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March 16, 2025
Evidence to Support the Role of Lean Beef in a Healthy Diet is Strong
Canadians should rest assured that the scientific evidence to support the role of lean beef in a healthy, balanced diet is strong, despite an observational study that made headlines earlier this week. The U.S. study reported an association between high intakes of red meat and risk of death from heart disease and cancer. It is important to recognize that observational studies cannot be used to determine cause and effect and the results of this study conflict with other more reliable evidence from recent randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
Research and common sense indicate that lifestyle and dietary patterns are more important than single dietary components. The data from the study in question show that the men and women who had higher intakes of red meat also tended to be less healthy than those with lower red meat intakes. They were less physically active and ate less vegetables, fruit and whole grains. They were more likely to smoke, have higher alcohol intakes, higher energy intakes and a higher body mass index.
A recent Harvard review of 20 epidemiological studies encompassing 1.2 million subjects concluded that fresh red meat intake does not increase the risk of heart disease, stroke or diabetes.¹ A number of randomized control trials have also shown lean red meat and white meat have equal effects on blood cholesterol. Most recently, the BOLD (Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet) study showed a heart healthy diet, with two servings of lean beef, (153 g/day), can lower LDL cholesterol by 10% in adults with high cholesterol and is as effective as the DASH diet for lowering LDL cholesterol.² Recent reviews have also concluded that there is insufficient evidence to support an association between red meat and cancer.³ Furthermore, Canadians eat a moderate amount of red meat that is well within national and international guidelines.
For Your Practice
Research clearly shows including lean beef as part of a healthy diet is associated with improved overall nutrient intake, overall diet quality and positive health outcomes. Canadian adults eat 74 grams of red meat a day on average, well within the 2-3 servings of Meat & Alternatives recommended by Canada�s Food Guide. In contrast many Canadians are not eating the recommended servings of vegetables and fruit; and 22% of total calories come from foods low in nutritional value, like fats and oils, condiments, candy, chips and sweetened beverages that are not part of the four food groups in the food guide.4 Calories from �other foods� are second only to calories Canadians are consuming from grain products.4 The focus on single, isolated, dietary components contributes to confusion and distract from other pressing dietary concerns. The bottom line is that Canadians should continue to enjoy lean Canadian beef as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Want to Learn More?
Read these references:
1. Micha R et al. Red and Processed Meat Consumption and Risk of Incident Coronary Heart Disease, Stroke, and Diabetes Mellitus - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Circulation, 2010;121(21):2271-83.
2. Roussell MA et al. Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet Study: effects on lipids, lipoproteins, and apolipoproteins. Am J Clin Nutr 2012; 95(1):9-16.
3. Wyness L et al. Red Meat in the Diet: An Update. British Nutrition Foundation Nutrition Bulletin March 2011; 36:34�77.
4. Garriguet D. Overview of Canadians� Eating Habits 2004. Nutrition: Findings from the Canadian Community Health Survey. Statistics Canada, 2006, Catalogue no. 82-620-MIE � No. 2.
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