The DASH Diet was recently named the best diet overall by the U.S. News & World Report in its ‘2012 Best Diets Rankings.’ DASH was ranked as number nine on the list for best diet for weight loss by the U.S. News & World Report. Avery Comarow, of U.S. News, wrote the following, “Many diets, such as Weight Watchers, are household names, while others, such as the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet, should be.”
U.S. News put together data from panelists who submitted input on diets in the best diets overall category. There were seven diet ranking categories, with some of them including heart healthy diets and diets that are very easy to follow. The success of a diet placed more weight on long-term success than short-term success since some diets can give instant success at the turn of the calendar while others can sustain the test of time. This is very important for those who are obese because as little as 5 percent reduction in body weight can cut an obese person’s risk for heart disease and diabetes, according to Comarow.
DASH was designed by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The diet is aimed at lowering high blood pressure in some while preventing it in others simply by eating healthy. The diet emphasizes that people need to eat foods such as vegetables, whole grains, fruits, low-fat dairy and lean proteins. The foods recommended by the diet contain nutrients such as fiber, protein, calcium and potassium. All of these nutrients help to fight blood pressure and thin out the waistline. For diets that help those with healthy eating and diabetes, DASH ranked number one as well.
“DASH is actually awesome. It’s pretty realistic, it’s not bizarre. It just asks people to eat a lot of fruits or vegetables and low-fat or non-fat dairy, which really is how I measure the quality of a diet,” Dr. Keith Ayoob, director of the nutrition clinic at the Rose F. Kennedy Center at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, said. “It’s not inhuman.”
Red meat, salty snacks, fat-laden and calorie-laden sweets are a no-go when using the DASH diet. Sodium should be capped at 2,300 milligrams per day and should eventually stay under 1,500 milligrams per day for the DASH diet.
If you are looking to lose weight, exercise along with the DASH diet are keys to success. Should weight loss be a main goal of a diet, be sure to check with your doctor, who will help you put together the best diet plan.