Various diet types, including Mediterranean, DASH, keto, vegetarian, and vegan, aim to structure eating habits and food choices, but they differ wildly and come with potential benefits and risks. People may choose to put an eating plan in place to lose weight, reduce disease risk, avoid inflammation, manage life with chronic health problems like diabetes, or achieve specific ethical outcomes, as with the vegan diet. The healthiest eating styles tend to be plant-based, emphasize healthy fats, remove simple sugars, reduce salt, and minimize heavily processed foods. Understanding the restrictions, aims, schedules, shopping lists, and methods of each diet type and having a picture of what mealtime looks like for these diets can help you make the most informed choice.
The Boiled-Egg Diet: Does It Really Work?Medically Reviewed by Sylvia E. Klinger, DBA, MS, RD, CPT | January 10, 2026
FAQ
What is a ketogenic diet?
A keto diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that triggers a metabolic process called ketosis. This burns stored fat for energy instead of glucose. It has similar weight loss benefits to other diets that limit food choices in order to restrict calories.
What are the benefits of a vegetarian diet?
A vegetarian diet may support blood pressure and blood glucose control, reduce a person’s risk of cancer and heart disease, and even help them live longer. Sticking to whole foods and avoiding overeating on a vegetarian diet might also promote weight loss.
Is a vegan diet healthy?
A vegan diet might reduce a person’s risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and heart complications, as well as certain types of cancer and even acne. Proper planning is crucial to avoid deficiencies in nutrients like iron or protein.
What is the Mediterranean diet?
The heart-healthy Mediterranean diet avoids limiting foods, instead encouraging people to eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seafood, nuts, olive oil, and legumes. It’s based on the foods and enjoyable social eating culture of Italy, France, Spain, and Greece.
How do I choose the right diet for me?
Consider your health goals, preexisting health conditions, and lifestyle when picking the best diet for you. Before making long-term changes to diet, consult with a healthcare professional like a registered dietitian.
Everyday Health’s team of board-certified physicians and health professionals contribute to the creation and review of content, ensuring that the information is useful, up to date, and accurate.
Reyna Franco, RDN, is a New York City–based dietitian-nutritionist, certified specialist in sports dietetics, and certified personal trainer. She is a diplomate of the American Col...
Justin Laube, MD, is a board-certified integrative and internal medicine physician, a teacher, and a consultant with extensive expertise in integrative health, medical education, a...
Kara Andrew, RDN, LDN, is the director of health promotion for Memorial Hospital in Carthage, Illinois. She is also licensed as an exercise physiologist and certified in lifestyle ...
Melissa Sleight, RDN, is a board-certified lifestyle medicine dietitian with over 15 years of experience. She has a passion for educating her clients about improving their health t...
Lynn Grieger is a registered dietitian-nutritionist, certified diabetes care and education specialist, certified personal trainer, and certified health and wellness coach. She comp...
Rachel MacPherson, CPT, is a freelance writer, content strategist, and nutrition coach in the wellness space with nearly a decade of experience. She lives on the east coast of Cana...
Tara Collingwood, RDN, is a board-certified specialist in sports dietetics, an American College of Sports Medicine–certified personal trainer, and a media spokesperson. As a sports...
Ira Daniel Breite, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He is an associate professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where he also sees patien...
Monique Richard is an award-winning registered and licensed dietitian-nutritionist (RDN, LDN) and nationally recognized nutrition expert who brings a deeply integrative, person-cen...
Roxana Ehsani, MS, RD, CSSD, LDN, is a Washington, DC–based registered dietitian-nutritionist, board-certified specialist in sports dietetics, and media spokesperson, consultant, a...
Kelly Kennedy is a licensed dietitian-nutritionist with over 14 years of experience in digital media. She previously managed and oversaw nutrition content, recipe development, meal...
Chung Yoon, MD, is a noninvasive cardiologist with a passion for diagnosis, prevention, intervention, and treatment of a wide range of heart and cardiovascular disorders. He enjoys...
Maya Feller, MS, RD, CDN, is the founder and lead dietitian at Maya Feller Nutrition. In her practice, her team provides medical nutrition therapy and nutrition coaching for hormon...
Dr. Claudia Thompson is an assistant teaching professor at Arizona State University’s College of Health Solutions and a practicing registered dietitian. She has worked at Mayo Clin...
Alison Ozgur, RDN, is a wellness expert with advanced training in whole-food, plant-based nutrition. She is also an adjunct instructor of nutrition at Jersey College in Teterboro, ...
Janet Renee, MS, RD, is a registered dietitian nutritionist with over a decade of experience in clinical practice and health communications, specializing in weight management, spor...
Jill is a registered dietitian and health writer based in Honolulu. She spent the early part of her career working in a traditional setting as a clinical dietitian in a hospital, t...
Sylvia Klinger, DBA, MS, RD, CPT, is an internationally recognized nutrition expert who is relentlessly passionate about helping people fall in love with creating and enjoying deli...
Yuying Luo, MD, is an assistant professor of medicine at Mount Sinai West and Morningside in New York City. She aims to deliver evidence-based, patient-centered, and holistic care ...
Kayli Anderson has over a decade of experience in nutrition, culinary education, and lifestyle medicine. She believes that eating well should be simple, pleasurable, and sustainabl...
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
Weight loss: Choosing a diet that's right for you. Mayo Clinic. September 20, 2024.
What Really Happens When We Fast: Effects of Fasting on the BodyThe Effects of Fasting on Your BodyMedically Reviewed by Monique Richard, MS, RDN, LDN, FAND, IFNCP, RYT-200 | January 15, 2026
What Is an Ayurvedic Diet? A Detailed Scientific Guide to Cooking and Eating According to AyurvedaMedically Reviewed by Justin Laube, MD | April 12, 2023
The Galveston Diet for Menopausal Women: How It Works, Benefits and Risks, Sample Diet, and PricingMedically Reviewed by Lynn Grieger, RDN, CDCES | January 10, 2023
.png?sfvrsn=306be39b_1)
