Best, Science-Backed Diets of 2018
- The Mediterranean Diet
- The DASH Diet
- The Flexitarian Diet
- The Weight Watchers Diet
- The Mayo Clinic Diet
When searching for the 5 best diets of 2018, one of the most important factors is whether the diet can offer real, sustained weight loss and a healthy lifestyle. Fad diets and diets based on junk science may prove dangerous, so it’s essential to choose diets that scientists have studied and “put under the microscope,” so to speak. Every diet won’t work for every dieter, but selecting one of the diets best regarded by scientists can help ensure a safe dieting experience and a low chance of weight regain.
1. The Mediterranean Diet
One of the most useful features of the Mediterranean Diet is that it offers a method of eating that a dieter may use for the rest of his or her life. An article from The Los Angeles Times reveals that extensive research suggests the diet, which is heavy in fish, vegetables, and olive oil, may reduce one’s likelihood of developing a variety of diseases. For overall health and wellness, many scientists believe a dieter can’t do better than the Mediterranean Diet.
2. The DASH Diet
The DASH diet was designed to help people reduce blood pressure and improve overall health. It stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. One of the primary features of the diet is a reduction in salt consumption to 1,500 mg a day. The diet consists mainly of whole grains, low-fat dairy, vegetables, and fruit. Most dieters on DASH reduce their intake of red meat, sugary snacks, and high-fat foods.
3. The Flexitarian Diet
Although it sounds like a diet made up by a fan of buzzwords, the Flexitarian Diet was created by American dietician Dawn Jackson Blatner, who outlined the details of the diet in her book, “The Flexitarian Diet.” The diet features a primarily vegetarian diet with the opportunity to eat meat and fish on rare occasions. It’s an excellent diet for anyone who wants to enjoy the health benefits of a vegetarian diet but doesn’t want to completely give up burgers and meat dishes.
Related: What are the Benefits of a Vegan Diet?
4. The Weight Watchers Diet
Although this diet method gets new, famous spokespersons each year, the Weight Watchers Diet actually has some scientific evidence to back up its claims regarding fast and effective weight loss. An article published through Reuters explains that a controlled trial conducted on the effectiveness of the Weight Watchers Diet found that people had an easier time staying on the diet, lost more weight, and even reduced their waist measurements by a larger amount than people receiving routine dietary advice from a doctor.
5. The Mayo Clinic Diet
The diet’s creators boast that the average dieter will lose six to 10 pounds in the first two weeks and continue to lose one or two pounds a week until the dieter has reached his or her goal weight. The diet features two phases that include an initial dieting period and a secondary maintenance period where healthy exercise habits are added to the diet’s unique food pyramid. The diet benefits from a staff of Mayo Clinic doctors, as well as interactive tools and meal plans available through the official website.
Enjoy a Healthy Life With These Safe & Effective Diets
Millions of people diet for years and never make any headway on their health or weight. No magic bullet exists for losing weight, and fast weight loss rarely results in long-term success. These five diets have one thing in common: they each emphasize whole grains, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, and reducing red meat and high-fat dairy intake. As the best diets of 2018, these diets are excellent for helping dieters lose weight, as well as offering strategies for long-term health and wellness.
