Lean Beef Keeps Hearts Healthy

Going against the stereotypes of red meat, a Pennsylvania State University study shows that eating lean beef every day can help improve cholesterol levels.

The Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet (BOLD) study, which will be published in January's American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and was funded by the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board, followed men and women with elevated cholesterol levels.

The subjects were put on diets with specific daily intakes of beef, and those who ate 4 to 5.4 ounces of beef per day for five weeks had a 10 percent decrease in LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.

Of course, most of the food eaten were based off recipes in the The Healthy Beef Cookbook, so preparation was presumably just as important as the beef itself. As usual, moderation is key.

The Daily Byte is a regular column dedicated to covering interesting food news and trends across the country. Click here for previous columns.