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After all that indulging over the festive season, you may be considering the best diets to get your eating under control.

But before you rush into your New Year’s resolution of renewed health, take a look at what eating plans you should avoid, and which are the best diets, that actually work.

This annual ranking of the Worst and Best Diets by highly regarded nutritionists and specialists in diabetes, heart health, and weight loss, scores a number of popular eating plans.

The rankings are based on seven categories in which each diet was rated on a scale from one to five. Categories include: nutritional completeness, how easy the diet is to follow, the potential for long- and short-term weight loss, the safety and possible side effects, and the potential to help prevent illnesses like heart disease and diabetes, as reported in Insider.

The Worst Diet

Surprisingly, despite its almost cultish popularity, the ketogenic diet was ranked among the worst in several of these categories.

The Keto diet is a controversial high-fat, low-carb plan, that is touted by its followers for accelerating weight loss, boosting energy and overall well-being by transitioning the body into a state of ketosis, where it burns fat for energy instead of sugar.

However, the respected US News & World Report has scored the Keto diet as the worst out of 35 diets for healthy eating and the second to last overall, after the celebrity Dukan diet.

The Keto eating plan also bombed in the heart-healthy category – which is not surprising, given that the emphasis of keto is on saturated fats from butter and red meal.

The diet was also blasted for being unsustainable, as it frowns upon carbohydrates, which makes Keto very difficult to maintain, especially over the long term. It also bans healthy food such as fruits, whole grains, and starchy vegetables.

The only small victory for the diet was in the “fast Weight Loss” category – where it was ranked third, tied with Atkins, Weight Watchers, and Jenny Craig.

However, rapid weight loss does not necessarily equal healthy weight loss. Expert panelists said that while Keto and Atkins almost guarantee short-term weight loss, “long-term adherence” to the diet “is nearly impossible.”

The Best Diets

So if Keto is considered a dud, what was the winner?

For the third year in a row, The Mediterranean diet received top honours for overall best diets. It also was awarded a winner in the easiest diet to follow, the best at preventing diabetes, and the best plant-based diet.

This eating plan is reliant heavily on seafood, fresh produce, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. And what’s life without a glass or two of vino. Good news: wine, in moderation, is permitted in this diet.

The recommended foods in this diet are packed with all sorts of healthy nutrients and vitamins, which are purported to protect us against disease and help reduce the risk of diabetes, among other issues.

If the diet is combined with forgoing high-calorie processed foods and refined sugars, then weight loss is a welcome side-effect to this healthy eating plan.

However, supporters of Keto have attacked back saying that the ranking was overly simplified, and said many people have reaped the benefits of keto for years, including weight loss and more energy.


What diets have worked for you? Tell us in the comments below.

  • I find it a bit hard to eat according to any diet because I’m a bit of a picky eater. That said, I’ve recently been on a really brutally low carb diet, and it’s been interesting to see what I do and don’t crave. It’ll certainly make it easier to keep the weight off when I start a more normal diet.


  • Very interesting to read about all these diets etc. have also heard myself over the years that the Mediterranean diet seems to stand the test of time against all these new diets that come and go. Its always going to be one where there is a balanced food pyramid as opposed to something like keto thats for sure


  • I have never tried the Atkins diet or joined a weight loss club like Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers. I have had a lot of success on the keto diet and am disappointed to see it listed as the worst diet. I think the foods on the keto diet are all wholesome and nutritious.


  • I no longer use the word diet. I follow a healthy eating plan, and it’s an extremely flexible plan


  • I don’t think any “diet” works longterm. Instead we should be focusing on making small incremental changes that make us feel better while benefiting our health. Any time I have been on a “diet” I have packed the weight on plus more. I don’t think any diets are healthy period


  • I have had success on the keto diet with intermittent fasting and I also love the Mediterranean diet. I think they can both be beneficial but I do agree that it is far easier to stick to the Mediterranean diet and i love my pasta and a glass of wine occasionally.


  • I think all diets are to be steered clear of. The best thing to do is to just have balance! Everything in moderation is fine. Make sure your diet includes plenty of fresh fruits and veggies and you use wholemeal items. Add to that a bit of protein and ensure you exercise regularly and you’re generally pretty right.


  • I don’t follow popular diets at all. My best diet is modifying my behavior to stop snacking. I cut out biscuits, cake, chocolate, sweets etc and reward myself once per week. I minimise bread, pasta and potatoes (but still have them). I exercise by walking & swimming. When I do all this I lose weight


  • I really hate diet culture. It pays on people’s insecurities and is awful. I’m all about people being the best, healthiest, happiest version of themselves, but those things do not come from diets alone. We’re all made differently, embracing difference and looking for holistically at Lifestyle factors is a better approach. A size 18? Great cholesterol and blood pressure? Then go you!


  • I have struggled with my weight most my life and have PCOS, a Naturopath pressured me to stop my vegan diet and go keto and boy I was SO sick and just felt absolutely awful. I struggle still with consistency, but I personally feel the best eating more of a Mediterranean diet and my metabolic specialist also recommends a version of it too.


  • I have been on plenty of diets and most of them worked extremely well until l stopped them. Like the crazy cabbage soup diet, juice diet, big name brand diets. As soon as I stopped, all the weight came back with additional friends! I find now moderation is the key and just watching super and fat intake. I do like the idea of a Mediterranean lifestyle….especially if it includes a glass or two of wine.


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