U.S. News’s Shanley Chien On Why The Mediterranean Diet Has Consistently Been Ranked As The Best Overall Diet For You
An Interview With Wanda Malhotra
What sets it apart is the lack of rigid rules, unlike many other diets. More importantly, it’s a diet backed by science, proven to offer a wide range of health benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease, depression, and dementia, mainly due to its emphasis on nutrient-dense whole foods and healthy fats. The fact that the Mediterranean diet has been ranked number one again, not only as the best overall diet but also in other categories, signifies its value and effectiveness, making it truly worth considering.
I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Shanley Chien, Senior Health Editor at U.S. News. Shanley brings a wealth of journalistic experience, having covered diverse health and science topics throughout her career, recognized for her excellence. She has received prestigious awards for articles exploring the intersection of health science and human stories. Shanley holds a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University and resides in Houston, Texas.
Wanda Malhotra: Thank you for joining us, Shanley. Before we delve into the main topic, our readers would love to get to know you a little better. Can you tell us a bit about your backstory and share the most interesting story from your career, including the lessons or takeaways you learned?
Shanley Chen: Absolutely. You covered my bio wonderfully, capturing all of my highlights. I don’t know if I could do that any better.
But yes, I’ve dedicated my entire career to health and science journalism, covering the human side of all the innovations that occur in health, medicine, and science. One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is really just being able to connect with people and understand the stories, the human side of all of the things that are going on in this world of health and science. My job is very much focused on bridging the communication and knowledge gap between the medical community and the general public, so that people out there consuming our news can be better informed about what’s going on in the world, in health and science and medicine, and make better decisions to help them reach their health goals.
Wanda Malhotra: That’s amazing. And you do a phenomenal job, I must say.
Shanley Chien: Thank you. Thank you so much.
Wanda Malhotra: Now let’s shift to the main focus of our interview. In your role as a senior editor, you’ve covered diverse health and science topics throughout your career. How does your editorial perspective contribute to the coverage and presentation of information, especially the realm of health rankings such as the recent unveiling of the 2024 best diets?
Shanley Chien: Absolutely. Throughout my career, and especially with my amazing team at US News, the health team, we cover the latest and trending topics in health, along with emerging issues and insights. We work very closely with 43 experts in the field, including doctors, researchers, registered dietitians, and epidemiologists, who all have their finger on the pulse of what’s happening in health and nutrition. We know there’s a lot of information out there, so we really lean on our experts to tell us what’s happening. We aim to unpack some of these diets so that our readers have a better understanding of what each diet entails, the risks, the benefits, and what they can expect from it. With our combined journalistic and editorial experience, it’s really about taking in a lot of that information that’s already out there, vetting that information, and distilling it in a way that is extremely palatable and easy to understand for our readers at large.
Wanda Malhotra: Fantastic. So how do you see the impact of the Mediterranean diet’s consistent top ranking in the 2024 best diets list? Are there specific aspects of this diet that you find particularly noteworthy based on your experience and research?
Shanley Chien: Absolutely, and as you mentioned, the Mediterranean diet has been ranked as the best diet overall for the seventh consecutive year, which is very exciting. We’re here to highlight just how amazing the Mediterranean diet is.
For those not familiar, it’s inspired by the eating habits of countries along the Mediterranean, such as Greece, Italy, France, and Spain. Though we refer to it as a diet, it’s more accurately described as a lifestyle, emphasizing a balanced approach to eating. This includes a focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, lean proteins, and healthy fats, while minimizing ultra-processed foods, added sugars, and saturated fats prevalent in the standard American diet.
It’s an extremely flexible, versatile diet that can be adapted to fit other cultural eating habits, whether you’re influenced by Asian or Latin American cuisines.
What sets it apart is the lack of rigid rules, unlike many other diets. More importantly, it’s a diet backed by science, proven to offer a wide range of health benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease, depression, and dementia, mainly due to its emphasis on nutrient-dense whole foods and healthy fats. The fact that the Mediterranean diet has been ranked number one again, not only as the best overall diet but also in other categories, signifies its value and effectiveness, making it truly worth considering.
Wanda Malhotra: It really is. And the lifestyle aspect you mentioned is so true. Living the Mediterranean life is the best, right? (Laughs)
Shanley Chien: Exactly. We can all pretend we’re along the coast in the Mediterranean in Italy, just reaping the health benefits of this Mediterranean lifestyle. (Laughs)
Wanda Malhotra: I love the sound of that. So, in the 2024 best diets ranking, the DASH diet and the MIND diet claimed the second and third spots, respectively. Could you share your thoughts on these diets and how they contribute to the overall landscape of healthy eating, especially in comparison to the Mediterranean diet?
