New Report Predicts The Best Diets For Overall Health In 2020

With so many diets out there, it can be hard to know which is right for you. But a report is here to help you narrow down the choices.

For the past 10 years, U.S. News & World Report has released a yearly diet ranking, and although the competition is fierce, the Mediterranean Diet came out on top once again (for its third year in a row).

The Mediterranean Diet topped the list for the third year in a row as the report's best diet for overall health. It's also ranked No. 1 for best plant-based diet, best diabetes diet, and easiest to follow, plus a tie for first on the best diets for healthy eating list. 

Based on the diets of Mediterranean countries like Italy and Greece, the focus is on whole-food ingredients, with an emphasis on fruits and vegetables, healthy fats like olive oil, and lots of omega-3-rich seafood. There's no calorie counting, but things like red meat and sweets are meant to be limited.

Tied for No.2 with the Flexitarian diet, the DASH Diet or "Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension" might be a new one for you. This diet, promoted by the National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute, is meant to combat the massive hypertension problem we have in this country (one in every three adult Americans have high blood pressure1, and only half have it under control).

It's actually fairly similar to the Mediterranean Diet, with a focus on heart-healthy foods like whole grains, lean protein, and plenty of fruits and vegetables.

The flexitarian diet, or "flexible vegetarian" diet, tied for the second slot in the rankings. This diet says you can still enjoy the benefits of eating less meat without completely giving it up cold turkey.

Coming in at No. 4 is the WW diet, formerly known as the Weight Watchers diet, which has been around since 1963. WW was ranked No. 1 for the best diet for weight loss and best commercial diet plan.

Three diets tied for No. 5, so first we'll look at the Mayo Clinic Diet, which approaches overall health through a few factors. According to their website, the diet is meant to help you lose excess weight and keep it off by encouraging a diet that's sustainable for life. It emphasizes healthy habits like moving your body every day and not eating while watching TV.

The MIND Diet was another one of the three that tied for the fifth spot, and it's actually a mashup of two previously discussed diets. MIND stands for "Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay," and places an emphasis on brain health. Given three of five Americans will develop a brain disease2 in their lifetime, the goal is to slow cognitive decline through brain-healthy foods like leafy greens, nuts, and berries.

And the third diet tying at No. 5 is the Volumetrics Diet. This diet's approach is centered around understanding the food you're eating based on energy density and using that knowledge to make informed decisions about meals to keep you full and nourished.

If you're looking for a diet with a little TLC (therapeutic lifestyle changes, that is), you may want to consider this style of eating. This diet, designed by the National Institute of Health's National Cholesterol Education Program is meant to help people lower their cholesterol.

Three diets ended up tying for the ninth spot, with the first of the three being the Nordic Diet. As you might imagine, this diet is based on the cuisines and cultures of Scandinavia, with guidelines including more foods from the seas and lakes, eating less meat (but quality meat when you do), seasonal produce, less processed food, and cooking at home.

The Ornish Diet was another pick tying at No. 9, founded by Dean Ornish, M.D., in the 1970s. The diet emphasizes minimizing fats, refined carbohydrates, and animal protein but also encourages overall well-being through lifestyle changes outside of the kitchen.

And last but not least, tied for third at No. 9 (aka the 11th diet on our list) is the vegetarian diet. Odds are you've heard of this one and have an understanding of what it is, but just in case—it comes down to eating less meat and more plants.

Of course, just because you're not eating meat doesn't mean french fries and other meatless junk is off the table, so discretion is advised. If you're thinking of cutting out meat, check out these vegetarian sources of protein.