references
Paleo Pancakes
Find Out How Many Calories You Need with MyPlate, LIVESTRONG’s FREE Food & Fitness Tracker
The 5 Stages of a Juice Fast
1 of 32
Overview
Looking to lose weight and still searching for the best diet for you? Jenna Bell, PhD, RD, Senior VP, Director of Food & Wellness at Pollock Communications in New York City, cautions against diets that seem too good to be true. "If a diet promises fast, nearly overnight results and cuts out most every food group, think twice before starting such a plan," she says. "Crash diets may or may not help you lose weight, but are almost guaranteed to leave you feeling run down thanks to missing nutrients. And at the end of the day, once you stop your crash diet, the weight is likely to return." So which diets actually work and which ones should be avoided? Read on to see our list of ten of the top diets, based on recent rankings from U.S. News and World Report, as well as anecdotal reports compiled from dieters around the United States. We provide a glimpse into these popular diets and offers pros and cons for each one.
Image Credit: Olha_Afanasieva/iStock/Getty Images
11 of 32
4. The TLC Diet
Created by the National Institute of Health's National Cholesterol Education Program and endorsed by the American Heart Association, the TLC diet (Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes) requires dieters to drastically cut back on fat, especially heart-clogging saturated fat. Next, we'll address the pros and cons of the TLC Diet.
Image Credit: Getty ThinkStock
12 of 32
PROs of the TLC Diet
This diet (claims to) lower your cholesterol by 8-10 percent in 6 short weeks. It's a diet the entire family can follow because while it offers calorie limits for adults (2500 calories for men and 1800 calories for women, 1600 calories for men looking to lose weight and 1200 calories for women looking to lose weight), there is a greater focus on eating less saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol. This is a well-balanced diet with optimal amounts of carb, protein, and fat. It is also high in satiating fiber, which means you're likely to be eating as much as 25 grams of fiber a day.
Image Credit: Getty ThinkStock
14 of 32
5. The Mayo Clinic Diet
This diet promises results, but is not a quick fix. The Mayo Clinic Diet requires lifelong lifestyle changes including no more eating in front of the TV and curbing mindless eating. It does claim to offer weight loss (as much as 6-10 pounds shed in 2 weeks).
Image Credit: Getty ThinkStock
15 of 32
PROs of the Mayo Clinic Diet
This diet teaches lifestyle changes and encourages exercise, which is refreshing to hear since losing weight is not 100% about monitoring which foods are eaten. Split into two phases, once a dieter enters the second phase of the diet, no food group is off-limits which can make this diet easier to follow for long-term dieters.
Image Credit: Getty ThinkStock
16 of 32
CONs of the Mayo Clinic Diet
This two-part diet starts with the restrictive Lose It! phase which requires some deprivation and restricts sugar, snacks (unless fruits/vegetables), full fat dairy, and even dining out. The second part -- Live It! -- calls for calorie counting, but the focus is mainly on counting the number of servings per day. Proper portioning of food (i.e. breaking out the measuring cups) is needed to be successful.
Image Credit: Getty ThinkStock
17 of 32
6. Low-Carb Diets
A number of popular diets fall under the umbrella of carbohydrate-restricted diets and while the "Atkins Diet craze" isn't as widespread as it once was, it's still alive and well. Low-carb diets include The Zone® diet, the South Beach diet®, Carbohydrate Addict's Diet®, and probably the most famous, the Atkins Diet® all advocate low-carb eating, with generous portions of protein and fat.
Image Credit: Getty ThinkStock
18 of 32
PROs of Low-Carb Diets
Proponents claim that by eliminating or restricting sugars and carbohydrates, weight loss will naturally follow. This makes sense; a high carb diet does cause the body to store more fluid (after all, they are call carbohydrates for a reason). Naturally, when you cut carbs, you retain less fluid and these diets don't allow for a lot of white bread, crackers, or pastries, so it's likely that your calorie intake will be slashed as well. Some dieters report improved blood sugar control while following these diets, which may be linked to either the quick weight loss or the fact that refined carbs are slashed when following these diets. Short-term, these diets appear to be safe, but there are lingering concerns about long-term safety. However, research has yet to determine the impact of such diets on the development of chronic diseases like osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and kidney disease.
Image Credit: Getty ThinkStock
19 of 32
CONs of Low-Carb Diets
Because these diets let you indulge more in fats and protein, you may find yourself going overboard on foods that were previously off-limits such as butter, eggs and bacon. Thanks to the high saturated fat and cholesterol content of these foods, don't be surprised if you see your cholesterol levels skyrocket. In addition, because you eliminate many food groups when you go low-carb, you can develop nutrient deficiencies of certain vitamins and minerals. You also might find yourself having headaches and constipation, which are common complaints among people following low-carb diets.
