Diets, Reviewed
The major eating styles, reviewed the same way: what you eat, what the evidence says, and who should skip it.
Compare every diet side by sideFilter by what matters to you: no counting, heart health, budget and more.- 1How to Choose a Diet That'll Actually Work for YouIn head-to-head trials, most diets finish about even. So the question isn't which is best, it's which one you could still be doing next year.3 min
- 2Mediterranean Diet: The Best-Studied Way to EatVegetables, olive oil, beans, fish and few rules. It has the strongest evidence of any eating pattern, and you can keep it up for life.2 min
- 3DASH Diet: Built to Lower Blood PressureDesigned by researchers to treat hypertension, and it works in as little as two weeks. It's also a solid general eating plan.2 min
- 4Low-Carb Diets: What They Are and How They CompareLess sugar and starch, more protein and fat. They suit some people very well, especially for blood sugar, but they aren't magic.2 min
- 5Keto Diet: Benefits, Risks and What the Evidence SaysA very low-carb, high-fat diet that puts your body into ketosis. It can work, but it's hard to keep up and it isn't for everyone.3 min
- 6Intermittent Fasting: 16:8, 5:2 and What Actually HappensIt's less magic than the internet says. Fasting works mostly by helping you eat less, which is fine, if that's what fits your life.2 min
- 7High-Protein Diets: More Filling, With a Modest EdgeProtein keeps you full and protects your muscle while you lose weight. It's about the closest thing to a dieting cheat code, though still not a miracle.2 min
- 8Plant-Based Diets: Vegan, Vegetarian and FlexitarianYou don't have to go all in. Eating mostly plants is linked to lower weight and heart disease risk, as long as you do it with real food and plan for a few nutrients.2 min
- 9Calorie Counting: Flexible Dieting and How to Do It WellNo banned foods and no required ones. It's the most direct way to control your intake, and also the easiest to get wrong or get sick of.2 min
- 10Volume Eating: Big Plates on Fewer CaloriesFill up on foods that are low in calories for their size. It's a very effective way to cut calories without feeling deprived.2 min
- 11Paleo Diet: Eating Like a Caveman, ExaminedMeat, fish, vegetables, fruit and nuts, and no grains, beans or dairy. The food is often good, but the reasoning is shakier than it sounds.2 min
- 12MIND Diet: Eating for Your BrainA blend of Mediterranean and DASH aimed at protecting memory. The early data looked great, and the first big trial was more sobering. It's still a good way to eat.2 min
- 13Carnivore Diet: What Happens When You Eat Only MeatPopular online, untested in trials, and missing several things your body likes. Here's an honest look at why people try it and what to worry about.2 min
- 14Low-Fat Diets: What's Left After the 1990sLow-fat eating fell out of fashion, partly for good reasons. Done with whole foods, it's still a valid way to lose weight.2 min
- 15Meal Replacements: Shakes, Bars and When They Make SenseReplacing a meal or two with a measured shake works better than most people assume. Under medical care, full replacement programs have even put type 2 diabetes into remission.2 min
- 16Whole30: A Strict 30-Day Elimination ResetOne month with no sugar, grains, beans, dairy or alcohol, then a slow reintroduction. Some people learn a lot from it, but it isn't a long-term plan, and there are no trials behind it.2 min
- 17Crash Diets, Detoxes and Cleanses: What to Avoid and WhyJuice cleanses, cabbage soup, laxative teas and HCG drops. What they really do, and how to spot a bad diet before you spend a dollar.2 min