The best diets of 2023 revealed
The best diets of 2023 have been revealed — just in time for resolution season.
With the guidance of more than 30 nutritionists, doctors and epidemiologists, U.S. News & World Report revealed its annual Best Diets rankings.
And, for the sixth year in a row, the Mediterranean diet took the top spot for best diet overall.
The diet — which involves eating plant-based foods, grains and lean poultry along with healthy doses of extra-virgin olive oil — was also the top dog in the report’s healthy eating category and the best plant-based diet.
The annual rankings rate diets in 11 specific categories, ranging from heart-healthy diets to the easiest ones to follow.
“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 press release.
“The U.S. News rankings examine diets that are well-researched and provide sustainable weight loss tips. We added two new categories to this year’s rankings to provide even more options to support a healthy lifestyle.”
The Mediterranean diet doesn’t focus on a specific nutrient or food group, but rather stresses the importance of focusing on quality and filling your plate with a wide range of foods, such as fruits, vegetables, seafood, olive oil and whole grains.
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The Mediterranean diet tied with the DASH diet for the best diet for bone and joint health while also scoring the number one spot for family-friendly diets alongside the Flexitarian diet.
The DASH diet, which stands for dietary approaches to stop hypertension, and the Flexitarian diet — a combination of the words “flexible” and “vegetarian” — are tied for the No. 2 spot on the overall list.
The DASH diet focuses on eating foods high in blood pressure-lowering nutrients like potassium, calcium, magnesium and fiber while the Flexitarian diet focuses on eating more plants, but not completely eliminating meat.
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The top 10 best diets overall are as follows:
- No. 1: Mediterranean Diet
- No. 2 (tie): DASH Diet
- No. 2 (tie): The Flexitarian Diet
- No. 4: MIND Diet
- No. 5: TLC Diet
- No. 6 (tie): Mayo Clinic Diet
- No. 6 (tie): Volumetrics Diet
- No. 8: WW (Weight Watchers) Diet
- No. 9: Dr. Weil’s Anti-Inflammatory Diet
- No. 10: Ornish Diet
U.S. News & World Report ranks the diets through a method that considers the assessments and calculations from top specialists in nutrition, diabetes, heart health and weight loss.
As for the best weight-loss diets, WeightWatchers ranked number one while the Keto diet took the top spot for the best fast weight-loss diet.
Recently, a recent study found that the “green” Mediterranean diet helps burn fat three times faster than typical healthy eating.