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As a new year enters, many people vow to shift to a healthier lifestyle by adopting diet plans. There are many diet fads out there, but are they really effective? Here's what science have to say about the best diets of 2017.

Scientists have found that the most reasonable diets can actually help people lose weight, compared to not following a diet at all. Studies have shown that diets rich in plants and low in processed foods are the best for losing weight, Business Insider reports.

Hence, popular diets that have scientific bases and principles are deemed more effective than those which are not. Here's what science says on popular diets to help people decide which one might be right for them.

South Beach Diet

The South Beach Diet has been one of the most popular diets of all time. People are advised to consume fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein. However, foods rich in sugars and white starches are prohibited in this diet.

Popularized by cardiologist Arthur Agatston in 2003, the diet focuses on whole foods, which have been shown to contribute to weight loss. Limiting carbohydrates and exchanging them with whole grains has been seen to contribute to a faster means to lose weight. However, since the diet is very restrictive, many people find it hard to stick to.

Weight Watchers

The Weight Watchers diet has been popular as even Oprah recommended it to her followers. In its SmartPoints program, certain foods are assigned points based on their nutritional values. Depending on the person's height, gender, weight, age and activity level, he or she gets a number of points per day.

Based on research, Weight Watchers is an effective diet since it has sensible rules. In fact, according to a clinical trial on the participants of the program, they lost nearly 7 pounds. Aside from that, it reduces the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.

Atkins Diet

The Atkins diet is a low-carbohydrate and high-protein weight loss program. It's intended for rapid weight loss and it can last at least two weeks, depending on the weight loss goal of the person.

Low carbohydrate or ketogenic diets have been favorable over the past few years. The idea of this diet is that reducing carb intake will force the body to burn stored fat instead, kick-starting weight loss. According to Mirror, however, the British Diabetic Association (BDA) says that "rapid weight loss can be motivating, but it is unsustainable".

DASH Diet Plan

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) plan is designed to lower blood pressure. This diet entails lowering sodium intake, switching from foods high in sugar and red meat to whole grains, lean protein and produce.

In fact, this diet has been ranked first in the U.S. News and World Report's best diets overall category that is concluded each year. Public health experts have praised this diet since it's one of the most effective and is based on research. People on this diet tend to lose or maintain their weight, lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease and kidney problems.

Paleo Diet

Paleo diet is based on the food consumption of people during the Paleolithic times. Basically, people are advised to eat foods that the ancestors could allegedly hunt or gather. This means that they can't eat livestock and foods that are cultivated.

Science has backed this diet since it could promote weight loss and at the same time, reduce the risk of heart disease.