Amby Burfoot has an article that asks, “what is the healthiest diet?” His answer comes from the Journal of Nutrition. Looks like there are four winners. Quoting Mr. Burfoot:
They differ slightly in the degree to which they favor, or disfavor, certain foods and food types, such as the following:
- The Healthy Eating Index 2010: Considers low-fat dairy products a plus.
- The Alternative Healthy Eating Index 2010: Considers nuts/legumes a plus, as well as moderate alcohol consumption. Trans fats, sugary beverages, salt, and red meat get a minus.
- The Alternate Mediterranean Diet: Considers fish, nuts/legumes, and moderate alcohol a plus; red meat, a minus.
- The DASH Diet: Considers low-fat dairy and nuts/legumes a plus; sugary beverages, salt, and red meat get a minus.
I think the Mediterranean diet has the most and best data to support it.
Advanced Mediterranean Diet 