Diet used by Kate Middleton's mum branded a 'health hazard'

London, Nov 27 (ANI): A diet based on cottage cheese and prawns, used by Kate Middleton's mother, has been branded a 'health hazard' by French nutritionists.

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

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

However, 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.

According to a report by French food and occupational health agency Anses, there was a significant chance Prince William's future mum-in-law could put all the lost weight back on as soon as she quits the diet.

"Diets like Atkins in the US and Dukan in France are particularly unbalanced," the Daily Mail quoted chief researcher Jean-Michel Lecerf, as saying.

"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," he said.

Dukan dieters follow an initial 'attack' phase where they eat only low-fat protein, followed by the 'cruise' phase of protein and low calorie vegetables.

Lecerf added, "On most diets in 95 per cent of cases, people put the weight all back on when they stop."

However, Pierre Dukan, who invented the controversial diet, has dismissed the new research and said 40 per cent of Dukan dieters did not regain weight afterwards.

He said, "It is not based on anything scientific, just impressions. For me the real risk is obesity. Everyday people die from it and I contribute to fighting against that. If it weren't for me, many more French people would be fat." (ANI)