Mediterranean diet is considered the best for the fourth consecutive year

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

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

Several previous studies have shown the benefits of the Mediterranean Diet. (Although the cuisine of different Mediterranean countries differs greatly, it places the emphasis on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, legumes and olive oil, with seafood, poultry and dairy products being consumed in moderation.) Studies have shown that reducing this diet can reduces the risk of health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, memory loss and breast cancer, according to CNN. One study from 2018 even found that diet can reduce the risk of mortality due to exposure to certain types of air pollution.

But this is not the only eating plan recommended by US News’ experts. The DASH Diet (Dietary Approaches to Stopping Hypertension) and the Flexitarian Diet were in second place in the rankings.

Brooklyn dietitian Maya Feller said TODAY that the three best diets have general benefits, reports NBC News. They emphasize overall health over weight loss, and are easy to follow because they encourage eating beneficial food groups rather than restricting certain foods.

“Those eating patterns are really reasonable, aren’t they? It’s sustainable. It’s adaptable. It allows for flexibility. It allows for religious and cultural variation,” Feller said. “For the average person trying to influence their metabolic health, there are likely to be good clinical outcomes.”

In addition, it is possible to follow all three without breaking the bank during a financially challenging time.

“The number of people experiencing food insecurity has increased very dramatically since the onset of the pandemic,” Feller added. “We’ll have to think about accessibility. If you can get dry beans and if you have dry beans, you can make a million dishes, and that falls into all three eating patterns.”

US News and World Report’s annual diet rankings are selected based on scientific studies by nutrition and health experts.

“We have assembled a panel of 24 experts who live and breathe diet, weight loss and obesity,” Angela Haupt, managing editor of the magazine, told CNN. ‘They count each diet on a number of different criteria: how easy it is to follow, how likely it is to lose weight in the long run, how healthy and safe it is and how effective it is in preventing or preventing chronic conditions. management. such as diabetes and heart disease. ‘

The rankings also include lists tailored to more specific nutritional needs, including “Best Weight Loss Diets” (winner: the Flexitaire Diet), “Best Fast Weight Loss Diets” (winner: the HMR program) and “Best Plant-Based Diets” Diet ( winner: the Mediterranean diet, again).

Last on the overall diet list was the Keto Diet with a high fat and low carbohydrate diet and the protein-based Dukan Diet, which according to experts was too restrictive.