Image Credit: Getty ThinkStock
23 of 32
8. The Mediterranean Diet
This balanced, heart-healthy diet is well-researched and advocates an active lifestyle, a healthy weight, and less sugar, red meat and saturated fat and more fruits, vegetables and nuts. There isn't a set Mediterranean diet, but common trends include increasing your intake of the good stuff such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, legumes, olive oil (there's a no-brainer) and seafood.
Image Credit: Getty ThinkStock
24 of 32
PROs of the Mediterranean Diet
If your goal is heart health rather than weight loss, this diet is for you. It's also fairly easy to follow as it simply promotes more of the good stuff -- foods you know you should be eating anyway -- and fewer unhealthy, saturated fat-rich and artery-clogging junk foods you should be limiting anyway. This diet can be followed whether you are dining out or eating at home, and there are many cookbooks available that have Mediterranean diet-compliant dishes. When following this diet, you can even celebrate your stride towards better health with a glass of red wine (optional).
Image Credit: Getty ThinkStock
25 of 32
CONs of the Mediterranean Diet
If your sole goal when shopping around for a diet is to lose weight, this diet is not guaranteed to help. The Mediterranean diet calls for a reduction in some foods that you may be used to dining on daily, foods such as less red meat and poultry, as well as limited dairy and sweets. So you'll need to tweak your shopping and dining patterns if you're not accustomed to dining on seafood a few times a week.
Image Credit: Getty ThinkStock
26 of 32
9. The Flexitarian Diet
This diet, developed by Registered Dietitian Dawn Jackson Blatner, is essentially a marriage of the terms "flexible" and "vegetarian." In other words, followers of this diet aim to be vegetarians "most of the time." This diet focuses not so much on restricting foods but on replacing your usual intake of butcher's favorites with non-meat protein sources such as tofu, legumes, beans, lentils, nuts and seeds.
Image Credit: Getty ThinkStock
27 of 32
PROs of the Flexitarian Diet
Research has found that vegetarians tend to weigh less than their carnivorous colleagues. What's more, vegetarian diets are generally heart healthy thanks to lower intakes of saturated fat and cholesterol and more fiber and plant proteins. And by stocking your grocery cart with legumes, nuts and eggs rather than filet and steaks, you could be saving money while improving your health.
Image Credit: Getty ThinkStock
30 of 32
PROs of Detox Diets
Detox diets often promise quick weight loss, healing, cleansing and a renewed sense of better health. The idea behind these diets is that by removing certain food groups, some of the toxins linked with those foods – like caffeine or alcohol-- are eliminated, and the detox purportedly gives the body a break from foods that are considered hard to digest and absorb, like meat, cheese and processed foods. In theory, as a result of avoiding these food items, the body uses less energy to digest food and fight off toxins, and frees up energy to heal. While not all detox diets are solely focused on weight loss, the eating can be restrictive, which often results in weight loss.
Image Credit: Getty ThinkStock
1 of 32
Overview
Looking to lose weight and still searching for the best diet for you? Jenna Bell, PhD, RD, Senior VP, Director of Food & Wellness at Pollock Communications in New York City, cautions against diets that seem too good to be true. "If a diet promises fast, nearly overnight results and cuts out most every food group, think twice before starting such a plan," she says. "Crash diets may or may not help you lose weight, but are almost guaranteed to leave you feeling run down thanks to missing nutrients. And at the end of the day, once you stop your crash diet, the weight is likely to return." So which diets actually work and which ones should be avoided? Read on to see our list of ten of the top diets, based on recent rankings from U.S. News and World Report, as well as anecdotal reports compiled from dieters around the United States. We provide a glimpse into these popular diets and offers pros and cons for each one.
Image Credit: Olha_Afanasieva/iStock/Getty Images
Overview
Looking to lose weight and still searching for the best diet for you? Jenna Bell, PhD, RD, Senior VP, Director of Food & Wellness at Pollock Communications in New York City, cautions against diets that seem too good to be true. “If a diet promises fast, nearly overnight results and cuts out most every food group, think twice before starting such a plan,” she says. “Crash diets may or may not help you lose weight, but are almost guaranteed to leave you feeling run down thanks to missing nutrients. And at the end of the day, once you stop your crash diet, the weight is likely to return.” So which diets actually work and which ones should be avoided? Read on to see our list of ten of the top diets, based on recent rankings from U.S. News and World Report, as well as anecdotal reports compiled from dieters around the United States. We provide a glimpse into these popular diets and offers pros and cons for each one.
