How much would you pay for the best diet plan, as reported in US News & World Report? How about – NOTHING?
The noted magazine has given the nod among researched diets to DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), developed by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. It was originally used to lower blood pressure. And it’s available free online.
Other rankings considered were heart-healthy, diabetes, commercial, easiest to follow, plant-based, healthy eating, and weight loss.
In the easiest to follow, best weight loss and best commercial diet category, Weight Watchers came in ahead of all others.
The DASH diet and The Biggest Loser diet were tied for preventing and managing diabetes. DASH came in first place for healthy eating. The Mediterranean diet won hands down for best plant-based diet.
Ranking the Best Diets
Cost of the diet was not considered in the rankings.
A total of twenty-nine diets were examined by a panel of experts in the fields of diet, nutrition, food psychology, obesity, heart disease and diabetes.
Seven areas were examined for each diet:
- Simplicity
- Immediate weight loss
- Permanent weight loss
- Nutrition essentials
- Safety
- Diabetes compatibility
- Blocking heart malfunction
The expense involved was not a factor in the review.