This is the Healthiest Diet You Can Follow in 2025, Per Global Report
There are plenty of diets to try if eating better is on your 2025 bingo card. While we advocate for not labelling our eating habits or following too many strict rules – instead choosing the foods, meals and timings that best suit our circumstances and preferences – for some, setting out a proper plan is the best way to manage their nutrition.
With that in mind, U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in health rankings and consumer advice, has released its guide to the best diets to try this year.
Note: in this context "diet" simply refers to the foods we eat, rather than a weight-loss-specific programme. These "best overall diets" are designed to be good for everyone, promoting general health and are not necessarily geared towards weight loss.
With that in mind, let's start at the top spot.
1. Mediterranean Diet
It might not be too surprising that the Mediterranean diet tops the charts. It's long been a favourite way of eating for experts thanks to the abundance of diversity and plants.
The experts rated this diet the best as it is nonrestrictive, meaning people find it easy to follow, sustainable for the long term and adaptable to any cuisine or lifestyle.
They also say numerous studies have shown that it reduces the risk of certain chronic health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes, while promoting longevity and improving quality of life.
There isn't a single type of Mediterranean diet as people throughout this region all eat differently, however most eat whole grains, fruits, vegetables, seafood, poultry, beans and nuts, with a focus on extra virgin olive oil.
2. DASH Diet
In second place comes the lesser-known Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. Promoted by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, it's designed to protect heart health and reduce the risk of high blood pressure.
It does this by increasing fibre and heart-healthy minerals, including calcium, potassium and magnesium, while decreasing the amount of sodium and unhealthy fats that you eat.
3. Flexitarian Diet
Taking the bronze award for the healthiest meal is the flexitarian diet. On this meal plan, you reduce the amount of meat, eating a largely vegetarian or plant-based diet, and enjoying steaks, chicken and fish occasionally.
To keep this healthy, your flexitarian diet needs to be whole food focused. 'Follow the general guidelines of a vegetarian diet, while allowing the occasional meat dish,' say the experts at U.S. News & World Report. 'Befriend tofu, beans, lentils, peas, nuts, seeds and eggs; they’ll provide the bulk of your daily protein. Don’t overconsume animal products, processed foods and foods high in saturated fat, sugar and sodium – even if they are labeled as “plant-based”.'
4. MIND Diet
Another diet with a useful acronym, the "Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay" – we'll stick with MIND – combines two of the best-ranked diets from this list, the Mediterranean and the DASH diets, to create a meal plan that supports your brain.
People who eat in this way have around 53 per cent lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, and other studies also connect the MIND diet to other positive cognitive effects. It involves eating whole grains and other vegetables daily, at least five servings of nuts a week, especially walnuts, and five-and-a-half cups of berries (around 800 grams) – preferably blueberries – per week.
Lean poultry should be eaten twice a week, fish once a week and olive oil should be the only cooking fat used.
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