The Mediterranean Diet was picked as the best diet overall for 2023, according to new rankings released by US News & World Report.
A 33 person panel of physicians, registered dietitian nutritionists, and nutritional epidemiologists assessed 24 diets (down from 40 last year) to come up with the final results. Using an in-depth survey to assess each diet, the experts evaluated the likelihood of short-term and long-term weight loss, how easy the diet was to follow, how well it conformed to current nutrition standards, and whether it could be an effective tool for diabetes and cardiovascular disease prevention. The panel also examined how the diets affect bone and joint health, as well as inflammation.
Tied for second for best overall diet was the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) and Flexitarian Diet. The WeightWatchers Diet, which the experts found to be nutritionally sound with proven health benefits, was ranked #1 for best weight loss diet, with the DASH Diet coming in second, followed by the Mayo Clinic Diet and the TLC (Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes) Diet (tied for #3).
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The Raw Food Diet, which was found to be unsafe for some individuals, came last in the overall list. The low ranking was given based on limited research to support its use and the potential for nutritional deficits. Diets that also made the bottom of the list included the Optavia, SlimFast, and Atkins diets.
For diabetes prevention and management, the DASH Diet was given the top spot, followed by the Mediterranean Diet (#2) and the Flexitarian Diet (#3). The best heart-healthy diets included the DASH Diet (#1), the Mediterranean Diet (#2) and the Flexitarian and Ornish diets (tied for #3).
The 2023 diet rankings included 2 new categories for the experts to consider. The DASH and Mediterranean Diet tied for the top spot for Best Diets for Bone and Joint Health. These diets were both found to reduce inflammation and included foods that support strong bones. The Flexitarian, Mediterranean and TLC diets tied for Best Family-Friendly Diets. Diets in this category were ranked based on adaptability (eg, age, body type, activity level) to provide the best opportunity for families to eat healthy together.
For those looking for a quick way to drop the extra holiday pounds, the experts chose the Keto Diet (#1), with the Atkins, Nutrisystem, OPTAVIA and SlimFast diets all tied for second.
Reference
US News Reveals the 2023 Best Diets. News release. US News & World Report. Accessed January 3, 2023. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-news-reveals-the-2023-best-diets-301711172.html.
This article originally appeared on MPR
