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Every year, it seems, new diet fads and trends emerge, and 2021 is no different. Not everyone diets to lose weight. This article will focus on the eight best diets for those who want to eat for better health.
Every year, US News & World Report releases its rankings of the best diets based on the opinions garnered from a panel of health experts. Four 2021, US news ranked 39 diets. From that list, we filtered it down to 8, which are the best for people whose primary concern is eating healthy. Check out our list of 8.
To keep things simple, we are listing only the pros and cons of each diet and urge you to further research for yourself the diets you feel most appealing and applicable to your situation.
Emphasis: Stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension.
Pros: Heart health, fights high blood pressure, helps control diabetes, nutritional completeness, lifelong wildness, evidence-based health benefits.
Cons: Hard to maintain, no convenience foods, require substantial food tracking.
Emphasis: Emphasis on fruits, vegetables, fish, olive oil.
Pros: Balanced, flavorful, promotes heart health, diabetes prevention, control, mental health, weight management, cancer prevention, reduces inflammation.
Cons: Costly, may fall short in some nutrients, restrictions may be challenging, time-consuming.
Emphasis: Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, plant-based protein.
Pros: Budget-friendly, nutritious foods, easy to accommodate, healthy weight loss, may reduce risk of diabetes, sustainable.
Cons: Iron intake may be low, difficult for daily meat-eaters.
Emphasis: Heart health, fruits, vegetables, whole grains.
Pros: No significant weaknesses, several health benefits, incorporates many whole foods, sustainable.
Cons: Requires diligent tracking, not accommodating to dietary restrictions.
Emphasis: Prevents mental decline, hybrid of Mediterranean and DASH diet.
Pros: Preserves brain function, lowers Alzheimer’s risk, heart-healthy, weight loss, reduces inflammation, diabetes management.
Cons: Excludes high-protein foods, significant organization, and planning. It may be challenging to adhere to guidelines.
Emphasis: Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, locally caught fish.
Pros: Nutritious, health benefits, flexible, sustainable.
Cons: Potentially expensive, not always practical, time-consuming.
Emphasis: Low-calorie foods that fill you up.
Pros: Nutritionally sound, practical, no foods or groups excluded, doesn’t increase appetite.
Cons: Time-consuming.
Emphasis: Fast and overall, as well as slow and steady weight loss.
Pros: Balance, flexible, teaches lifelong skills, no forbidden foods, may reduce risk of diabetes,
Cons: Can be costly, tedious point counting, weekly weigh-ins, little evidence of cardiovascular benefits, too much freedom for some people.
