Photo courtesy of Stephen Ausmus , USDA
Photo courtesy of Beef Checkoff majority of our customers return because of the steak program we have ,” Pineda explained .
New research reported last year offered a persuasive case ethat the meat can contribute to good health . According to scientists who wrote the report , published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition , their investigations “ provide convincing evidence that lean beef can be included in a heart-healthy diet that meets current dietary recommendations and reduces CVD ( cardiovascular disease ) risk .”
The researchers represented Penn State University , the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and Rutgers University . They tracked the blood chemistry of healthy individuals who consumed lean beef within diets that included fruits , vegetables , whole grains , fish , beans , nuts and low-fat and non-fat dairy products .
Penny Kris-Etherton , a faculty member at Penn State ’ s Department of Nutritional Sciences and the lead investigator , acknowledged that lean beef is not a required item in a healthy diet . But “ our study showed that it is possible to formulate a heart-healthy dietary pattern that includes lean beef ,” Kris-Etherton said .
She pointed out that “ lean beef is a nutrient-dense food contributing many nutrients – high quality protein , iron , B-vitamins , potassium – to the diet .”
Regardless of the price , consumers will likely continue to favor beef at both restaurants and the home dinner table . As Hughes observed , “ Beef is what people want . They continue to want different beef options . Ninety-seven percent of Americans still eat beef at least once a month .” ( See the beef rib seasoning recipe on page 17 .)
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April / May 2013 | FLORIDAGRICULTURE 5