The 2023 Diet ranking of the U.S. News & World Report

The Mediterranean diet has again fetched the top ranking in the 2023 Diet ranking of the USA.

The U.S. News & World Report’s yearly diet plans ranking

Every year, there is the U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings of the best diet plans. The agency asks nationally recognized experts a set of questions on diet plans. These are also questions that readers want answers for. The experts include medical doctors, certified nutritionists, researchers on weight-loss programs, and nutritional epidemiologists. 40 questions were in the survey. These included:

Are all food groups allowed in the diet?
Is there emphasis on nutrient-rich foods?
Is the diet family-friendly?
Does the plan has weight loss maintenance included? Etc.

They also calculate the nutritional adequacy of each diet plan. Special importance is given to those nutritional deficits common amongst the Americans such as calcium and vitamin D. The effectiveness of the diet to help weight loss is determined. Moreover, the agency checks on the potential of the diet to prevent and manage chronic health conditions such as body inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, bone and joint health and type 2 diabetes.

The 2023 Diet ranking

In the previous years, the U.S. News & World Report had ranked 40 diet plans. And even though a particular diet might miss the boat and not get classified in a year, their details are still present on their website.

They recently revealed the results of the 2023 diet ranking. Once again, this year the Mediterranean diet has fetched the top notch. This is the sixth consecutive year that the Mediterranean diet has managed to retain this first position. It is the best overall diet. And this diet consists of nutrient dense foods that include fruits, vegetables, olive oil, and fish. It has low amounts of saturated fats.

But mainly consists of healthy fats with high content of omega 3 fatty acids and monounsaturated fats. This diet is rich in antioxidants that fight inflammation and overcome chronic health challenges. Additionally it has low salt and sugar content. It is rich in calcium and vitamin D and thus right for Americans in whom deficiency of both food components exists.

The two diets that came in the second position were DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) and the Flexitarian diet. The MIND got 4th position. The TLC diet also was amongst the top.

Eleven categories of rankings

The rankings of diet plans was in 11 categories. Some of these are as follows:

Best Diets overall

Mediterranean diet followed by DASH and the flexitarian diet. DASH diet is for high blood pressure. In this focus is on fruits, vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, and low-fat milk. In the flexitarian diet, fruits, vegetables, and such healthy food are allowed. But occasionally one can have meat.

Best Weight Loss Diets

In the first place in this category was the Weight Watchers (WW) diet. This diet stresses on weight loss but with healthier eating and regular exercises. The second place was taken by the DASH diet. While the Mayo Clinic Diet and TLC diet both secured the third place. In the Mayo Clinic diet, focus is on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. While the TLC diet (Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes) emphasizes on fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and management of the high cholesterol levels.

Best Fast Weight-Loss Diets

Keto diet was the best fast weight loss diet. In this category, Atkins diet, Nutrisystem diet, Optavia, and SlimFast diet, were all in the second place. The keto diet is a low carb and high fat diet. And in the Atkins diet, the start is with severely restricted carbs intake and increasing it gradually until the time that one reaches the weight loss goal.

In the Nutrisystem (commercial diet program), there are prepackaged meals. These are mainly high-protein, lower-glycemic foods in order to control blood sugar levels. While Optavia is a plan with low-carb, low-calorie foods along with fortified meal replacements. Furthermore, the SlimFast Diet is a diet consisting of smoothies, shakes, and also meal bars in place of the two or three meals of the day.

Best Diabetes Diet

DASH diet got the top slot in this category. While the Mediterranean diet stood in second place and the Flexitarian diet in third place.

Best Diet for Bone and Joint Health

Here, the DASH diet and the Mediterranean diet were both at the top notch and the Flexitarian diet got the second rank.

Best Diets for Healthy Eating

Mediterranean diet was top followed by the DASH diet and next the Flexitarian diet.

Best Heart-Friendly Diets

In this category, the DASH diet was ranked first followed by the Mediterranean diet and later the Flexitarian diet.

Read here: What is nutrisystem diet? Plans, foods, advantages, problems!

Easiest Diets to Follow

The Flexitarian diet and TLC diet were both at the first position and next came the DASH diet and the Mediterranean diet. While Mayo Clinic Diet was in position three.