The 10 Most-Googled Diets Of 2017 Will Surprise You

From Delish

In the history of mankind, no one's stumbled upon the silver bullet of weight loss - the meal plan that will melt away pounds, making you look like Gisele Bündchen with close to zero effort. (As it turns out, just reading about Bündchen's diet is even more vigorous than most people's workout routines.) But that doesn't mean people will stop trying. And try everything that probably, maybe, okay, could get results.

If we are what we eat, we're also what we Google. The search engine shared the top 10 diets people looked for this past year, introducing us to fads we didn't even know existed.

1. Apple cider vinegar diet

Apple cider vinegar's been touted online as a panacea of sorts, with claims both founded (aiding digestion) and questionable (sorry, it probably won't clear up your acne). Many proponents recommend downing anywhere from a teaspoon to a tablespoon a day to prevent bloat and encourage weight loss. But how well does that actually work?

A 2009 study in mice found that those who had acetic acid - vinegar's primary component - after a high-fat meal lost up to 10 percent body fat compared to those that didn't, so incorporating a little into your diet could prevent weight gain. Still, more research is needed, and it's worth noting that drinking straight-up vinegar can damage your tooth enamel.

2. Plant-based diet

It's no wonder this clocked in at No. 2. After all, when you're trying to lose weight, most advice calls for you to eat more vegetables and cut back on sugar and processed, packaged foods.U.S. News & World Report tested 38 popular diets, and going vegan was found to be the fifth-best option for dropping pounds while getting the nutrition you need.

If you're looking for a specific plan to follow, scroll down to No. 10 on this list. When the magazine ranked the 11 most popular plant-based diets, it deemed the Mediterranean Diet best overall, since it's relatively affordable, easy to follow, and has strong research to back up its claims.

3. Tom Brady diet

Speaking of plant-based diets, that's largely what Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, and his wife, Gisele Bündchen, follow. They sparked headlines nationwide last year when their chef discussed the couple's 80/20 diet - as in 80 percent veggies, 20 percent lean meat - and the litany of things they'd almost never eat. Sugar, white flour, dairy mushrooms, tomatoes, eggplant, and caffeine topped the list.

4. Boiled egg diet

One Google search and it's easy to see why this diet sounds so appealing: websites and Pinterest pins tout everything from a 24- to 40-pound weight loss in just two weeks. Considering that most dieticians and doctors consider 1-2 pounds a week healthy, these results are extreme - and it's difficult to find hard data to back up the claims.

Essentially, the plan calls for eating two hard-boiled eggs for breakfast every morning, then a mix of low-carb vegetables and lean protein for lunch and dinner. Some plans call for combining the eggs with half a grapefruit, while an extreme version suggests eating nothing but boiled eggs and water for two weeks.

Wellness website Healthline investigated the diet, finding that many meal plans called for less than 1,000 calories a day. You'll definitely lose weight that way, but the site cautioned that this clocks well under the 1,200-calorie minimum Harvard Medical School recommends women consume each day. Ultimately, it deemed the diet unsustainable and suggested opting for a less restrictive, balanced approach to meals.

5. Emily Ratajkowski diet

The Gone Girl actress and model is so known for her toned figure that even though she doesn't have an official "diet" she promotes, people couldn't help but wonder what she eats. Turns out, she's all about starting the day with black coffee and a pastry, eating plenty of salads and sandwiches, and chugging water before bed.

6. Ketogenic diet plan

Also known as the Keto Diet, this plan is all about going high-fat, moderate protein, and low carb. What, exactly, does that mean? Aim for about 90 grams of fat a day (hello, almonds and avocado!) and about 20 net carbs per day.

The diet's spawned dozens of cookbooks and earned its own cult following, like this writer who lost 50 pounds going Keto.

7. GOLO diet

This diet was also one of the most-Googled in 2016, and it's been popular because it claims to speed up your metabolism by keeping your insulin in check. It also doesn't ban any foods, making it more sustainable than more restrictive diets, but still, it has some nutritionists concerned.

"The company behind the diet isn't willing to put much information out there, and the information it actually shares on their website and commercials is full of marketing speak, misleading claims, and fine print," Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics spokesperson Jessica Crandall, RDN, told Women's Health.

8. The shepherd's diet

Personal trainer Kristina Wilds created this plan, which focuses on eating organic (as in, not man-made) fats and following "biblically inspired" principles for weight loss. Some have compared the diet to Atkins, though it also takes a common-sense, mindfulness approach your mom taught you as a kid: When you're full, stop eating.

A doctor reviewed the plan for Consumer Health Digest, saying the concept is valid, but warned the book series provides insufficient information you could also easily find through Google searches.

9. Coffee diet

It's easy to see the appeal: Who doesn't want to lose weight while sipping the very drink most of us consume on the daily to get through the day? In The Coffee Lover's Diet, author Dr. Bob Arnot encourages people to drink hot, black coffee after every meal, before you take a bath, and before you exercise, to jumpstart your metabolism. (Note that it's black coffee, as in no milk, sugar, or Unicorn-Frappuccino-powder.)

Arnot also recommends downing chia smoothies, lean meals, and plenty of vegetables, so it's not like cutting the sugar out of your typical morning brew will magically transform your body. It's worth noting that like anything, though, moderation is key: The FDA suggests sticking to 400 mg or less of caffeine a day, and a study by the National Centre for Biotechnology Information found that java - even decaf - can upset your stomach lining and cause bloating.

10. Mediterranean diet plan

Ranked the second-best diet overall by U.S. News And World Report (just behind the DASH Diet), this plan isn't a specific set of meals to follow; it's more of a set of guidelines. Essentially, you should eat mostly fruit, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, and legumes, with fish and seafood a couple times a week. Chicken and dairy are encouraged in moderation, while sweets and red meat are reserved for special occasions (AKA not "Hey, I survived Monday!" splurges).

The diet also means you're on your own to determine a healthy number of calories to eat, based on what's right for your body. If you're interested in learning more, check out this list of 9 Mediterranean diet-friendly foods to start working into your meals.

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