Image Credit: Olha_Afanasieva/iStock/Getty Images
1. Intermittent Fasting
Image Credit: Getty ThinkStock
PROs of Intermittent Fasting
CONs of Intermittent Fasting
2. Vegan Diet
PROs of the Vegan Diet
CONs of the Vegan Diet
3. The DASH Diet
PROs of the DASH Diet
CONs of the DASH Diet
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4. The TLC Diet
Created by the National Institute of Health's National Cholesterol Education Program and endorsed by the American Heart Association, the TLC diet (Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes) requires dieters to drastically cut back on fat, especially heart-clogging saturated fat. Next, we'll address the pros and cons of the TLC Diet.
Image Credit: Getty ThinkStock
4. The TLC Diet
Created by the National Institute of Health’s National Cholesterol Education Program and endorsed by the American Heart Association, the TLC diet (Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes) requires dieters to drastically cut back on fat, especially heart-clogging saturated fat. Next, we’ll address the pros and cons of the TLC Diet.
12 of 32
PROs of the TLC Diet
This diet (claims to) lower your cholesterol by 8-10 percent in 6 short weeks. It's a diet the entire family can follow because while it offers calorie limits for adults (2500 calories for men and 1800 calories for women, 1600 calories for men looking to lose weight and 1200 calories for women looking to lose weight), there is a greater focus on eating less saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol. This is a well-balanced diet with optimal amounts of carb, protein, and fat. It is also high in satiating fiber, which means you're likely to be eating as much as 25 grams of fiber a day.
Image Credit: Getty ThinkStock
PROs of the TLC Diet
This diet (claims to) lower your cholesterol by 8-10 percent in 6 short weeks. It’s a diet the entire family can follow because while it offers calorie limits for adults (2500 calories for men and 1800 calories for women, 1600 calories for men looking to lose weight and 1200 calories for women looking to lose weight), there is a greater focus on eating less saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol. This is a well-balanced diet with optimal amounts of carb, protein, and fat. It is also high in satiating fiber, which means you’re likely to be eating as much as 25 grams of fiber a day.
CONs of the TLC Diet
14 of 32
5. The Mayo Clinic Diet
This diet promises results, but is not a quick fix. The Mayo Clinic Diet requires lifelong lifestyle changes including no more eating in front of the TV and curbing mindless eating. It does claim to offer weight loss (as much as 6-10 pounds shed in 2 weeks).
Image Credit: Getty ThinkStock
5. The Mayo Clinic Diet
This diet promises results, but is not a quick fix. The Mayo Clinic Diet requires lifelong lifestyle changes including no more eating in front of the TV and curbing mindless eating. It does claim to offer weight loss (as much as 6-10 pounds shed in 2 weeks).
15 of 32
PROs of the Mayo Clinic Diet
This diet teaches lifestyle changes and encourages exercise, which is refreshing to hear since losing weight is not 100% about monitoring which foods are eaten. Split into two phases, once a dieter enters the second phase of the diet, no food group is off-limits which can make this diet easier to follow for long-term dieters.
Image Credit: Getty ThinkStock
PROs of the Mayo Clinic Diet
This diet teaches lifestyle changes and encourages exercise, which is refreshing to hear since losing weight is not 100% about monitoring which foods are eaten. Split into two phases, once a dieter enters the second phase of the diet, no food group is off-limits which can make this diet easier to follow for long-term dieters.
16 of 32
CONs of the Mayo Clinic Diet
This two-part diet starts with the restrictive Lose It! phase which requires some deprivation and restricts sugar, snacks (unless fruits/vegetables), full fat dairy, and even dining out. The second part -- Live It! -- calls for calorie counting, but the focus is mainly on counting the number of servings per day. Proper portioning of food (i.e. breaking out the measuring cups) is needed to be successful.
Image Credit: Getty ThinkStock
CONs of the Mayo Clinic Diet
This two-part diet starts with the restrictive Lose It! phase which requires some deprivation and restricts sugar, snacks (unless fruits/vegetables), full fat dairy, and even dining out. The second part – Live It! – calls for calorie counting, but the focus is mainly on counting the number of servings per day. Proper portioning of food (i.e. breaking out the measuring cups) is needed to be successful.
