Mediterranean Diet Ranked Best Diet Overall for 8th Consecutive Year

©aamulya/AdobeStock

The Mediterranean diet has been the named the best overall diet for the 8^th year in a row by the editors of U.S. News & World Report, the company announced.

The Mediterranean diet also ranked first in several other categories, such as best diet for mental health and best diet for diabetes, according to the January 3, 2025, press release.

“Best Diets’ updated rating evaluation system reflects the diverse needs and goals of individuals, considering factors beyond weight loss,” Gretel Schueller, managing editor of health at U.S. News, said in the release. “By moving away from a ranked list of diets and nearly doubling our number of evaluated health and lifestyle categories, U.S. News aims to provide consumers with a more personalized experience as they consider their health priorities and eating goals.”

The Mediterranean diet emphasizes healthy fats and plant-based foods and has been associated with a reduced risk for mortality and chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease.

A panel of 69 experts ranked 38 diets across 21 categories. The editors added 12 new categories to this year’s rankings, such as best diets for irritable bowel syndrome, inflammation, high blood pressure, fatty liver, arthritis, mental health, and prediabetes.

Additionally, this year’s edition evaluated 13 new diets, including the acid reflux diet, the gout diet, and the low-FODMAP diet. Respondents rated each diet on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest.

The top diets in 2025 include:

Best diets overall

1. Mediterranean diet
2. Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet
3. Flexitarian diet
4. Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet

Best diets for mental health

1. Mediterranean diet
2. MIND diet
3. Flexitarian diet
4. DASH diet

Best diets for diabetes

1. Mediterranean diet
2. Flexitarian diet
3. DASH diet (tied)
4. MIND diet (tied)

Best diets for gut health

1. Mediterranean diet
2. Vegan diet (tied)
3. DASH diet (tied)
4. Flexitarian diet (tied)
5. MIND diet (tied)

Best diets for weight loss

1. WW, or WeightWatchers, diet
2. Mediterranean diet
3. Volumetrics diet

Best fast weight-loss diets

1. Jenny Craig diet
2. SlimFast diet (tied)
3. Keto diet (tied)
4. Nutrisystem diet (tied)
5. WW diet (tied)

Best heart-healthy diets

1. DASH diet
2. Mediterranean diet
3. Flexitarian diet (tied)
4. MIND diet (tied)
5. Vegan diet (tied)

Best diets for menopause

1. Menopause diet
2. Mediterranean diet
3. Flexitarian diet

Easiest diets to follow

1. Mediterranean diet
2. Flexitarian diet
3. DASH diet

Best plant-based diets

1. Flexitarian diet
2. Mediterranean diet
3. Vegan diet
4. MIND diet

Reference: U.S. News Releases the 2025 Edition of Best Diets. News release. U.S. News & World Report. January 3, 2025. Accessed January 6, 2025. https://www.usnews.com/info/blogs/press-room/articles/2025-01-03/u-s-news-releases-the-2025-edition-of-best-diets