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In U.S. News & World Report's 2026 Best Diets, DASH Diet Again Recognized as Best Heart-Healthy Diet

January 14th, 2026 Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Developed in part at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, the DASH Diet ranked second-best diet overall

BATON ROUGE, La.—For the second year in a row, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, or DASH Diet, developed in part by scientists at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, has been recognized as the best heart-healthy diet in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Diets rankings. Additionally, it again ranked as the second-best diet overall.

This year, U.S. News & World Report shared the diet rankings as part of its Top Health and Nutrition Trends for 2026. Released annually at the start of the year when many people are launching healthy eating habits and looking for effective nutrition plans, the report's Best Diets rankings examine 38 diets among 21 categories.

The DASH Diet received praise for being well-researched and scientifically backed for its health benefits, being nutritionally sound, versatile and largely non-restrictive, as no food groups are off limits. The diet was designed with cardiovascular health in mind and is noted for its fiber recommendations and heart-healthy minerals, such as calcium, potassium and magnesium. The DASH Diet is low in saturated fat, cholesterol and total fat, and emphasizes fruits, vegetables and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products. The diet includes whole-grain products, fish, poultry and nuts, while reducing lean red meat, sweets, added sugars and sugar-containing beverages compared to the typical American diet.

"I am proud to once again see the DASH Diet ranked as the top healthy eating pattern for high blood pressure, and the second-best diet overall for general health," said Dr. Catherine Champagne, professor and registered dietitian at Pennington Biomedical, who was among the original team of researchers to develop the DASH Diet. "For nearly two decades, the DASH diet has been at or near the top of the rankings for its scientifically proven steps to lower blood pressure, lower the risk of stroke and lower the risk of cardiovascular events. I, along with Dr. George Bray and Dr. Donna Ryan, am proud to be among the lead developers of DASH and to see how it has improved lives through the years."

In the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings, the DASH Diet appears on several categories, including

Best Diets Overall (No. 2)

Best Heart Healthy Diets (No. 1)

Best Diets for High Blood Pressure (No. 1)

Best Diets for Healthy Eating (No. 2)

Best Diets for Prediabetes (No. 2)

Best Diets for High Cholesterol (No. 3)

Easiest Diets to Follow (No. 3)

Best Diabetes Diets (No. 4)

Best Diets for Arthritis (No. 4)

Best Diets for Mental Health (No. 4)

Best Diets for Fatty Liver (No. 4)

Best Diets for Brain Health (No. 4)

Best Diets for Inflammation (No. 4)

Best Diets for Gut Health (No. 5)

Best Diets for Menopause (No. 5)

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, funded the research for the DASH Diet, including that of the collaborative research group at Pennington Biomedical. The study results were first published in the 1997 New England Journal of Medicine, and have been cited by other researchers about 6,000 times since the original publication date.

In addition to the diet rankings, U.S. News & World Report listed the three top trends in health and nutrition for 2026, with the "Expanded Use of GLP-1s" as the number one trend. In past years, the medication was hailed as a breakthrough treatment for obesity and type 2 diabetes, but in recent years GLP-1s were celebrated for their management of chronic disease, heart health, kidney health, and even areas such as fertility, arthritis and addiction treatment.

"As we continue to study GLP-1s, we are discovering benefits that go beyond weight loss and diabetes management," said Dr. Steven Heymsfield, LSU Boyd Professor and Director of the Metabolism & Body Composition Laboratory at Pennington Biomedical. "From cardiovascular health to sleep apnea treatment, the drug continues to demonstrate its broader use. My primary interest is in the shift from 'weight loss' to 'quality weight loss,' meaning reductions primarily in body fat instead of skeletal muscle."

The other trends for 2026 were "Food as Medicine" and the "Integration of AI with wearable technology," both of which are frequently studied and researched at Pennington Biomedical.

"The success of the DASH Diet shows how Pennington Biomedical research moves from the lab into everyday life, improving how people eat, manage blood pressure, and reduce their risk of chronic disease," said Dr. Jennifer Rood, Interim Senior Vice Chancellor and Executive Director of Pennington Biomedical. "Built on the pioneering work of Dr. George Bray, Dr. Donna Ryan, and Dr. Catherine Champagne, this research has shaped clinical guidelines, informed public health policy, and helped millions of Americans make healthier choices. As nutrition continues to drive national health priorities, this recognition underscores Pennington Biomedical's commitment to research that delivers measurable benefits for people and communities today, while shaping the future of health and science."

U.S. News & World Report's evaluation of diets follows a methodology devised by U.S. News in partnership with The Harris Poll, which factors in evaluations from 69 expert panelists, including medical doctors, registered dietitians, nutritional epidemiologists, chefs and weight loss researchers.

About the Pennington Biomedical Research Center

The Pennington Biomedical Research Center is at the forefront of medical discovery as it relates to understanding the triggers of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia. Pennington Biomedical has the vision to lead the world in promoting nutrition, metabolic health and eliminating metabolic disease through scientific discoveries that create solutions from cells to society. The Center conducts basic, clinical and population research, and is a campus in the LSU System.

The research enterprise at Pennington Biomedical includes over 600 employees within a network of 44 clinics and research laboratories, and 16 highly specialized core service facilities. Its scientists and physician/scientists are supported by research trainees, lab technicians, nurses, dietitians and other support personnel. Pennington Biomedical is a globally recognized state-of-the-art research institution in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

For more information, see www.pbrc.edu.

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Media Contacts:

Joe Coussan

Pennington Biomedical Research Center
225-763-3049
joe.coussan@pbrc.edu

Ernie Ballard

Pennington Biomedical Research Center
225-763-2677
ernie.ballard@pbrc.edu

Provided by Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Citation: In U.S. News & World Report's 2026 Best Diets, DASH Diet Again Recognized as Best Heart-Healthy Diet (2026, January 14) retrieved 14 January 2026 from https://sciencex.com/wire-news/529863500/in-us-news-world-reports-2026-best-diets-dash-diet-again-recogn.html

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