Name your goal
Losing weight, lowering your blood pressure, eating more plants and simply cooking easier meals all point to different plans.
Diets by goal →Free, independent diet guides
Find a diet you can actually live with.
Keto, Mediterranean, DASH, fasting, plant-based: they can all work, and they can all fail. The one that works for you is the one that fits your health, your kitchen, your budget and your week. We'll help you figure out which that is.
A good diet should
- Suit your health and the food you like
- Give you enough protein, fibre and nutrients
- Survive a busy Tuesday, a birthday and a holiday
- Tell you what happens after the first month
Start with what you want, not a diet name
Most people start by asking whether keto or fasting is "best." A better question is: what are you trying to fix, and what are you willing to give up to fix it?
Check it's safe for you
If you're pregnant, on diabetes or blood-pressure medication, have kidney disease or a history of disordered eating, some diets need a doctor's input first.
Safety checklist →Test it against your real week
Think about the shopping, the cooking, family dinners, eating out and what it costs. A plan you drop in week three hasn't helped.
How to choose a diet →The main diets, in plain English
Mediterranean diet
Vegetables, beans, fish, olive oil and whole grains, with room for the odd glass of wine. Easy to live with and backed by decades of research.
Read the guide →DASH diet
Designed to lower blood pressure. Clear daily servings of fruit, vegetables, low-fat dairy and whole grains, and less salt.
Read the guide →Plant-based eating
Anything from "more plants, less meat" to fully vegan. Great if you plan for B12, iron and protein.
Read the guide →Low-carb diets
Fewer bread, pasta and sugary foods, more protein and vegetables. Can be gentle or strict.
Read the guide →Keto diet
Very low carb, usually under 20 to 50 g a day, to push your body into ketosis. Strict, and not right for everyone.
Read the guide →Intermittent fasting
Changes when you eat, not what. 16:8 and 5:2 suit some people and backfire for others.
Read the guide →Six questions to ask any diet
Use these before you sign up for a plan, an app or a program.
1. Is it safe for me?
Could it clash with your medication or a health condition? Does it need a doctor to supervise it?
2. Will I get enough nutrition?
Enough protein, fibre, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals, without buying supplements to fill the gaps.
3. Is there real evidence?
Proper studies in people, not one testimonial, a celebrity or a "clinically proven" badge with no study behind it.
4. Can I keep it up?
For months, not just the first fortnight. If it relies on willpower every day, it probably won't last.
5. Does it fit my life?
Your budget, your cooking skills, your family, work lunches, restaurants and travel.
6. What happens after?
How do you eat once you reach your goal, or when the challenge or subscription ends?
Not sure where to start?
Answer three quick questions and we'll point you to the guide that fits. It all happens in your browser, and nothing is sent to us.
There's no single best diet.
In head-to-head trials, very different diets often end up with similar results. What they have in common: better food, the right amount of it, and people who stick with them. The winner is the safe plan you'll still be following in six months.
Or skip the named diet altogether
Plenty of people don't need a plan with a name. Fill half your plate with vegetables and fruit, add some protein and whole grains, drink water and keep an eye on portions. That's most of it.
Healthy eating basics
The plate method, a simple grocery list, and easy swaps that add up.
Learn the basics →Losing weight
Calorie deficits, protein, sleep and plateaus, and a realistic pace of about 0.5 to 1 kg (1 to 2 lb) a week.
Weight loss that lasts →Words you keep hearing
Net carbs, ketosis, electrolytes, glycemic index and calorie deficit, explained simply.
Nutrition glossary →