Mediterranean Diet No 1 Best Diet According to Health Professionals
Mediterranean Diet is the No 1 Best Diet According to Health Professionals
U.S. News and World Report this week released its ranking from 1 to 35 of the world’s best (and, yes, worst) diets. A team of panelists of “nationally recognized” professionals in diet, nutrition, obesity, food psychology, diabetes, and heart disease named the Mediterranean diet as the No. 1 diet based on seven criteria: short-term weight loss, long-term weight loss, effectiveness for cardiovascular disease prevention, effectiveness for preventing diabetes, ease of compliance, nutritional completeness and health risks.
The Mediterranean diet focuses on olive oil rich in healthy omega-3 fatty acids, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein like fish and chicken, with the occasional piece of red meat.
“It’s generally accepted that the folks in countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea live longer and suffer less than most Americans from cancer and cardiovascular ailments,” U.S. News and World Report said. “The not-so-surprising secret is an active lifestyle, weight control, and a diet low in red meat, sugar, and saturated fat and high in produce, nuts, and other healthful foods.”
The Mediterranean diet may also help with heart and brain health and cancer prevention, the report added. “By following the Mediterranean Diet, you could also keep that weight off while avoiding chronic disease. Greeks eat differently from Italians, who eat differently from the French and Spanish. But they share many of the same principles.”
The diet also emphasizes beans, nuts, legumes, olive oil, and flavorful herbs and spices, as well as cheese and yogurt in moderation and a glass of red wine in moderation.
It narrowly beat out the Dash diet, which recommends fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, poultry, fish, and low-fat dairy products, while reducing salt, red meat, sweets, and sugar-sweetened beverages. It is very similar to the Mediterranean diet but recommends cutting out two more things: full cream (in favor of low-fat dairy products) and alcoholic beverages. Dietitians also advise against snacking and takeouts, and 2.5 hours of “moderate-intensity” exercise per week such as walking, Jazzercise, gardening, or Pilates.
Last on the ranking, according to U.S. News and World Report: The Dukan diet, which focuses on protein instead of calorie counting. “It’s a weight-loss powerhouse — it’s filling, takes time and work to digest, and has very few calories for each gram of food compared to carb-heavy foods.” Limiting carbohydrates forces the body to burn stored fat.
“By following the Dukan Diet, it’s claimed you can lose up to 10 pounds within the first week and continue to lose 2 to 4 pounds a week after that until you’ve reached your goal,” the report said. People on the Dukan diet lost, on average, more than 15 pounds after the diet’s two action-based phases — “attack” (pure protein) and “cruise” (vegetables on selected days) — according to a online survey.
But the experts also listed downsides: “Prepare for lots of rules. All four phases of the Dukan Diet — named after French physician Pierre Dukan — are heavy on do’s and don’ts, and even the slightest slip-up is considered destructive.” The U.S. News & World Report also said this diet “could fall short nutritionally.”