Mediterranean diet named best overall for 8th straight year

Key takeaways:

• The Mediterranean diet was ranked first or second across several categories.
• The 2025 rankings featured 13 new diets and 12 new categories.

For the 8th year in a row, the Mediterranean diet has been named the best overall diet by the editors of U.S. News and World Report, the company announced.

The Mediterranean diet also ranked first in several other categories, such as best diet for mental health and best diet for diabetes.

“Best Diets’ updated rating evaluation system reflects the diverse needs and goals of individuals, considering factors beyond weight loss,” Gretel Schueller, managing editor of health at U.S. News, said in a press release. “By moving away from a ranked list of diets and nearly doubling our number of evaluated health and lifestyle categories, U.S. News aims to provide consumers with a more personalized experience as they consider their health priorities and eating goals.”

According to the Cleveland Clinic, the Mediterranean diet emphasizes healthy fats and plant-based foods — with extra virgin olive oil being the primary source of fat — and can lower the risk for mortality and chronic diseases like CVD.

A panel of 69 experts ranked 38 diets across 21 categories. The editors added 12 new categories to this year’s rankings, such as best diets for IBS, inflammation, high BP, fatty liver, arthritis, mental health and prediabetes.

Additionally, this year’s edition evaluated 13 new diets, including the acid reflux diet, the gout diet and the low-FODMAP diet. Respondents rated each diet on a scale from one to five, with five being the highest.

The top diets in 2025 include:

Best diets overall

1. Mediterranean diet
2. Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet
3. Flexitarian diet
4. Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet

Best diets for mental health

1. Mediterranean diet
2. MIND diet
3. Flexitarian diet
4. DASH diet

Best diets for diabetes

1. Mediterranean diet
2. Flexitarian diet
3. DASH diet (tied)
3. MIND diet (tied)

Best diets for gut health

1. Mediterranean diet
2. Vegan diet (tied)
2. DASH diet (tied)
2. Flexitarian diet (tied)
2. MIND diet (tied)

Best diets for weight loss

1. WW, or WeightWatchers, diet
2. Mediterranean diet
3. Volumetrics diet

Best fast weight-loss diets

1. Jenny Craig diet
2. SlimFast diet (tied)
2. Keto diet (tied)
2. Nutrisystem diet (tied)
2. WW diet (tied)

Best heart-healthy diets

1. DASH diet
2. Mediterranean diet
3. Flexitarian diet (tied)
3. MIND diet (tied)
3. Vegan diet (tied)

Best diets for menopause

1. Menopause diet
2. Mediterranean diet
3. Flexitarian diet

Easiest diets to follow

1. Mediterranean diet
2. Flexitarian diet
3. DASH diet

Best plant-based diets

1. Flexitarian diet
2. Mediterranean diet
3. Vegan diet
4. MIND diet

References:

• Mediterranean diet. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/16037-mediterranean-diet. Accessed Jan. 3, 2025.
• U.S. News releases the 2025 edition of best diets. Available at: https://www.usnews.com/info/blogs/press-room/articles/2025-01-03/u-s-news-releases-the-2025-edition-of-best-diets. Published Jan. 3, 2025. Accessed Jan. 3, 2025.