The Dukan diet during pregnancy

The Dukan diet during pregnancy is, first of all, a protein diet, which includes the consumption of such products as fresh vegetables, fish, meat, and bran.

The Dukan diet during pregnancy has its own characteristics, which consist in following the rules of rational nutrition. During the long period of bearing a child, the woman's body must receive all the necessary vitamins and nutrients for the proper intrauterine development of the child. Unfortunately, the phrase that a woman during pregnancy should eat for two has long been outdated and has no semantic justification. As a result of many studies, doctors have come to a unanimous opinion: the nutrition of a pregnant woman should be as balanced as possible. Large portions and non-compliance with the rules of nutrition can lead to obesity of the expectant mother and will negatively affect the fetus. This is why a woman who is expecting a child should think about choosing a diet that is optimal for her.

French doctor Pierre Dukan has developed a nutrition system consisting of several phases. The nutritionist emphasizes that if a woman already has problems with excess weight, then she needs to adhere to the third stage of the diet - the so-called "consolidation stage", while refusing starchy foods. The Dukan diet during pregnancy is recommended for women who are predisposed to obesity and have gained significant weight during a previous pregnancy. Despite the fact that the Dukan diet says "Eat as much as you want", this rule, first of all, assumes a reasonable attitude to food, as well as the quality of food.

According to Dukan, a pregnant woman can eat 2 slices of bread and 40 grams of mature cheese once a day. The weekly norm of starchy foods (rice, pasta, beans, peas and corn) should be only two servings. Among Dukan's recommendations for food intake: canceling "protein" Thursday and replacing it with "protein", daily consumption of two servings of fruit (excluding grapes, cherries and bananas), adding various dairy products to the diet (2% fat milk, yogurt, cottage cheese). Once a week, a pregnant woman can allow herself two "feasts", the so-called "festive" lunches, including the meals that she wants most. However, this means that such food should be consumed once a day and in no case turn into a two-day binge.

Protein Diet During Pregnancy

The diet during pregnancy should be optimally balanced and aimed at ensuring that the woman’s body fully receives all the necessary nutrients and vitamins.

A protein diet during pregnancy indicates that the pregnant woman's diet should include foods with a high protein content. Supporters of this type of diet promise that a woman's weight after the birth of the child will remain stable, i.e. the same as it was before pregnancy. Nutritionists recommend daily consumption of up to 120 grams of protein. Despite the name of this diet, it also includes the consumption of carbohydrates in the amount of 350-400 g per day. In this case, you should exclude such products as cakes, bread, condensed milk, chocolate, sugar from the diet. It is best to replace them with fresh fruits and juices.

A diet during pregnancy, including a protein diet, implies the correct distribution of food throughout the day. Nutritionists believe that the optimal diet for a woman carrying a child is five meals a day. It consists of three main meals and two snacks. This type of diet will help you get full in time and prevent nausea. The break between meals should be 3-3.5 hours. At the same time, you need to remember about the obligatory use of water in its pure form at the request of the pregnant woman, but without overdoing it - there should be a measure in everything.

A protein diet during pregnancy has a number of positive aspects, among which the following can be noted:

• no special dietary restrictions;
• consumption of sufficient amounts of protein, which is rightfully considered the “building material” of all tissues and cells of the human body;
• emphasis on diet, which is the basis for weight control;
• inclusion of carbohydrates (fruits, vegetables, cereals) in the diet;
• a ban on the consumption of foods that contribute to the development of constipation in pregnant women and provide “empty” calories: white bread and various sweets.
• The daily menu of a protein diet should include the following products:
• boiled eggs (not hard-boiled) – 2 pcs.;
• milk – 2 glasses;
• cottage cheese – 150 g;
• fresh lettuce leaves (or fresh vegetables);
• meat (lean) and seafood;
• cheese (the best option is mozzarella) – 1 piece;
• peanuts and pistachios (several pieces).

There is a variation of the protein method - this is a protein-vegetable diet, which is also popular among pregnant women. The menu of this type of diet consists of alternating the consumption of boiled fish, boiled meat and 2-4 glasses of drinking water in the first 2 days with the intake of only vegetables and fruits in the following 2 days.