17 of 32
6. Low-Carb Diets
A number of popular diets fall under the umbrella of carbohydrate-restricted diets and while the "Atkins Diet craze" isn't as widespread as it once was, it's still alive and well. Low-carb diets include The Zone® diet, the South Beach diet®, Carbohydrate Addict's Diet®, and probably the most famous, the Atkins Diet® all advocate low-carb eating, with generous portions of protein and fat.
Image Credit: Getty ThinkStock
6. Low-Carb Diets
A number of popular diets fall under the umbrella of carbohydrate-restricted diets and while the “Atkins Diet craze” isn’t as widespread as it once was, it’s still alive and well. Low-carb diets include The Zone® diet, the South Beach diet®, Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet®, and probably the most famous, the Atkins Diet® all advocate low-carb eating, with generous portions of protein and fat.
18 of 32
PROs of Low-Carb Diets
Proponents claim that by eliminating or restricting sugars and carbohydrates, weight loss will naturally follow. This makes sense; a high carb diet does cause the body to store more fluid (after all, they are call carbohydrates for a reason). Naturally, when you cut carbs, you retain less fluid and these diets don't allow for a lot of white bread, crackers, or pastries, so it's likely that your calorie intake will be slashed as well. Some dieters report improved blood sugar control while following these diets, which may be linked to either the quick weight loss or the fact that refined carbs are slashed when following these diets. Short-term, these diets appear to be safe, but there are lingering concerns about long-term safety. However, research has yet to determine the impact of such diets on the development of chronic diseases like osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and kidney disease.
Image Credit: Getty ThinkStock
PROs of Low-Carb Diets
Proponents claim that by eliminating or restricting sugars and carbohydrates, weight loss will naturally follow. This makes sense; a high carb diet does cause the body to store more fluid (after all, they are call carbohydrates for a reason). Naturally, when you cut carbs, you retain less fluid and these diets don’t allow for a lot of white bread, crackers, or pastries, so it’s likely that your calorie intake will be slashed as well. Some dieters report improved blood sugar control while following these diets, which may be linked to either the quick weight loss or the fact that refined carbs are slashed when following these diets. Short-term, these diets appear to be safe, but there are lingering concerns about long-term safety. However, research has yet to determine the impact of such diets on the development of chronic diseases like osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and kidney disease.
19 of 32
CONs of Low-Carb Diets
Because these diets let you indulge more in fats and protein, you may find yourself going overboard on foods that were previously off-limits such as butter, eggs and bacon. Thanks to the high saturated fat and cholesterol content of these foods, don't be surprised if you see your cholesterol levels skyrocket. In addition, because you eliminate many food groups when you go low-carb, you can develop nutrient deficiencies of certain vitamins and minerals. You also might find yourself having headaches and constipation, which are common complaints among people following low-carb diets.
Image Credit: Getty ThinkStock
CONs of Low-Carb Diets
Because these diets let you indulge more in fats and protein, you may find yourself going overboard on foods that were previously off-limits such as butter, eggs and bacon. Thanks to the high saturated fat and cholesterol content of these foods, don’t be surprised if you see your cholesterol levels skyrocket. In addition, because you eliminate many food groups when you go low-carb, you can develop nutrient deficiencies of certain vitamins and minerals. You also might find yourself having headaches and constipation, which are common complaints among people following low-carb diets.
7. The Paleo Diet
PROs of the Paleo Diet
CONs of the Paleo Diet
23 of 32
8. The Mediterranean Diet
This balanced, heart-healthy diet is well-researched and advocates an active lifestyle, a healthy weight, and less sugar, red meat and saturated fat and more fruits, vegetables and nuts. There isn't a set Mediterranean diet, but common trends include increasing your intake of the good stuff such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, legumes, olive oil (there's a no-brainer) and seafood.
Image Credit: Getty ThinkStock
8. The Mediterranean Diet
This balanced, heart-healthy diet is well-researched and advocates an active lifestyle, a healthy weight, and less sugar, red meat and saturated fat and more fruits, vegetables and nuts. There isn’t a set Mediterranean diet, but common trends include increasing your intake of the good stuff such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, legumes, olive oil (there’s a no-brainer) and seafood.
24 of 32
PROs of the Mediterranean Diet
If your goal is heart health rather than weight loss, this diet is for you. It's also fairly easy to follow as it simply promotes more of the good stuff -- foods you know you should be eating anyway -- and fewer unhealthy, saturated fat-rich and artery-clogging junk foods you should be limiting anyway. This diet can be followed whether you are dining out or eating at home, and there are many cookbooks available that have Mediterranean diet-compliant dishes. When following this diet, you can even celebrate your stride towards better health with a glass of red wine (optional).
