In Latest Diet Ranking, DASH Races To The Top

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The ratings gurus at U.S.News and World Report have put some of the nation's most popular diets through the wringer and crowned as champion a diet originally developed to help people lower their blood pressure.

Called DASH — for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension — the diet is UN&WR's top all-around pick. The diet keeps a tight lid on saturated fat and cholesterol. And it emphasizes food rich in protein, fiber and nutrients, such as potassium and calcium, that may lower blood pressure.

A team at the magazine combed the scientific literature and boiled down the pros and cons of 20 diets in standardized profiles. Then a group of 22 experts enlisted by the magazine rated the diets on a scale of 1 to 5 for such things as safety, long-term weight loss and ability to prevent or control diabetes.

The DASH diet earned 3.9 stars out of 5. There was a three-way tie for second place: the Mediterranean diet; the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes, or TLC, diet; and Weight Watchers all got 3.8 stars.

When Consumer Reports did its own deep dive on diets last month, Jenny Craig came out No. 1. Slim-Fast and Weight Watchers came in second and third, respectively. The low-carb Atkins diet came in last.

And, it should be noted, the Atkins diet came in 19th on USN&WR's overall ratings — second-to-last place.

The folks at Atkins disputed their USN&WR ranking, saying in a statement that contrary to the magazine's findings the Atkins diet "has repeatedly demonstrated its effectiveness not only for weight-loss but for diabetes and heart health management" in peer-reviewed studies.

You can get a workout sifting through the diet-rating extravaganza for diets that are best for diabetes, weight-loss and your heart.

I think I've already burned off enough calories clicking through them to cover dessert after dinner tonight. But first, just to be on the safe side, maybe I'll try a little chicken and Spanish rice a la DASH.