Not only do they have some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, but the Meditteranean has also been recognised to have the best diet, for the fourth year in a row. The Mediterranean Diet – inspired by the eating habits of Spain, Italy, and Greece – has once again claimed the crown for best diet, according to rankings from the U.S. News & World Report.
The diet also received recognitions as the best diet for healthy eating, easiest diets to follow, best diets for diabetes, best plant-based diets and best heart-healthy diets.
If you’re wondering how rankings are determined, a panel of experts in heart disease and diabetes, nutrition, diet, food psychology and obesity review research about the diets from medical journals, government reports, and more.
What is the Mediterranean Diet
When we refer to the word ‘diet’ here, we’re not talking about a weight-loss regimen – just your regular food and drink consumption.
This diet places an emphasis on eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, beans, and nuts. As for what to cook it in, the diet recommends olive oil and flavourful herbs and spices. Fish and seafood are to be eaten a couple of times a week; poultry, eggs, cheese, and yoghurt are to be consumed in moderation. Don’t worry – red wine is all part of the plan.
As for why it keeps coming in top? Well, studies have found the Mediterranean Diet can reduce the risk for diabetes, depression, dementia, high cholesterol, and memory loss. If that’s not a reason to win four times in a row, we don’t know what is.
If you’re wondering exactly how to incorporate it into your life, Pinterest has you covered. On the platform, you’ll find everything from 30-minute Mediterranean Diet recipes to slow cooker Mediterranean Diet recipes. If you’re keen on Mediterranean Diet snacks or dessert recipes, The Latch has you covered there too.
In second place, it was a tie between the DASH diet and the Flexitarian diet. The former is ‘dietary approaches to stop hypertension’, and the latter encourages vegetarianism, but is flexible enough to allow you a delicious beef burger every once in a while.
In the last two spots were Dukan and Keto. Both of these are extremely restrictive, hard to follow, and eliminate entire food groups – generally not recommended by dietary guidelines.
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