Best Diet of 2016: DASH Diet -- Learn How to Lose Weight in 2 Weeks!

Having a hard time finding the right diet for you? Fret no more as the U.S. News & World Report has named the best diet plan for 2016, and it is the DASH Diet.

DASH is an acronym for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, and according to the Dash Diet Eating Plan's website, it is created to lower blood pressure without the help of medication. Mayo Clinic notes that this specific diet plan, unlike fad, quick-solution diets, is "a lifelong approach to healthy eating that's designed to help treat or prevent high blood pressure (hypertension)." DASH Diet aims to lower an individual's blood pressure in just two weeks by lowering sodium intake and following a meal plan that consists of different foods rich in potassium, calcium and magnesium.

The theory behind DASH Diet, per U.S News & World Report, is that potassium, calcium, protein and fiber, as well as reducing salt intake, helps in fighting high blood pressure while at the same time trimming your waistline. This means that those who would like to take on the DASH Diet should eat lean protein, low-fat dairy, whole-wheat grains and low-fat dairy. Aside from salt, sweets with high calorie and fat content as well as red meat should be avoided.

Recommended meals for practicing the DASH Diet include grilled chicken, salmon, bran flakes, omeletes filled with veggies, plain greek yoghurt and more. Check out some of DASH Diet's menu items in a comprehensive file uploaded by the NHBI.

When it comes to alcohol or caffeine intake, Mayo Clinic notes that too much alcohol can cause high blood pressure, so the DASH Diet only recommends two or less drinks a day and one or less drinks for women. Meanwhile, the amount of caffeine has not been indicated as the connection between caffeine and blood pressure is not yet clear.

There are two types of DASH Diet: a standard one who lets dieters consume up to 2,300 mg of sodium a day and a low-sodium diet, which only limits individuals to consume only up to 1,500 mg of sodium a day. Both of these numbers are lower compared to the 3,500 mg of sodium that other diet plans have.

According to U.S News & World Report, DASH Diet ranked high in a lot of categories: no. 1 in Best Diets Overall, no. 12 in Best Weight-Loss Diets, no. 2 in Best Diabetes Diets, no. 1 in Best Diets for Healthy Eating, no. 3 in Best Heart-Healthy Diets and no. 9 in Easiest Diets to Follow.

The publication recommends DASH Diet for those who want to lose weight but also says that you should pair it with exercise such as 15-minute morning walks, jazzercise, swimming, etc.