Image Credit: Getty ThinkStock
PROs of the Mediterranean Diet
If your goal is heart health rather than weight loss, this diet is for you. It’s also fairly easy to follow as it simply promotes more of the good stuff – foods you know you should be eating anyway – and fewer unhealthy, saturated fat-rich and artery-clogging junk foods you should be limiting anyway. This diet can be followed whether you are dining out or eating at home, and there are many cookbooks available that have Mediterranean diet-compliant dishes. When following this diet, you can even celebrate your stride towards better health with a glass of red wine (optional).
25 of 32
CONs of the Mediterranean Diet
If your sole goal when shopping around for a diet is to lose weight, this diet is not guaranteed to help. The Mediterranean diet calls for a reduction in some foods that you may be used to dining on daily, foods such as less red meat and poultry, as well as limited dairy and sweets. So you'll need to tweak your shopping and dining patterns if you're not accustomed to dining on seafood a few times a week.
Image Credit: Getty ThinkStock
CONs of the Mediterranean Diet
If your sole goal when shopping around for a diet is to lose weight, this diet is not guaranteed to help. The Mediterranean diet calls for a reduction in some foods that you may be used to dining on daily, foods such as less red meat and poultry, as well as limited dairy and sweets. So you’ll need to tweak your shopping and dining patterns if you’re not accustomed to dining on seafood a few times a week.
26 of 32
9. The Flexitarian Diet
This diet, developed by Registered Dietitian Dawn Jackson Blatner, is essentially a marriage of the terms "flexible" and "vegetarian." In other words, followers of this diet aim to be vegetarians "most of the time." This diet focuses not so much on restricting foods but on replacing your usual intake of butcher's favorites with non-meat protein sources such as tofu, legumes, beans, lentils, nuts and seeds.
Image Credit: Getty ThinkStock
9. The Flexitarian Diet
This diet, developed by Registered Dietitian Dawn Jackson Blatner, is essentially a marriage of the terms “flexible” and “vegetarian.” In other words, followers of this diet aim to be vegetarians “most of the time.” This diet focuses not so much on restricting foods but on replacing your usual intake of butcher’s favorites with non-meat protein sources such as tofu, legumes, beans, lentils, nuts and seeds.
27 of 32
PROs of the Flexitarian Diet
Research has found that vegetarians tend to weigh less than their carnivorous colleagues. What's more, vegetarian diets are generally heart healthy thanks to lower intakes of saturated fat and cholesterol and more fiber and plant proteins. And by stocking your grocery cart with legumes, nuts and eggs rather than filet and steaks, you could be saving money while improving your health.
Image Credit: Getty ThinkStock
PROs of the Flexitarian Diet
Research has found that vegetarians tend to weigh less than their carnivorous colleagues. What’s more, vegetarian diets are generally heart healthy thanks to lower intakes of saturated fat and cholesterol and more fiber and plant proteins. And by stocking your grocery cart with legumes, nuts and eggs rather than filet and steaks, you could be saving money while improving your health.
CONs of the Flexitarian Diet
10. Detox Diets and Cleanses
30 of 32
PROs of Detox Diets
Detox diets often promise quick weight loss, healing, cleansing and a renewed sense of better health. The idea behind these diets is that by removing certain food groups, some of the toxins linked with those foods – like caffeine or alcohol-- are eliminated, and the detox purportedly gives the body a break from foods that are considered hard to digest and absorb, like meat, cheese and processed foods. In theory, as a result of avoiding these food items, the body uses less energy to digest food and fight off toxins, and frees up energy to heal. While not all detox diets are solely focused on weight loss, the eating can be restrictive, which often results in weight loss.
Image Credit: Getty ThinkStock
PROs of Detox Diets
Detox diets often promise quick weight loss, healing, cleansing and a renewed sense of better health. The idea behind these diets is that by removing certain food groups, some of the toxins linked with those foods – like caffeine or alcohol– are eliminated, and the detox purportedly gives the body a break from foods that are considered hard to digest and absorb, like meat, cheese and processed foods. In theory, as a result of avoiding these food items, the body uses less energy to digest food and fight off toxins, and frees up energy to heal. While not all detox diets are solely focused on weight loss, the eating can be restrictive, which often results in weight loss.
CONs of Detox Diets
What Do YOU Think?
Paleo Pancakes
Find Out How Many Calories You Need with MyPlate, LIVESTRONG’s FREE Food & Fitness Tracker
The 5 Stages of a Juice Fast
