French nutritionists brand diet used by Kate Middleton's mother a 'health hazard' | Mail Online

Carole Middleton is an avid follower of the Dukan diet

Kate Middleton's mother's strict diet based on cottage cheese and prawnshas been branded a 'health hazard' by French scientists.

Carole Middleton is slimming down for the Royal wedding on meagre rations of meat, fish and cheese using the popular Dukan diet.

She has said the high-protein based meals which ban most carbohydrates had helped her lose 4lbs in just four days.

But a top French medical body has now revealed the diet could lead to 'serious nutritional imbalances' with too much salt and a lack of fibre and vitamin C.

There was an increased risk of cancer and heart disease, and also a significant chance Prince William's future mother-in-law could put all the lost weight back on as soon as she quits the diet, according to a report by French food and occupational health agency Anses.

Chief researcher Dr Jean-Michel Lecerf said: 'Diets like Atkins in the US and Dukan in France are particularly unbalanced.

'The Dukan diet is associated with an increased risk of cancer and heart disease, even if this has not yet been proved in tests.

'The only diet that is fairly well balanced is the Weight Watchers diet.'  Dukan dieters follow an intial 'attack' phase where they eat only low-fat protein, followed by the 'cruise' phase of protein and low calorie vegetables.

Next come the 'consolidation' and 'stabilisation' phases where fruit and bread are introduced.

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