Shanley Chien: Absolutely. The DASH diet, which stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, comes in at number two, and we’ve got the MIND diet, the Mediterranean-DASH Diet Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay. These two diets, although not household names like the keto diet, vegan diet, or even Weight Watchers, really should be because of how nutritionally beneficial they are. Both of these diets are inspired by the Mediterranean diet. They have such similarities, which is also why they rank so high in our US news best diets rank. They focus on whole foods, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats. The main difference here is that the DASH diet focuses on reducing hypertension and takes a more structured approach than the Mediterranean diet, capping your daily intake of sodium to 2300 milligrams and limiting tropical oils.
On the other hand, the MIND diet focuses primarily on foods that promote brain health, like leafy greens, nuts, and berries, to lower the risk of developing dementia. These two diets share very similar hallmarks with the Mediterranean diet because it is so well-proven and backed by science. Both of these diets are strong, which is why they rank number two and three. What’s wonderful about these diets is that they’re not just for people looking to reduce hypertension or promote brain health; anybody can reap the health benefits, just like with the Mediterranean diet.
Wanda Malhotra: Fabulous. The 2024 best diets rankings encompasses various categories including weight loss, diabetes management, and heart health. How do these categories cater to the diverse health needs of individuals and how can rankings guide people in making informed decisions about their dietary choices?
Shanley Chien: Absolutely. The reason we have so many different categories for our best diets ranking is that we recognize at US News the variety of conditions people are experiencing. Whether they want to lose weight due to excess, manage diabetes, promote brain health, or ensure heart health, all these conditions are significant and affect people across our country and around the world. Having a curated list of diets that focuses specifically on these conditions can significantly help people better navigate the world of diet and nutrition. There’s an overwhelming amount of information out there, making it difficult to determine the best diet for you and your family. Identifying a good diet from a bad one is challenging, especially with the prevalence of fad diets that often don’t work and can even threaten your health. Our goal is to find the right information, cutting through the diet chatter to help our readers make the most informed decisions about healthy eating. This is why the best diets ranking is so valuable.
Wanda Malhotra: With the Mediterranean diet maintaining its top position, Shanley, do you anticipate any shifts or advancements in diet trends in the company in the coming years? How might these trends influence the way consumers approach their health and wellness through dietary choices?
Shanley Chien: I think the fact that the Mediterranean diet is gaining so much more recognition year after year is a sign that people are starting to pay more attention, which is exactly what we hope for. The increasing amount of research and the growing number of experts in the world of diet and nutrition advocating for the Mediterranean diet signals to our community and the general public that it’s really worth looking into. I believe people are going to start recognizing the health benefits of a plant-forward diet such as the Mediterranean diet, and I think we’re all going to be healthier for it.
Wanda Malhotra: Looking ahead, what trends or innovations do you foresee in the realm of diets?
Shanley Chien: One of the things that I have noticed, just in terms of our evaluation of the best diets, is really what brings together our top diets, what makes the top diets the best. And as we think about that, the hallmarks of the best diet include nutritional balance, sustainability, palatability, family-friendliness, and healthfulness. Those really are all the hallmarks of the best diets. However, what we’re also seeing is that the top diets performing very well in our rankings are very much plant-forward diets. Those that focus on whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and really limit saturated fats from processed foods. So that’s one of the biggest trends that I’ve noticed.
Wanda Malhotra: Real food. Wholesome food, right?
Shanley Chien: Real, whole foods. Exactly. Nutrient-dense, whole foods.
Wanda Malhotra: And what is the best way for our readers to continue to follow your work online?
Shanley Chien: Absolutely. For more information about our US News best diets, just go to https://health.usnews.com/best-diet.
Wanda Malhotra: Wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing your insights on the 2020 best diets. You were amazing. Your expertise and in-depth analysis provide valuable perspectives for our audience. We appreciate your dedication to delivering high-quality health reporting.
Shanley Chien: Thank you so much for having me, Wanda.
About the Interviewer: Wanda Malhotra is a wellness entrepreneur, lifestyle journalist, and the CEO of Crunchy Mama Box, a mission-driven platform promoting conscious living. CMB empowers individuals with educational resources and vetted products to help them make informed choices. Passionate about social causes like environmental preservation and animal welfare, Wanda writes about clean beauty, wellness, nutrition, social impact and sustainability, simplifying wellness with curated resources. Join Wanda and the Crunchy Mama Box community in embracing a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle at CrunchyMamaBox.com.
