In this episode, Leslie Beck, Medcan's Clinical Director of Food and Nutrition, discusses the US News & World Report's Best Diets rankings. This year marks the 15th year in a row that the US News & World Report has published these diet rankings, which were released in early January. Sixty-nine leading health experts evaluated 38 diets in 21 different categories. Beck reveals the top four overall-rated diets for 2025 and also highlights some of the other notable category winners, and explains how following these diets can help you achieve your health goals.

The Rankings: Out of 38 diets, which diet ranked highest? (Hint: It's one of these four):

• MIND diet
• Flexitarian diet
• DASH diet
• Mediterranean diet

The Categories: In addition to Best Overall Diet, categories also included:

• Best for Healthy Eating
• Best for Inflammation, Brain Health, Menopause, Prediabetes, Arthritis and Fatty Liver

What The Top Diets Have in Common: Key features that support overall health and well-being

Takeaways:

• All of this year's top rated diets emphasize whole plant foods, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans and lentils, nuts, lean proteins and healthy fats, while limiting adding sugars and saturated fats.
• All of the diets have solid evidence to support their effectiveness for managing or preventing a health condition or chronic disease.
• None of the diets restrict entire food groups or ban certain foods.
• The best diet is the one you can sustain long-term while meeting your health and lifestyle needs.
• When considering a diet, ask yourself: Does the plan promote a way of eating that's good for your children? (Find out why that's important by listening to the episode).

For personalized advice, consult your doctor or a Medcan dietitian at www.medcan.com/nutrition.