Top 19 Best Diet Books Updated 04 /2024

There are a lot of healthy-eating books out there. Every celebrity, nutritionist, doctor, and trainer seems to have the best way to lose weight. You can even go to a bookstore and see what they have to say. So how can you tell which diet books are real and which are just a bunch of hype? The best books for people who want to lose weight are here.

Weight Watchers: The Ultimate Starter's Guide to Losing Weight Rapidly the Smart Way

By Oliver Sweet, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (2017)

Everything in moderation: This is the diet philosophy

It's best for someone who likes to keep track of everything they do (and bite)

Why it's worth reading: Despite the fact that the diet has a lot of fans, like Oprah and Jennifer Hudson, that isn't why it was named the best weight loss diet by U.S. News & World Report in 2017. Because the plan works. After looking at 2,400 studies, researchers found that Weight Watchers was one of the very few programs where the average participant lost more weight after a year than dieters who tried to lose weight on their own or got help from other sources, like friends and family. This healthy food book comes with a short history of the program, recipes, and advice from a Weight Watchers member who has been a member for more than 10 years.

The Ultimate Volumetrics Diet: Smart, Simple, Science-Based Strategies for Losing Weight and Keeping It Off

By Barbara Rolls, Ph.D., and Mindy Hermann, William Morrow Cookbooks (2013)

Diet: You can eat food and lose weight.

People who don't like to feel hungry

Why it's worth reading: Trying to eat the same amount of food as you usually do but with less calories is what the Volumetrics diet is all about. It was ranked the second best diet for weight loss by U.S. News & World Report in its Best Diet Rankings. No, that doesn't need "magic." It just means that you should eat less energy-dense foods, like fruits and vegetables. The New York Times best-selling book has a lot of tools and recipes that can help you lose weight without feeling like you're giving up food.

Wheat Belly: 10-Day Grain Detox: Reprogram Your Body for Rapid Weight Loss and Amazing Health

By William David, M.D., Rodale Books (2015)

Diet: Unhealthy carbs are a big reason people get fat.

People who think their carb addiction has gone too far: This is the best choice for them.

William Davis, a cardiologist, came up with the 10-day wheat detox after his first Wheat Belly book was a New York Times best-seller. Anyone who has trouble passing the bread basket will like it. During those 10 days, the program follows recipes that help you get rid of wheat and grains as quickly as possible, while also teaching you how to recognize withdrawal symptoms (because pretzel addiction is real!) and how to avoid common diet sabotage.

The Whole30: The 30-Day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom

By Melissa Hartwig and Dallas Hartwig, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (2015)

Diet: To figure out what foods are making you sick, press the reset button on your whole diet.

A person who can keep up with a strict, month-long diet plan is the best person for this job.

Why it's worth reading: Everyone knows about Whole30. For 30 days, you must not eat sugar, alcohol, grains, legumes, soy, or dairy. This diet is very strict. In their book, Melissa and Dallas Hartwig give you a detailed plan for how to do it on your own. It kind of holds your hand through the whole thing. If it keeps showing up on the New York Times best-seller list, that shows that it is one of the best healthy-eating books out there.

Daily Dash for Weight Loss: A Day-By-Day Dash Diet Weight Loss Plan

By Rockridge Press (2014)

Diet: To lose weight, eat more foods that are rich in nutrients.

People who can't handle strict diets: This is the best choice for them.

Why it's worth reading: Seven years in a row, DASH, or Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, has been named the best overall diet by U.S. News & World Report in its Best Diet Rankings for people who want to stay healthy. This healthy eating plan was meant to help people with high blood pressure, but people who used it found that it also helped them lose a lot of weight. This is a list of 5 Natural ways to lower your blood pressure. There aren't any crazy rules here. All you need to do is eat more fruits and vegetables, lean meats, mostly whole grains, and heart-healthy fats. A 28-day meal plan, recipes, and a lot of scientific support make it easy to switch to the DASH diet if that's what you like to do.

The Lose Your Belly Diet: Change Your Gut, Change Your Life

By Travis Stork, Ghost Mountain Books (2014)

Diet: The best way to lose weight is to have a healthy gut.

Dieters who have a lot of bloating and digestive problems.

Why it's worth reading: This week on The Doctors, Dr. Travis Stork is going to talk about the science behind why a microbiome-friendly diet can help you lose weight and stop bloating and regulate your digestion. Check out these 5 foods you need for a healthy gut: His meal planner book has a lot of ideas and recipes for what to eat every day, so it's not surprising that it's been on the New York Times bestseller list all year.

Atkins: Eat Right, Not Less: Your Guidebook for Living a Low-Carb and Low-Sugar Lifestyle

By Colette Heimowitz, Touchstone (2017)

Diet: Eat high-fat, low-carb meals.

People who don't have a hard time giving up carbs should use this.

Because Kim Kardashian used the Atkins Diet to get back to her pre-baby weight, don't think it's a bad idea to try it yourself. People who followed high-fat, low-carb diets like Atkins lost more weight after six and 12 months than people who got nutrition advice from an expert. Atkins is still about cutting back on carbs and sugar, but this new guide is all about making healthy choices all around. It has healthy recipes, meal plan strategies, and goal-setting tips to help you get there.

The Cheese Trap: How Breaking a Surprising Addiction Will Help You Lose Weight, Gain Energy, and Get Healthy

By Neal D. Barnard, Grand Central Life & Style (2017)

Nutritionists say that cheese has the same effect on people as heroin, so they don't eat it.

These are the people it's best for: People who eat way too much dairy all the time

Why it's worth reading: If you're a big fan of cheese, this book is your bible. Dr. Neal Barnard's book made headlines because he said that cheese is as addictive as heroin. It also has a real-life plan for people to help them stop craving cheese. When Barnard talks about why he calls cheese "dairy crack," he talks about how it can cause things like high blood pressure and arthritis because it's full of calories, sodium and saturated fat. Wasn't it interesting to learn that insomnia can make your blood pressure rise? You don't have to stop eating cheese completely because it has health benefits. Barnard's book has tips and recipes you might need to keep yourself from overindulging, but you don't have to.

Eat to Live: The Amazing Nutrient-Rich Program for Fast and Sustained Weight Loss

By Joel Fuhrman, Little, Brown and Company (2011)

Eating unhealthy foods can make you have bad eating habits.

People who always give in to their cravings should use this.

Why it's worth reading: This book by Dr. Joel Fuhrman is always a best-seller on Amazon. It explains Fuhrman's six-week weight loss plan and the principles behind it. "Toxic hunger" is the idea that your cravings can make your body want to overeat. It then shows you how to get rid of your food addictions by eating more nutrient-dense foods that fill you up on less calories. See if these 5 signs are true for you:

The Biggest Loser: 6 Weeks to a Healthier You: Lose Weight and Get Healthy for Life!

By Cheryl Forberg ,‎ Melissa Roberson, Lisa Wheeler, and‎ The Biggest Loser Experts and Cast, Rodale Books (2010)

Diet: 45 percent of your calories should come from carbohydrates, 30 percent from leanproteins, and 25 percent from healthy fats, which are good for you.

Dieters who aren't afraid of making a long-term commitment.

Why it's worth reading: Believe it or not, the TV show's diet came in second on the U.S. News & World Report's list of the best diets for weight loss. The report found that if you restrict your food and exercise for six weeks, you will definitely lose weight (but did note that to keep the weight off, you have to stick with the plan). It has recipes, medical advice, nutrition advice, and workouts for six weeks. It also gives you a lot of motivation to keep going after the month and a half is over.

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