Agricultural News
BOLD Study Turns Nutrition World Upside Down, Recommends Beef
Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:12:16 CST
The BOLD (Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet) Study has rocked the nutrition world showing that study participants who ate up to five-and-a-half ounces of lean beef per day as part of a heart-healthy diet had the same cholesterol reduction as participants who only ate one ounce of beef per day.
Dr. Shalene McNeill, the executive director of human nutrition research at NCBA told Ron Hays in an interview that the BOLD study has provided solid evidence that eating lean beef should not be discouraged but rather encouraged as a part of a heart-healthy diet.
"We've shown with really good science that you can add lean beef and build a really healthy diet. I think the next phase of our research will move into showing that beef is an essential part of helping people stick to healthier diets."
The cattle industry had talked in the past about finding ways to "give consumers permission" to eat beef in a hostile marketing environment. McNeill said the BOLD study goes far beyond simply giving consumers an excuse to eat beef.
"This study absolutely says, 'Permission to eat beef.' These individuals were eating beef every day. In some cases five-and-a-half ounces of beef every day and they were seeing the same benefits of lowering their cholesterol as people who weren't including any beef. So that is great news. That is more than permission. That is saying as part of a heart-healthy diet you can benefit from adding beef into your diet."
As with all scientific studies that question conventional wisdom, there is the opportunity for criticism. So far, McNeill said, criticism has been almost non-existent.
"This is a huge study that has been very respected by the scientific community. We surely expect to see some criticism of the study. But so far this study has been rock solid in terms of criticism. So far we have not had any."
McNeill said there is more data from the study that will drive more findings as time goes on.
Press the LISTEN BAR below to hear more of Ron Hays' interview with Dr. Shalene McNeill.
Ron Hays talks with the NCBA's Dr. Shalene McNeill.
Ron Hays talks with the NCBA's Dr. Shalene McNeill.
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