There are almost as many different types of diets as there are types of foods. We help you find the one that’s right for you, with healthy and delicious recipes you’ll be excited to eat.
Whether you’re trying to lose a few pounds or just trying to improve your health and wellness, you’ll likely have to start by changing your eating habits. But knowing exactly what to change seems easier said than done. Experts used to say the solution was obvious: go on a low-calorie diet. These days healthy eating can look different to you than it does to your neighbor, and fad diets only confuse the matter. Should you eat according to your blood type, or go on a low-fat diet? Should you try giving up one (or more) food groups or simply change when you eat? In the end, the hunt for the best types of diets is highly individual. Knowing what diets work best is as personal as your fingerprint.
What are the different types of diets?
There are literally dozens of diet plans out there. Some will tell you precisely what to eat, while others are more about lifestyle changes, with wider guardrails. Let’s take a look at seven of the most popular diets for 2024 — how they work, what you can eat while following them, and what the research says about their effectiveness.
Mediterranean diet
Ranked for seven consecutive years as the #1 best diet overall by U.S. News & World Report, and top-rated by Forbes Health, the Mediterranean diet is more of an eating plan than a diet program. Maybe that’s why it’s considered one of the most popular diets right now — and one of the few truly easy diets to follow. Years ago, researchers figured out that people who live in the Mediterranean region lived longer and had lower rates of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer than we do in America. That’s because of their more active lifestyle as well as their eating pattern, which features minimally processed, largely plant-based foods.
What is the Mediterranean diet?
Picture yourself at a taverna on a sunny Greek isle. What’s on the table? Odds are you’ll find dishes made with plenty of olive oil, fresh vegetables, legumes and beans, whole grains, fish, nuts and seeds, and dairy like feta cheese used as an accent. Delicious, but also high in fiber, lean protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants — a perfectly healthy diet. You’ll feel satisfied for longer, which helps you eat less (and lose weight), while also improving your health.
What can you eat on the Mediterranean diet?
Base your meals on nutrient-rich foods like fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Use extra-virgin olive oil, herbs, and spices generously, and eat seafood regularly. Have poultry, eggs, cheese, yogurt, and red wine in moderate amounts. Save red meat and sweets for when you really have a craving. And try to avoid highly processed foods completely.
What are the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet?
Decades of research shows that the Mediterranean diet is a way to lower your risk of multiple chronic — and life-threatening — diseases. Those include cardiovascular disease, stroke, metabolic diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease. The diet’s large amounts of fiber and lean protein can also help with weight loss.
Who is the Mediterranean diet for?
This eating pattern works for virtually anyone. It’s especially useful if you have a history (or family history) of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes. Learn more: The Mediterranean Diet: How to Know if It’s Right for You.
Who should not go on the Mediterranean diet?
This eating plan poses very few risks — there’s no reason not to try it.