Top ranked diets for 2023

Dear Readers: As we begin anew in 2023, many Americans will resolve to eat better, exercise regularly and take better care of themselves. The U.S. News & World Report ranked 24 diets for 2023. A panel of nutrition experts made up of registered dietitians, professors of nutrition and medical doctors evaluates the diets. Assessment is based on seven categories: the ability to produce short-term and long-term weight loss, the ease of following the diet, the diet’s ability to prevent heart disease and diabetes, its nutritional value and its safety.

The number one-ranked diet is the Mediterranean Diet. By now, most of us are familiar with this diet. It is a plant-based meal plan rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, fish and olive oil. Red meat is eaten no more than once a week, and red wine is often enjoyed with meals. The Mediterranean Diet is associated with lower rates of heart disease and diabetes than Western diets.

Tied at number two are The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet and Flexitarian diets. The DASH diet is a well-balanced plan emphasizing fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy and unsaturated fats. Meat is limited to six ounces daily and salt is below 2,300 mg daily. It even allows five servings of sweets each week. Alcohol is permitted in moderation, but remember, these beverages tend to be high in calories.

The Flexitarian Diet, rounding out the top three, is a vegetarian diet that allows meat once in a while. The…