Mediterranean diet named No. 1 eating plan for 2019

The Mediterranean diet was named the best eating plan for 2019, according to an annual ranking by U.S. News and World Report published Wednesday.

The diet is taken from popular eating lifestyle of countries that border the Mediterranean Sea, with an emphasis on olive oil, fish, beans, nuts, fruits and vegetables.

The eating plan doesn’t discourage drinking small amounts of alcohol — such as a glass of red wine for women and two glasses for men.

Research has shown that people in Mediterranean countries tend to live longer and have lower instances of cancer and cardiovascular disease, compared to other populations around the world.

The Mediterranean diet took over the No. 1 spot from the DASH diet, which had maintained the top ranking for eight years in a row.

Developed by researchers at the National Institutes of Health, the DASH diet focuses on reducing high blood pressure with low-sodium foods, which include vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat dairy and lean proteins.