WebMD just named this the No. 1 diet, again

WebMD’s survey of the healthiest diets in the world once again shows that the Mediterranean diet is the best diet of all — but you already knew that, as it’s been the healthiest ranked diet on multiple platforms for years.

The question is: What makes the Mediterranean diet so healthy? And are there other options that are just as good for you?

No calorie counting

Many diets require incessant calorie counting and an obnoxious level of obsession over what you’re ingesting. These restrictive diets can feel more like punishment than rewarding your body with healthy nutrients, and, often, this can prevent you from sticking to your diet in the long run. But rather than a quick fix filled with restrictions and starvation, the Mediterranean diet is simply a lifestyle choice rather than a hard and fast program to follow.

In fact, studies show that counting calories may be one of the worst ways to try and lose weight. Instead, researchers say, keeping to  a healthy diet that doesn’t require such micromanaging and constant monitoring is a much better option.

Delicious options

Another reason people love the Mediterranean diet is that there are so many delicious foods to choose from. Other diets might have you eating oat bran and rice cakes to shed those pounds, but the Mediterranean diet is full of whole grains, delectable fruits, fresh vegetables, and sumptuous meats. Someone on the Mediterranean diet can expect to eat everything from banana shakes to breakfast sandwiches and avocado dip.

Helps those with diabetes and heart conditions

You’ve heard it before: The Mediterranean diet helps alleviate everything from immune diseases to heart conditions and diabetes. It’s hard to believe that food can have such a profound impact on your health, but it’s true. The studies are out there to prove it.

The Mayo Clinic recommends the Mediterranean diet for heart disease, as does the American Heart Association, which cites the high vegetable content and low fat content of the diet as some of the main benefits. Others cite studies that prove this diet is best for managing Type 2 diabetes and obesity due to its low glycemic index and high fiber content.

It’s easy to follow

Another reason people love the Mediterranean diet so much is that it’s so easy to follow. On other diets, you have to remember exactly what you can’t eat and what you can, when you can eat and when you can’t, and oftentimes, it can be hard to go out to dinner or eat with family as a result. Diet recipes can be confusing and overwhelming and often end up tasting terrible. But the Mediterranean diet.

On the Mediterranean diet, all you have to do is replace things you’d normally eat with something similar. Rather than butter, use olive oil. Rather than a rib-eye loaded with fat, try a leaner cut. And rather than regular pasta, just buy some whole wheat, cauliflower, or lentil pasta instead. There’s an entire chart to consult if you’re having trouble remembering what to swap out, but it’s common sense: Think about what you’re putting in your grocery cart, and if there’s a healthier option, choose that instead.

Runners-up

If you’re not entirely sold on the Mediterranean diet or you have a medical condition preventing you from eating many of the items on it, there are a few diets that are nearly as good. The first is being flexitarian – it’s the second-easiest to follow and the third-healthiest on the WebMD ranking. This diet is a mostly vegetarian program that allows you to eat animal products a few times a week.

You start by eating only vegetarian meals for two out of seven days per week, then over the course of a couple months, you slowly ease the meat out of your diet until you’re only eating it two days per week. In addition, you gravitate toward whole grains, vegetables, legumes, and other healthy foods.

Another option is the DASH diet, which ties with the Mediterranean diet as the best choice for healthy eating. However, the DASH diet is a bit difficult to follow. The acronym itself stands for “dietary approaches to stop hypertension,” as this is a diet focused mostly on heart health. DASH diet foods are rich in magnesium, potassium, fiber, and protein but low in sodium. If you’re interested in investigating this diet, this chart of what foods you can and can’t eat is definitely helpful.

The takeaway

Ultimately, the Mediterranean diet comes out head and shoulders above the rest. But if you’re allergic to fish or have other dietary restraints, maybe one of the runners-up would work better for you.

And if you don’t necessarily care about following any diet in particular, just remember that all of the programs listed above have a few things in common: whole grains, vegetables, and lean meats.

As long as you’re primarily eating all these things, you’ll be on your way to a healthy lifestyle in no time.