Looking for a diet that's simple to follow? You might want to give the Mediterranean Diet a try.
It's not so much a prescriptive meal plan as it is a well-balanced pattern of eating. Think lots of whole grains, vegetables, beans, nuts, olive oil, fish and smaller amounts of dairy, poultry and even a little red wine (if you like).
For the first time this year, a panel of experts convened annually by U.S. News & World Report has ranked the Mediterranean Diet as No. 1 in its Best Overall Diet category. The DASH diet tied for the top spot. The Mediterranean diet also earned the top spot in the Easiest To Follow category. "We continue to see more and more robust research suggesting its benefits for weight loss, heart and brain health, cancer prevention and diabetes prevention and control," says Angela Haupt, assistant managing editor of health at U.S. News & World Report.
Other top contenders in the Easy-to-Follow category include the commercial weight-loss plan Weight Watchers and the Flexitarian Diet, which is a flexible, mostly vegetarian approach to eating.
Each year, U.S. News asks a panel of nutritionists, dietary consultants and doctors who specialize in diabetes, heart health and weight loss to score dozens of diets in nine categories — including ease of adherence, best for heart health and diabetes, as well as best for fast weight loss. There's also a category for best plant-based diets.