US News and Reports
Best Diets Overall.
U.S. News evaluated and ranked the 35 diets below with input from a panel of health experts. To be top-rated, a diet had to be relatively easy to follow, nutritious, safe, effective for weight loss and protective against diabetes and heart disease. The government-endorsed Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) snagged the top spot.
#1 DASH Diet
DASH was developed to fight high blood pressure, not as an all-purpose diet. But it certainly looked like an all-star to our panel of experts, who gave it high marks for its nutritional completeness, safety, ability to prevent or control diabetes, and role in supporting heart health. Though obscure, it beat out a field full of better-known diets.
Do: Load up on whole grains (bad advice) and vegetables. (And, no emphasis upon consuming eggs. Diabetics need chromium supplementation, which comes from eggs.)
#2 TLC Diet
Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes, or TLC, is a very solid diet plan created by the National Institutes of Health. It has no major weaknesses, and it’s particularly good at promoting cardiovascular health. One expert described it as a “very healthful, complete, safe diet.” But it requires a “do-it-yourself” approach, in contrast to the hand-holding provided by some commercial diets.
Low-fat Diet: These diets contain significantly less than the government’s recommended limit...Do: Stick to skinless poultry: chicken or turkey; same goes for fish. Red meat is strongly discouraged. (No emphasis upon consuming eggs. Diabetics need chromium supplementation, which comes from eggs)
#3 Mayo Clinic Diet
The Mayo Clinic’s take on how to make healthy eating a lifelong habit. It earned especially high ratings from our experts for its nutrition and safety and as a tool against diabetes.
Do's & Don'ts, Create balanced meals.
Base your menu on Mayo Clinic’s pyramid, choosing options such as stir fry made with brown rice (too many carbs), lean chicken, broccoli and mushrooms. Just be sure to keep portion sizes in check. (No emphasis upon consuming eggs. Diabetics need chromium supplementation, which comes from eggs)
another #3 (?) Mediterranean Diet
With its emphasis on fruits and vegetables, olive oil, fish and other healthy fare, the Mediterranean diet is eminently sensible. And experts’ assessments of it were resoundingly positive, giving this diet an edge over many competitors.
Mediterranean diet pyramid that emphasizes fruits, veggies, whole grains, beans (too many carbs), nuts, legumes, olive oil and flavorful herbs and spices; eating fish and seafood at least a couple of times a week; enjoying poultry, eggs, cheese and yogurt in moderation; and saving sweets and red meat for special occasions. Top it off with a splash of red wine (if you want), remember to stay physically active and you’re set. (Wow! one diet so far emphasizes eggs and red wine. I put this at the top so far.)
another #3 (?) Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers is a smart, effective diet. It surpassed other commercial diet plans in multiple areas, including short- and long-term weight loss and how easy it is to follow. It’s also nutritionally sound and safe, according to experts. Among its pluses: An emphasis on group support, lots of fruits (too many carbs) and vegetables, and room for occasional indulgences.
Do: Load up on fruits (too many carbs) and veggies.
They carry zero points, meaning you can eat as many as you’d like, since they’re high in fiber and more filling than, say, a bag of chips or a candy bar. (Otherwise good advice, but No emphasis upon consuming eggs. Diabetics need chromium supplementation, which comes from eggs)
#6 Flexitarian Diet
The Flexitarian diet, which emphasizes fruits (too many carbs), veggies, whole grains and plant-based protein(too many carbs). Becoming a flexitarian is about adding five food groups to your diet – not taking any away. These are: the “new meat” (tofu, beans, lentils, peas, nuts and seeds, and eggs); fruits and veggies; whole grains; dairy; and sugar and spice (everything from dried herbs to salad dressing to agave nectar sweetener) (Aside from all the carbs, at least this diet lists eggs. I put it mid-range).
Another #6 Volumetrics
Volumetrics outperformed its competitors in many categories. It earned particularly high marks for being safe and nutritious, and experts said it could have a positive effect on heart health and diabetes.
The theory:
People tend to eat the same weight, or amount, of food each day, regardless of how many calories they take in. Since some foods are less energy dense than others—that is, they have fewer calories per gram—filling your plate with more of those means you’ll be eating fewer calories without actually eating less food. Low-density foods, which are low in calories but high-volume, help you feel full and satisfied while dropping pounds. Fruits and veggies are ideal, since they’ll fill you up without breaking your calorie bank. (This diet plan looks like it leads to diabetes. I put it on the bottom of my list.)
#8 Jenny Craig
Jenny Craig drew praise from experts for being easy to follow, nutritionally complete and safe, and for offering dieters emotional support. But these experts were lukewarm about its potential to bolster heart health or help diabetics.
You’ll get a personalized meal and exercise plan, plus weekly one-on-one counseling sessions with a Jenny Craig consultant. Note: These are not nutrition professionals – anyone who is “health-oriented and customer-focused” can attend a training course and get certified – but they’re trained in the basics of nutrition, exercise and behavior modification through a curriculum developed by registered dietitians in consultation with a science advisory board. Many consultants are former Jenny Craig members. Your diet, which ranges from 1,200 to 2,300 calories a day, is designed around your current weight, fitness habits and motivation level.
Do: Eat Jenny Craig meals three times a day.
Among the prepackaged options are French toast topped with fresh fruit (Too many carbs. This diet plan looks like it leads to diabetes. I put it on the bottom of my list.).
#9 Biggest Loser Diet
The diet received high marks for short-term weight loss, safety and soundness as a regimen for diabetes, and it was rated moderately effective for heart health. But many panelists felt that in a sea of diets, it’s not overly special...
The theory:
Our diets are out of whack – we eat too many of the wrong foods and not enough of the right ones, and we sit around too much. The not-so-surprising solution: eat regular meals that emphasize filling calories from fruits, vegetables, lean protein sources, and whole grains; practice portion control; use a food journal; and get up off the sofa. Too many carbs, and no emphasis upon consuming eggs. Diabetics need chromium supplementation, which comes from eggs)
#9 Ornish Diet
The Ornish diet got a mixed reaction from experts. On one hand, it’s nutritionally sound, safe and tremendously heart-healthy. On the other, it’s not easy for dieters to adhere to the severe fat restriction the diet demands.
Do: Turn to wild salmon.
It provides a healthful dose of lean protein and omega-3 fatty acids, as long as your Ornish plan permits it. Serve up 3 ounces with a butter lettuce and pear salad drizzled with honey-infused vinaigrette. Too many carbs, and no emphasis upon consuming eggs. Diabetics need chromium supplementation, which comes from eggs)
Diabetes Meal Plans from the American Diabetes Association
What is a Healthy Diet?
A healthy diet is a way of eating that that reduces risk for complications such as heart disease and stroke.
Healthy eating includes eating a wide variety of foods including:
vegetables
whole grains
fruits
non-fat dairy products
beans
lean meats
poultry
fish
Too many carbs, and no emphasis upon consuming eggs. Diabetics need chromium supplementation, which comes from eggs, and this is the American Diabetes Association Diabetes Meal Plan?!!!)
Conclusion, I lost interest in pursuing these diet systems any more, because the American Diabetes Association gave high marks to most of them, just because these diets lead to weight loss. Sadly the American Diabetes Association does not understand that chromium supplementation is essential for overcoming diabetes, and eggs are the highest known natural source of chromium. Also, weight-gain, and cholesterol increases are symptoms of diabetes, not causes
Why does the American Diabetes Association not understand this?
