Best Plant-Based Diets

Plant-based diets are good for the environment, your heart, your weight and your overall health. U.S. News defines plant-based as an approach that emphasizes minimally processed foods from plants, with modest amounts of fish, lean meat and low-fat dairy, and red meat only sparingly. The experts rated the diets below, and the Mediterranean diet came out on top of the list. Among the qualities considered were each diet's ability to deliver weight loss, provide good nutrition and safety, and be relatively easy to follow.

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Vegan Diet

#10 in Best Plant-Based Diets (tie)

Overall, veganism is good for diabetes and heart disease, but it's extremely restrictive, doesn’t offer built-in social support and may not provide enough of some nutrients. more

Overall, veganism is good for diabetes and heart disease, but it's extremely restrictive, doesn’t offer built-in social support and may not provide enough of some nutrients. more

3.1/5
Overall Score
3.4/5
Weight Loss
3.2/5
Healthy
3.1/5
Overall Score
3.4/5
Weight Loss
3.2/5
Healthy
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Macrobiotic Diet

#12 in Best Plant-Based Diets

Following the very strict macrobiotic plan is a challenge, as it's an extreme change from how most Americans eat. The macrobiotic approach, one expert summed up, is "a mix of sound dietary guidance, mysticism, folklore and nonsense." more

Following the very strict macrobiotic plan is a challenge, as it's an extreme change from how most Americans eat. The macrobiotic approach, one expert summed up, is "a mix of sound dietary guidance, mysticism, folklore and nonsense." more

2.9/5
Overall Score
2.8/5
Weight Loss
3.1/5
Healthy
2.9/5
Overall Score
2.8/5
Weight Loss
3.1/5
Healthy
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Raw Food Diet

#13 in Best Plant-Based Diets

The raw food diet is considered all but impossible to follow, and its nutritional completeness and safety were concerns among the experts. “Doing it well involves considerable commitment and effort, knowledge and sacrifice,” one expert said. more

The raw food diet is considered all but impossible to follow, and its nutritional completeness and safety were concerns among the experts. “Doing it well involves considerable commitment and effort, knowledge and sacrifice,” one expert said. more

2.4/5
Overall Score
3.3/5
Weight Loss
2.2/5
Healthy
2.4/5
Overall Score
3.3/5
Weight Loss
2.2/5
Healthy