2017's Top 12 Nutritional Diet Plans Recommended by Expert Nutritionists

Explore the top 12 nutritious diet plans of 2017 recommended by expert nutritionists. From plant-based vegetarian options to heart-healthy diets like Ornish and DASH, discover sustainable, effective strategies to improve your health, manage weight, and reduce disease risks with detailed insights into each plan's benefits and principles.

2017's Top 12 Nutritional Diet Plans Recommended by Expert Nutritionists

Choosing the perfect diet plan is a comprehensive process that involves considering safety, nutritional balance, simplicity, and effectiveness in achieving weight loss goals while simultaneously reducing risks related to chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. In 2017, nutrition professionals identified and recommended the following 12 diet strategies, each with unique features designed to promote health, wellness, and longevity. These plans are structured to help individuals make sustainable lifestyle changes, fostering better eating habits and overall well-being.

Vegetarian Diet
Among the plant-based diets gaining popularity in 2017, the vegetarian diet stands out for its emphasis on fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, nuts, and seeds, excluding all types of meat and fish. This diet is celebrated for its high nutrient density, fiber content, and potential to improve cardiovascular health. By adopting a vegetarian plan, individuals often benefit from lower blood pressure, reduced cholesterol levels, and a decreased risk of obesity. It is particularly appealing for those seeking a sustainable way to enhance overall health and contribute to environmental conservation.

Ornish Diet
Developed by renowned cardiologist Dr. Dean Ornish, this diet emphasizes minimally processed foods that are close to their natural state. It advocates for a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and omega-3 fatty acids from sources like flaxseeds, walnuts, and fish. The Ornish Diet is especially acclaimed for its proven benefits in improving heart health, lowering blood pressure, and reducing cholesterol levels. Its focus on lifestyle modifications, including stress management and exercise, makes it a holistic approach to cardiovascular wellness.

Jenny Craig Program
Popular among celebrities and everyday individuals alike, the Jenny Craig diet combines personalized coaching with conveniently prepared meals. Participants receive customized meal plans tailored to their caloric needs, often with pre-packaged or delivered meals that make calorie counting and portion control easier. The program emphasizes balanced nutrition, healthy habits, and accountability, frequently leading to successful weight loss and improved lifestyle habits.

Volumetrics Diet
Created by nutrition expert Barbara Rolls, the Volumetrics Diet prioritizes the concept of food density—eating larger portions of low-calorie, water-rich foods such as soups, salads, fruits, and vegetables while reducing high-calorie, dense foods like baked goods, fried foods, and processed snacks. This approach helps manage calorie intake naturally, encourages satiety, and promotes weight loss without severe restrictions. It also encourages mindful eating practices and emphasizes the importance of choosing foods that provide maximum volume for minimal calories.

Fertility-Boosting Diet
Designed with input from Harvard researchers, this diet aims to support women trying to conceive by focusing on nutrient-rich foods that enhance reproductive health. It emphasizes the consumption of whole milk, healthy oils like olive and canola oil, lean proteins, and plenty of folic acid-rich foods such as leafy greens and legumes. The diet discourages processed foods and trans fats that may impair fertility. Maintaining stable blood sugar levels, healthy weight, and proper nutrient intake are central principles of this plan, supporting overall reproductive health.

Weight Watchers (WW)
One of the most renowned weight management programs globally, Weight Watchers has evolved into a holistic health approach called “Beyond the Scale,” which addresses not only weight loss but also mental health, mindfulness, and overall well-being. The program uses a flexible point system that assigns values to foods based on their nutritional content, allowing participants to make healthier choices without feeling deprived. Community support, regular meetings, and digital tools enhance accountability, making it easier to develop long-term healthy habits.

TLC Diet
The Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) diet is endorsed by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and focuses on reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which helps decrease cardiovascular disease risk. The plan advocates for limiting saturated fats found in red meats, butter, and high-fat dairy, while increasing intake of fiber-rich foods like oats, beans, and vegetables. It encourages the use of healthy fats from sources like fish and nuts, coupled with a focus on physical activity and weight management as integral components of cardiovascular health improvement.

Mayo Clinic Diet
Based on behavioral change principles, the Mayo Clinic Diet aims to help individuals develop sustainable healthy eating patterns. It introduces a two-week Accelerate phase designed to jumpstart weight loss and promote a positive attitude toward healthy habits. This is followed by the Maintenance phase, emphasizing balanced meals, portion control, and regular physical activity. The diet’s foundation rests on a food pyramid that highlights fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean protein sources, fostering lifelong healthy eating habits.

Flexitarian Diet
Created by registered dietitian Dawn Jackson Blatner, the Flexitarian Diet encourages a flexible approach to vegetarianism. It promotes eating primarily plant-based foods like beans, tofu, nuts, seeds, and vegetables, with occasional inclusion of small amounts of meat or fish. This diet appeals to those seeking health benefits associated with plant-based diets while still enjoying the flexibility and protein variety of omnivorous eating. It also supports weight management, heart health, and environmental sustainability.

MIND Diet
This diet combines elements of the Mediterranean and DASH diets, specifically targeting brain health. The MIND Diet emphasizes the consumption of nuts, berries, leafy greens, olive oil, and whole grains, which have been linked to a decreased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Its focus on nutrient-rich, antioxidant-packed foods not only supports cognitive health but also contributes to overall physical health, making it an excellent option for aging populations concerned with mental decline.

Mediterranean Diet
Inspired by the traditional eating habits of people living along the Mediterranean coast, this diet emphasizes healthy fats, abundant fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and lean proteins such as fish. Recognized for its numerous health benefits, including improved heart health, reduced inflammation, and increased longevity, the Mediterranean Diet encourages social eating and moderate wine consumption. Its balanced, nutrient-dense approach makes it one of the most recommended dietary patterns for comprehensive health and disease prevention.

DASH Diet
The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet has consistently ranked at the top for its effectiveness in controlling high blood pressure for over a decade. It emphasizes reducing sodium intake while increasing consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products. Designed to improve cardiovascular health, the DASH Diet’s structured approach helps individuals manage hypertension, lower cholesterol, and reduce the risk of heart disease. Its flexibility and scientific backing make it a preferred choice for those aiming to maintain optimal blood pressure levels.