For the Fifth Year in a Row, the Best Diet Is . . .

U.S. News & World Report has been ranking diets for 5 years. For all 5, the top spot for best overall plan has gone to the DASH diet, which is based on whole grains, vegetables and low-fat dairy. Developed as a way to lower blood pressure without medication, it was also chosen by a panel of health experts as the top diabetes diet and the best healthy-eating plan.

“It’s good for your waistline, in addition to your high blood pressure, because it is such a common-sense, balanced diet,” said Angela Haupt, senior health and wellness editor at U.S. News & World Report.

Thirty-five eating plans were evaluated by two dozen diet, nutrition, obesity, heart disease, diabetes and food psychology experts. When they examined sample menus and published medical studies, a variety of plans came out ahead in specific subcategories:

Healthy Eating: DASH, Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC), Mediterranean
Heart-Healthy: Ornish, TLC, DASH
Easiest to Follow: Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig
Weight Loss: Weight Watchers, Health Management Resources (HMR)

Tied for last place were two diets, both of which have a strong consumer following—Paleo, with its focus on meat, fish and vegetables, and the four-phase Dukan Diet. For more categories and rankings, visit http://health.usnews.com/best-diet.