--- description: U.S. News and World Report released its annual ranking of best diets, and the Mediterranean diet came out on top as the best diet for 2019. title: Want a New Diet for the New Year? These Are the 5 Best image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7157b68949219bd1/6988b7f2cf40a81fd5c46439/healthy-and-filling-avocado.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Health](/section/health/) ## Health Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Diet & Nutrition](/tag/dietnutrition/) ## Diet & Nutrition Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # These Are the 5 Best Diets for 2019, According to Experts ## Video: Oprah Winfrey Solved Weight Watchers' Image Problem [Watch (HLS stream): Oprah Winfrey Solved Weight Watchers' Image Problem](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Ldlnzp8u.m3u8) (0:58)  _Published 2018-05-08. And she made a killing in the process._  by [Jamie Ducharme](/author/jamie-ducharme/)  ## Jamie Ducharme Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Ducharme is a contributor to TIME. Jan 2, 2019 3:51 PM CUT  Danny Kim for TIME  by [Jamie Ducharme](/author/jamie-ducharme/)  ## Jamie Ducharme Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Ducharme is a contributor to TIME. Jan 2, 2019 3:51 PM CUT For the [second year in a row](http://time.com/5085711/best-diets-for-2018/ "undefined"), the Mediterranean diet was named the [best diet in America](https://www.usnews.com/info/blogs/press-room/articles/2019-01-02/us-news-reveals-best-diets-rankings-for-2019 "undefined") by _U.S. News & World Report._ [Following a Mediterranean diet](http://time.com/5101886/what-can-you-eat-on-the-mediterranean-diet/ "undefined") involves eating lots of plants, whole grains, healthy fats (such as olive oil) and lean proteins, and cutting back on processed foods, red meat and refined sugars. The diet has long been linked to many health benefits, including lower risks of [cancer](http://time.com/4033374/mediterranean-diet-breast-cancer/ "undefined") and [heart disease](http://time.com/5171192/best-diet-heart-health/ "undefined"), better [kidney health](http://time.com/3549435/mediterranean-diet-kidney-health/ "undefined") and a [healthier gut](http://time.com/5360407/microbiome-diet-gut-health/ "undefined"). In the latest rankings, the Mediterranean diet also took the titles of best diet for healthy eating, diabetes and heart health, the easiest diet to follow and the best plant-based diet. While [no single diet is best](http://time.com/5183371/which-diet-is-best/ "undefined") for everyone, _U.S. News_’ expert rankings are meant to promote the eating styles most likely to improve health and steer people away from misguided diet plans — like the last-place [Dukan diet](https://www.dukandiet.com/ "undefined"), a restrictive, high-protein system. Meanwhile, [the Nordic diet](https://www.health.com/nutrition/nordic-diet "undefined") — a plant-focused plan that borrows from the Scandinavian tradition — made its first appearance on the list, at number nine. The trendy [ketogenic diet](http://time.com/4609015/ketogenic-diet-explained/ "undefined") (also known as the keto diet), which is very high in fats but low in carbohydrates, moved up to the second-best plan for fast [weight loss](http://time.com/5456022/are-low-carb-diets-healthy/ "undefined"). Here are the other diets that topped the list. ## #2: DASH Diet [DASH](https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/dash-diet/art-20048456 "undefined"), which stands for [Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension](https://health.usnews.com/best-diet/dash-diet "undefined"), was specifically designed to lower blood pressure. The plan involves lowering sodium intake and loading up on foods that contain minerals such as potassium, calcium and magnesium, which can help [lower blood pressure](http://time.com/4640747/lower-your-blood-pressure-naturally/ "undefined"). Followers are meant to eat mainly fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, whole grains and moderate amounts of lean protein, while limiting red meat, sweets and fats. ## #3: Flexitarian Diet The diet for “flexible vegetarians” is all about significantly reducing meat intake without cutting it out completely. Eating a mostly plant-based diet is good for weight loss and for lowering the risk of chronic conditions including [heart disease](http://time.com/5388659/how-to-keep-your-heart-healthy/ "undefined"), type 2 diabetes and cancer, research shows. The [Flexitarian diet](https://health.usnews.com/best-diet/flexitarian-diet "undefined") also landed on _U.S. News_’ lists of best diets for healthy eating, diabetes and weight loss. ## #4: MIND Diet The [MIND](https://health.usnews.com/best-diet/mind-diet "undefined") diet (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) combines aspects of the DASH and Mediterranean diets, with the goal of improving brain health. Each day, people following this eating plan have at least three servings of whole grains, a salad, another vegetable and a [glass of wine](http://time.com/5355615/drinking-alcohol-dementia/ "undefined"). While there’s no guaranteed way to prevent or reverse cognitive decline, experts praise MIND for combining two other healthy eating styles. ## **#4 (tie):** **WW** WW — the rebranded eating plan from [Weight Watchers](http://time.com/collection-post/5425019/mindy-grossman/ "undefined") — was named fourth best diet overall, best diet for weight loss and best commercial diet. The diet works by assigning point values to foods based on their calorie, sugar, saturated fat and protein content. (Some healthy foods are considered zero points.) Each user is assigned a daily point total, depending on his or her needs and goals, and then logs food throughout the week. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5486616/best-diet-mediterranean-diet/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5486616/best-diet-mediterranean-diet/"},"headline":"These Are the 5 Best Diets for 2019, According to Experts","datePublished":"2019-01-02T15:51:51.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-23T22:20:22.630Z","description":"Just in time for resolution season","url":"https://time.com/5486616/best-diet-mediterranean-diet/","keywords":["Diet & Nutrition","healthytime","Holidays 2018"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7157b68949219bd1/6988b7f2cf40a81fd5c46439/healthy-and-filling-avocado.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Jamie Ducharme","jobTitle":"Ducharme is a contributor to TIME.","url":"https://time.com/author/jamie-ducharme/"}],"articleSection":"Health","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7157b68949219bd1/6988b7f2cf40a81fd5c46439/healthy-and-filling-avocado.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Time.com stock healthy-and-filling-avocado","caption":"healthy and filling, health food, diet, nutrition, time.com stock, avocado","creditText":"Danny Kim for TIME","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/health/","name":"Health"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/dietnutrition/","name":"Diet & Nutrition"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/5486616/best-diet-mediterranean-diet/","name":"These Are the 5 Best Diets for 2019, According to Experts"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Oprah Winfrey Solved Weight Watchers' Image Problem","description":"And she made a killing in the process.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/Ldlnzp8u/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2018-05-08T15:01:33.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Ldlnzp8u.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/5486616/best-diet-mediterranean-diet/","duration":"PT58S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/5486616/best-diet-mediterranean-diet/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```