For those with a New Year’s resolution aimed at health and nutrition, there are certain food regimens that may be most helpful, according to the 2023 “Best Diets” rankings from U.S. News & World Report.
Taking the top spot for best overall diet is a repeat winner, the Mediterranean diet, which has ranked first in the category for 6 consecutive years. The diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, olive oil, and fish, and focuses on diet quality rather than a single nutrient or food group.
The Mediterranean diet also ranked first in four other categories — tying for the top spot in best diets for bone and joint health and for best family-friendly diets, and also leading the healthy-eating and plant-based diets categories.
As for close contenders for best overall diet, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, which is known for fighting high blood pressure and preventing or controlling diabetes, and the Flexitarian diet, which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and plant-based protein for the whole family, tied for the No. 2 spot, according to U.S. News.
“If you want to eat healthier, choosing a diet that is right for you can be difficult,” Gretel Schueller, managing editor of health at U.S. News, said in a statement announcing this year’s lists. “The U.S. News rankings examine diets that are well-researched and provide sustainable weight-loss tips”
Two of the aforementioned categories — best diets for bone and joint health and best family-friendly diets — are new this year. The Mediterranean diet and DASH diet tied for first place on the former, and the Mediterranean diet, Flexitarian diet, and Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) diet tied for the No. 1 spot on the latter.
Overall, U.S. News ranked diets in 11 categories. The publication developed a survey of more than 40 questions centered around lifestyle and health goals with the help of physicians, registered dietary nutritionists, nutritional epidemiologists, and weight-loss researchers. It then posed those questions, along with individualized ones for each diet category, to a panel of 33 experts in nutrition, obesity, food psychology, and chronic disease management. The experts’ ratings were converted to scores and stars from 5 (highest) to 1 (lowest).
As this year’s rankings were released on Tuesday morning, the NIH shouted out two diets it supports that earned top marks, noting that the DASH diet and TLC diet together claimed five No. 1 spots on the rankings. NIH noted in its statement that the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) “researched, developed and tested both diets.”
Below is a list of the top diets in each category. The full list of rankings from U.S. News is available here.
Best Overall Diets:
1. Mediterranean (4.6)
2. DASH (4.4)
2. Flexitarian (4.4)
Best Weight Loss Diets:
1. WW (WeightWatchers) (4.6)
2. DASH (4.4)
3. TLC (4.3)
3. Mayo Clinic (4.3)
Best Fast Weight Loss Diets:
1. Keto (3.9)
2. Nutrisystem (3.6)
2. Optavia (3.6)
2. SlimFast (3.6)
2. Atkins (3.6)
Easiest Diets to Follow:
1. Flexitarian (4.4)
1. TLC (4.4)
3. Mediterranean (4.3)
3. DASH (4.3)
Best Diets for Healthy Eating:
1. Mediterranean (4.6)
2. DASH (4.5)
3. Flexitarian (4.3)
Best Diets for Diabetes:
1. DASH (4.5)
2. Mediterranean (4.4)
3. Flexitarian (4.2)
Best Diets for Heart Health:
1. DASH (4.8)
2. Mediterranean (4.4)
3. Flexitarian (4.2)
3. Ornish (4.2)
Best Diet Programs:
1. WW (WeightWatchers) (4.2)
2. Noom (3.8)
2. Jenny Craig (3.8)
Best Plant-Based Diets:
1. Mediterranean (4.6)
2. Flexitarian (4.4)
3. MIND (4.3)
Best Family-Friendly Diets:
1. Mediterranean (4.5)
1. Flexitarian (4.5)
1. TLC (4.5)
Best Diets for Bone and Joint Health:
1. Mediterranean (4.4)
1. DASH (4.4)
3. Flexitarian (4.1)
Source: MedicalNewsToday.com
