Some people follow a special diet by choice, for ethical, cultural or religious reasons, or simply because of how they like to eat. Others need one for their health: a food allergy or intolerance, high blood pressure or cholesterol, diabetes, or a liver condition. The pages in this section explain the main diets and how to cook for them.
How we write about diets
Diet advice is full of bold claims. On these pages we stick to what the evidence supports, say when it is uncertain, and point to reliable sources such as the US National Institutes of Health, the CDC and the FDA. No diet is a cure-all, and none should cut out whole food groups without a good reason.
If you have a health condition, are pregnant, take regular medication or are planning a diet for a child, talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian before making big changes.
Diets for health conditions
- A low cholesterol diet
- Foods for a low sodium diet
- The MASLD diet, for fatty liver disease
- A food exclusion diet and food allergies
Weight
- Weight loss
- Low-carbohydrate diets
- Exercise, the diet partner
- Juice fasting: what the evidence says about cleanses
- Food and a flatter stomach: what really works
Eating by choice
- Vegetarian diets
- Gluten-free and dairy-free cooking
Did you know that you can find milk powder or whey in some sausages and deli meats? It is not what you would expect, and for someone with a milk allergy it can mean a serious reaction. Always read the label, and see our page on food allergies.