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" Doesn&amp;#039;t it seem like you hear about a new diet every day? To help you sift through all the options, U.S. News &amp;amp;amp; World Report recently rated 32 diets based on whether they&amp;#039;re easy to follow, nutritious, safe and effective for weight loss, and protect against diabetes and heart disease. The results may surprise you \u2014 the number-one rated diet, DASH, isn&amp;#039;t exactly a household name (until now). We asked our nutrition director, Samantha Cassetty, M.S., R.D., for her thoughts on some of the diet plans that topped this list. DASH Diet rated #1 on the list What it is: Short for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, this balanced meal plan focuses on fruit, veggies, whole grains, lean protein, and low-fat dairy, while shunning sweets, overly salty foods, and red meat. Sam says: &amp;quot;This science-backed plan is designed to fight high blood pressure, so it&amp;#039;s stacked with nutrients like calcium, potassium, and magnesium, that will help with that goal. Although people can find recipes and tips for following the plan, some of the meals lack flair \u2014 they&amp;#039;re a little boring and uninspired \u2014 and many adults may find it tough to drink the amount of milk [about 2 cups a day] suggested in the menus.&amp;quot; TLC Diet rated #2 on the list What it is: The diet aims to cut high cholesterol, which means keeping fatty meat to a minimum and sticking to fish and skinless chicken along with lots of fruits, veggies, whole grains, and low-fat or nonfat dairy. Sam says: &amp;quot;This plan focuses on cutting way back on saturated fat from things like butter and fatty meats like brisket. That&amp;#039;s great advice, but the diet also suggests aiming for no more than 200 mg of cholesterol each day \u2014 the amount in a single egg. Most healthy people can safely eat more cholesterol, including an egg a day, since the cholesterol in our diets doesn&amp;#039;t have the same impact on our blood cholesterol as saturated and trans fats do. For people with cholesterol concerns, TLC also has suggestions for other ways to tweak your diet to lower unhealthy LDL [low-density lipoproteins, i.e. the bad kind of cholesterol] levels \u2014 like getting more plant sterols and soluble fiber in your diet. These are great ideas but may require some careful planning, which can be challenging.&amp;quot; Mediterranean Diet tied for #3 with Mayo Clinic Diet and Weight Watchers What it is: The diet, which has been all over the news lately due to its anti-diabetes benefits, aims to help you lose weight and prevent a host of diseases like cancer, heart disease, and, yes, diabetes. It&amp;#039;s based on the generally-accepted theory that people in the Mediterranean countries suffer from cancer and heart disease less often because their diets are low in red meat, sugar, and saturated fat, and rich in healthy nutrients. The eating plan also emphasizes enjoying the flavors of herbs and spices, eating fish or other seafood at least a couple of times a week, and \u2014 if you so desire \u2014 topping it all off with a (small) glass of red wine. Sam says: &amp;quot;The Mediterranean Diet isn&amp;#039;t a diet in the traditional sense. It reflects a pattern of eating that emphasizes produce, whole grains, healthy fats from things like nuts and olive oil, and lean protein \u2014 the same pillars of our very own 7 Years Younger: The Anti-Aging Breakthrough Diet. One thing I love about it is that it emphasizes flavorful and filling food, so it&amp;#039;s something people can stick with. Our 7 Years Younger diet takes that one step further by setting calorie limits designed to help people lose weight while enjoying hearty portions of delicious food.&amp;quot; TELL US: Which diets have worked for you? "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/diet-nutrition/a19764/us-news-top-rated-diets/>