The DASH Diet for Weight Loss
Thomas J. Moore, MD and Megan C. Murphy, MPH
First developed to combat high blood pressure, the DASH diet does more than just slash sodium. It emphasizes the concept of Hi-Lo-Slo: filling up on foods that are high in volume (due to water and fiber content), low in calories and slow to
eat and digest, such as raw vegetables and whole grains. Top tip: Use only half the salt in a recipe, then sprinkle a bit on top before serving. You’ll get an extra “hit” of flavor in the first bite and won’t miss the salt you omitted.
The Science of Skinny
Dee McCaffrey, CDC
Organic chemist McCaffrey grew disturbed when she began reading food labels and discovered powerful chemicals listed among the ingredients. She offers tons of hints on label-reading but advocates eating foods in their natural state—or as close as you can get—a philosophy that helped her lose 100 pounds and keep it off for two decades. Top tip: Instead of scanning to see if sugar is near the top of the ingredient list, check the number of grams per serving—it should be below 8.
The 7-Day Slim Down
Alisa Bowman
You’ve probably heard that more than three-quarters of Americans are vitamin D deficient. But did you know “the sunshine vitamin” helps burn fat? That’s the premise of this diet, which recommends a supplement plus menus rich in natural and fortified D sources like fish, dairy, eggs, mushrooms, tofu and whole grains. Top tip: “Automate your eating”: Master a few simple recipes and menus and don’t be afraid to repeat them often. You’ll shop without a list, cook with less stress, and find it easier to stay on target.
The Drop 10 Diet
Lucy Danziger
When SELF magazine editor Danziger wanted to lose a few pounds, she set a simple rule: “If I could grow a food, I could eat unlimited amounts of it.” That notion became the basis for this diet, which adds 30 “slimming superfoods” such as apples, lentils, popcorn and sweet potatoes to your diet and cuts back on processed snacks. Top tip: Give good-for-you foods a second chance, even if they’ve turned you off in the past. Hide them by chopping them finely and adding to dishes or puree and pair them with bold flavors.
Slim Calm Sexy Diet
Keri Glassman, MS, RD, CDN
Registered dietitian Glassman blames our culture—not our food—for the country’s obesity problem. Constant stress keeps cortisol levels high, she says, making it difficult to fight hunger and lose weight. Top tip: Don’t feel guilty about eating to comfort yourself. Just choose healthy foods (especially those rich in calming vitamin C and zinc) instead of the traditional self-soothers like mac and cheese or chips.
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