New study
shows beef can be part of
cholesterol-lowering diet.
202 men and women participated in
a 9-month clinical trial that showed lean red meat
may actually reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
Studies conclude that lean
red meat is interchangeable with white meat.
Beef Can Be Part Of A Heart-Healthy
Diet
A new study published in the Archives of Internal
Medicine shows that people do not need to limit their
diets to white meat anymore; lean red meat can be
incorporated into a heart-healthy diet, too. This
study compared the impact of lean red and white meat
on blood cholesterol levels and found that a diet
including 6 ounces of lean red meat consumed at least
five days a week may actually reduce the risk of coronary
heart disease.
The study consisted of 202 men and women with mild
to moderate blood cholesterol levels. Half of the
group derived 80 percent of their meat intake from
lean red meat sources (beef, veal or pork) five to
seven days a week for nine months; the other from
lean white meat sources (fish, poultry) for the same
period of time.
This is the third study to confirm that lean red
meat, as part of a heart-healthy diet, positively
impacts blood cholesterol. This study was conducted
in a "free-living" environment, which means
participants had the flexibility to consume 6 ounces
of lean red meat five to seven days a week according
to their own taste and time preferences.
The results showed that in both meat groups, proteins
lowered the bad and raised the good cholesterol. "Clinical
studies confirm that lean beef is interchangeable
with lean chicken and fish with regard to its influence
on blood cholesterol levels," according to Dr.
Michael H. Davidson, lead researcher of the study.
A surprising finding in this study was that participants
who consumed lean red meat were more likely to follow
their diet regimen than participants consuming only
lean white meat. According to Dr. Davidson, "For
those individuals at-risk for coronary heart disease
consuming lean red meat is not only acceptable - it
encourages compliance
to a heart-healthy diet."
For more information regarding the nutrient properties
of beef,
visit the National Cattlemen's Beef Association web
site at www.beefnutrition.org.
