Top 10 Healthy Diets

Thuc Nguyen on Friday, November 11, 2011 6:00PM

Just because you want to lose weight doesn’t mean you should go for any diet; choose one that provides enough calories, important nutrients, and encorporates entire food groups.

Here’s the top 10 best diets:

#10 - Nutrisystem Diet

Although it is unclear how much potassium and vitamins B-12 and D are supplied by this diet, the packaged meals, supplemented with snacks of fresh produce, nonfat dairy, and protein sources are deemed generally nutritious and safe by the US News panel.

#9 - Vegetarian Diet

Having a vegetarian diet doesn’t automatically make you healhty, but becoming one can be helpful. Based on a vegetarian menu adapted from US Department of Agriculture guidelines, the US News expert panel found this diet nutritous and “very” to “extremely” safe.

#8 - Ornish Diet

Created by doctor Dean Ornish, this diet involves limitation of what he calls “group 5″ foods (loaded with saturated fat). Instead, stick with groups 1-3: fish, plants, and whole grains.

#7 - Jenny Craig Diet

This diet has appropriate amounts of fat, protein, and carbs, along with lots of fiber and calcium. One of the experts on the panel said that the program is “scientifically sound and safe”.

#6 - Weight Watchers Diet

Weight Watchers promotes healthy eating using a point-based system: you can eat all the fresh fruits and veggies you want, but eating fatty/sweet foods will bring down your points. Dieters don’t miss out on nutrients or lose weight too quickly, and this makes it a safe plan.

#4 (Tie) - Mayo Clinic Diet

Developed by the high-profile medical center with the same name, this diet promotes food with low energy density (you can eat more but take in fewer calories) like fruits and veggies.

#4 (Tie) - Volumetrics Diet

This diet ties with the Mayo Clinic diet because it’s also based on low-energy-dense foods. Appropriate diet options include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nonfat dairy, and lean meat.

#3 - Mediterranean Diet

Showcasing foods like whole-grain pita and hummus, salads, fresh fruits and veggies, salmon, and beneficial fats like olive oil, this diet meets the government’s recommendations for healthy eating without compromising safety. Dieters can even drink to each others’ health, as a glass or two a day of red wine is encouraged.

#2 - TLC Diet

The Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) diet was developed by the National Institues of Health, and almost matches the DASH Diet for healthiness. It generously provides fiber and calcium while excluding unhealthy saturated fat.

#1 - Dash Diet

Endorsed by the federal government’s Department of Health and Human Services, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) is packed with produce and light on saturated fat and salt.

Keep in mind that taking on a diet is only one step towards losing weight. Exercising daily makes sure that you’re burning the appropriate amount of calories and giving your heart a good workout.

Have any of you tried one of these diets before? How did it work out for you?

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