Including beef with the Mediterranean diet improves heart health

The month of July has arrived, which means that we are on the downward slope of 2018. The year seems to be over and, in the seventh month of the year, New Year's resolutions An may have been abandoned. According to statista.com, nearly half (45%) of Americans were hoping to lose weight or get back into shape in 2018.

Whether in gym or calories, it seems like everywhere you turn, there's has a new strategy or scheme promises to achieve these goals for those seeking to be healthy. Yet, every year, gym memberships go unused and protein shakes are ignored in the kitchen closet.

With so much conflicting information, it can be difficult for consumers to find a game plan to achieve their health and wellness goals.

The number one diet recommended by Consumer Reports is the Mediterranean style food model. Promoted "the world's healthiest diet", the Mediterranean diet is abundant in fruits, vegetables, legumes, red wine and olive oil (on butter) and lean proteins like fish and poultry (on red meat ). It has been clinically proven that it improves heart health and reduces risk factors for heart attack and stroke.

READ: A cardiac surgeon says that beef can improve heart health

It is essentially what is recommended by the imperfect dietary guidelines for Americans (DGA), which during an entire generation promoted fruits and vegetables while demonizing proteins and animal fats in the diet. It is not surprising that the DGA also subscribes to the Mediterranean Diet

However, the Mediterranean Diet could be modernized with red meat, thanks to a new nutritional study conducted at Purdue University.

The study was funded by beef and pork control programs with support from the Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences of the Indiana National Institute of Health and a fellowship Pre-doctoral Training Program at the National Institutes of Health by Purdue's Ingestive Behavior Research Center. 19659002] "This study is important because it shows that red meat can be part of a healthy dietary pattern for the heart as a Mediterranean dietary model," said Wayne W. Campbell, professor of nutrition science, in A press release. ] "Most of the recommendations on healthy eating habits include a general statement to reduce the consumption of red meat," added Lauren E. O. Connor, lead author and recent recipient PhD student. "Our study compared Mediterranean-style dietary habits with the typical red meat intake in the United States, or about 3 ounces per day, compared to a generally recommended consumption of 3 ounces twice a week. Overall, cardiovascular health indicators improved with both Mediterranean consumption patterns. Interestingly, however, LDL cholesterol participants, which is one of the strongest predictors that we have to predict the development of cardiovascular disease, has improved with red meat consumption typical but not inferior. "

According to the article of the American Heart Association

According to the release," the study evaluated the health benefits of a Mediterranean type diet, without weight loss, for overweight adults at risk of developing heart disease. The 41 participants in the study – 28 women and 13 men – completed three phases of study. The phases included a five-week consumption period of a Mediterranean-type diet containing 3 ounces per day of lean and unprocessed red meat, a quantity of red meat that the typical US resident consumes; a return of five weeks to their usual diet; and a five-week consumption period of a Mediterranean-style food model with less red meat, 3 ounces twice a week, which is generally recommended for heart health. Among the results, Campbell said: "It is also very encouraging that improvements have been beneficial for these people, including improvements in blood pressure, blood lipids and lipoproteins. The researchers concluded that "Overweight or moderately obese adults can improve several risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases by adopting a Mediterranean diet without or with the consumption of red meat when the red meats are lean and unprocessed. "

Although this study or this diet is a slam dunk for beef, it is certainly a step in the right direction.The Mediterranean diet is widely promoted, and if it can now include beef, it is Better aligns with solid science and research that supports red meat as an important food for promoting heart health and reducing risk factors for heart attack.

Amanda Radke's Opinions are not necessarily those of beefmagazine.com or Farm Progress.