydrate / high protein diets is sound. Foods that are high in carbohydrate such as potatos, rice and bread, take a long time to make a person feel satisfied whereas high protein foods such as red meat and eggs, make a person feel full very quickly. As a consequence someone eating a protein only meal will feel satisfied and stop eating long before someone eating only carbohydrates. This being so, the former will have consumed fewer calories. In addition, the protein-only eater will feel full for longer and have fewer food cravings thus consuming fewer calories throughout the day.

Losing weight is a simple matter in theory, eat fewer calories than your body needs and it will burn calories from your fat stores. In practice losing weight is so difficult due to the discomfort of hunger and food cravings. Therfore any diet that reduces the calories along with the desire to eat will be successful.

It is more difficult to feel full eating high fat foods that it is eating carbohydrate or protein rich foods. In fact, high fat foods are often used to stimulate the appetite before a meal. Very high fat foods such as peanuts are not called appetizers for nothing!

Considering that the Dukan diet reduces the fat content and the Atkins increases the fat content of the menu, it is hardly surprising that Dukan dieters have most frequently reported a lack of hunger during their diet and almost no food cravings.

If you are considering going on either the Dukan or the Atkins diet, something to consider beforehand is how your previous diets have been affected by feelings of hunger or food cravings. If you have suffered from strong food cravings and have found dieting unpleasant as a result then the Dukan diet would be a better choice for you.

To learn more about the Dukan diet, find menu ideas, tips, advice and success stories then go to the the Dukan Diet Diary