The Mediterranean diet is considered the best for the fourth year in a row

Fortunately, US News and World Report brought together a panel of experts to rank 39 regular diets and name the best for 2021. The winner? The Mediterranean diet for the fourth year in a row, CNN reported.

“It is generally accepted that people in the countries bordering the Mediterranean live longer and suffer less than most Americans from cancer and cardiovascular disease,” the US News and World Report explained. “The not-so-surprising secret is an active lifestyle, weight control and a diet low in red meat, sugar and saturated fats and rich in products, nuts and other healthy foods.”

Several previous studies have shown the benefits of the Mediterranean diet. (While the cuisines of different Mediterranean countries differ considerably, they focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, legumes and olive oil, with seafood, poultry and dairy products consumed in moderation.) Studies have shown that compliance This diet can reduce the risk for health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, memory loss and breast cancer, according to CNN. A 2018 study found that diet can reduce the risk of mortality by exposure to certain types of air pollution.

But it’s not the only diet plan recommended by US News experts. In second place in the ranking were linked to the DASH Diet (dietary approaches to stop hypertension) and the Flexibility Diet.

Brooklyn dietitian Maya Feller said today that the top three diets have common benefits, NBC News reported. They emphasize the overall health of weight loss and are easy to follow, as it encourages the consumption of beneficial food groups, rather than restricting certain foods.

“These eating patterns are really reasonable, aren’t they? They’re durable. They’re customizable. They allow for flexibility. They allow for religious and cultural variation,” Feller said. “For an ordinary person trying to influence their metabolic health, there will probably be excellent clinical results.”

In addition, it is possible to track all three without breaking the bank at a difficult time financially.

“The number of people facing food insecurity has increased dramatically since the beginning of the pandemic,” Feller added. “We’re going to have to think about affordability. If you can get dry beans and if you have dry beans, you can make a million dishes and that fits into all three food patterns.”

The annual US News and World Report diet ranking is selected by nutrition and health experts based on scientific studies.

“We convened a group of 24 experts who live and breathe diet, weight loss and obesity,” Angela Haupt, the magazine’s editor-in-chief, told CNN. “They note each diet on a number of different measures: how easy it is to follow, how likely it is to lead to long-term weight loss, how healthy and safe it is and how effective it is in preventing or managing chronic conditions. such as diabetes and heart disease. “

The rankings also include lists tailored to more specific dietary needs, including “Best Diets to Lose Weight” (winner: flex diet), “Best Diets to Lose Weight Fast” (winner: MRI Program) and “Best Plants Diets (winner: Mediterranean diet, again).

The last on the general list of diets were the Keto diet high in fat and carbohydrates and the Dukan Diet based on protein, which experts said were too restrictive.