Eating a diet rich in lean beef lowers blood pressure,
according to recent research at Penn State University.
"This research adds to the significant
evidence, including work previously done in our lab, that supports lean beef's
role in a heart-healthy diet," said Penny M. Kris-Etherton who is a professor
of nutrition.
"This study shows that nutrient-rich lean
beef can be included as part of a heart-healthy diet that reduces blood pressure,
which can help lower the risk for cardiovascular disease."
The DASH eating plan — Dietary Approaches to
Stop Hypertension — is currently recommended by the American Heart Association
to lower blood pressure and reduce risk of heart disease. People following the
DASH diet are encouraged to eat fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy and protein
predominantly from plant sources.
Lean beef may be consumed as the predominant
protein source in a DASH-like diet, along with fruits, vegetables and low-fat
dairy, to effectively help lower blood pressure in healthy individuals, the
researchers report in the Journal of Human Hypertension.
This DASH-like diet is also called the BOLD+
diet: Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet plus additional protein.
Kris-Etherton and colleagues tested four diets
to find the effects on vascular health. The diets tested included the Healthy
American Diet — which served as the control — the BOLD+ diet, the BOLD diet and
the DASH diet.
The control diet consisted of 0.7 ounces of
lean beef per day, while the DASH diet included 1.0 ounce. The BOLD diet had
4.0 ounces and the BOLD+ diet included 5.4 ounces of lean beef.
I hope these findings don't raise he blood pressure of vegans.
