Two diets supported by the U.S. National Institute of Health have earned five number one spots in a new ranking report.
The ‘Best Diets’ rating has been produced by U.S. News & World Report, which publishes news, consumer advice, rankings, and analysis.
Among the top-rated diet programmes were Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC).
Both diets were developed and evaluated by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), which is part of the National Institute for Health.
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To achieve a top ranking, the diet must be found to be effective for weight loss, safe, nutritious, easy to follow and protect against the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
The long-term DASH diet, which promotes overall heart health and lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, centres around the consumption of vegetables, fruit and wholegrains, and promotes fat-free or low-fat dairy products, fish, lean meats and poultry, beans, nuts, and vegetable oils.
It also encourages people to limit their intake of saturated fat, tropical oils, sodium and food with added sugar.
Research shows that the DASH diet can help lower blood pressure by 3 to 20 points, particularly if they limit their salt intake too.
The DASH diet was one of 25 diets evaluated in the latest rankings, and it came first in the following categories:
- Best Heart-Healthy Diets
- Best Diets for Diabetes
- Best Diets for Bone and Joint Health
The TLC diet encourages people to consume more plant sterols and fibre and reduce their intake of saturated fats and trans fats while maintaining a healthy weight.
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