Oat bran is the secret ingredient in the Dukan Diet. The Dukan Diet is primarily a pure protein, no-carbohydrate diet. During the attack and cruise phases, the dieter eats only proteins and vegetables and no carbohydrates. It is only after the dieter has lost the weight they need to lose, that they can introduce carbohydrates into their diet. However, oat bran is the single carbohydrate that you are allowed and encouraged to eat during the early phases of the diet.
Dukan Diet Oat Bran: Why was it included in the diet plan?
When Dr Pierre Dukan first devised his diet, he did not include oat bran. In fact, it was many years before he added it as a staple to the diet. Whilst his initial protein and vegetable diet was a success, he noticed that dieters eventually craved some kind of carbohydrate. He selected oat bran as the carbohydrate of choice after attending an American conference where it was praised for its ability to reduce cholesterol and diabetes.
Dr Dukan began to introduce it into the diet of his patients and quickly saw an improvement in results. The dieters reported they were less hungry when they added the oat bran to their diets and were much more positive about continuing the diet long term.
Dukan Diet Oat Bran: How does it work?
Oat bran soaks up water, both in your mouth, i.e. saliva and also in your stomach. As a consequence, it expands to 25 times its volume, filling up the stomach and making you feel physically full. As it progresses along the digestive tract, it turns into pulp and starts to attract nutrients, which stick to it like flypaper. This stops them being absorbed into the body and turning into fat.
Dukan Diet Oat Bran: How to eat it
You are allowed a tablespoon and a half of oat bran per day during the diet. You can add it to non-fat yoghurt but the most popular way to eat it is as a galette. A galette is a type of pancake that is generally eaten at breakfast. You combine the required amount of oat bran with the same amount of fromage frais or quark, along with a beaten egg. Depending on your preference, you can either add a small amount of aspartame to sweeten the pancake or a pinch of salt, if you prefer it savoury.
Mix the ingredients in a bowl whilst heating a tablespoon of oil in a frying pan. Pour the mixture into the pan and turn down the heat. After three minutes, turn the pancake over and cook on the other side. Then turn onto a plate and eat.
You can make batches of galettes in advance and keep them in the fridge, separately by foil or cling film.
Oat bran is an important part of the Dukan Diet for its ability to make the dieter feel fuller for longer and to absorb water and nutrients. It is important that you continue to eat oat bran throughout all phases of the Dukan Diet, to keep the hunger pangs at bay and satisfy your taste for carbohydrates.
