More than 65% of Americans are considered overweight and obese, according to a study done by the NDP Group, a leading market research company. What’s more, NDP research indicates that fewer than 2% of Americans are consistently following the USDA My Plate guidelines, which encourage Americans to prioritize their diet to include fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grains, lean proteins, and low fat dairy.
The NDP Study, which you can read more about here, shows that the average American diet differs greatly from USDA recommendations.
While more foods on the shelf today are labeled low-fat and sugar-free, Americans’ waistlines continue to expand. Perhaps we should focus more on the satiating, cholesterol-reducing, heart-healthy proteins on the center of the plate. Perhaps Americans should eat more beef.
A recent article featured in SELF magazine suggests that beef as the optimal solution to managing weight. It’s called the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet.
The article reads, “Red meat is typically off-limits in a heart-healthy diet in an effort to control saturated fat. But is this really necessary? The need to avoid red meat to reduce saturated fat is a message that has been misinterpreted by media and health professionals. While it’s true lower-quality cuts and processed red meat products do contain higher levels of saturated fat, red meat isn’t even among the top-five major contributors of saturated fat to the American diet. There are also 29 cuts of beef certified as lean by the USDA. These cuts have a fat content that falls between chicken breasts and chicken thighs. Some of these cuts include: 95% lean ground beef, top round, shoulder pot roast, top loin steak, shoulder petite medallions, flank steak, tri-tip and even t-bone steaks.
“The rigorously controlled nature of our study allowed us to make the very conclusive statement that lean beef can be included in a heart-healthy diet and that you can enjoy 4-5.4 oz. of lean beef/day while still meeting current dietary recommendations for saturated fat intake.”
Finally, the word is spreading about healthy beef. While consumers are still struggling to meet USDA dietary guidelines, putting beef at the center of the dinner plate is certainly a step in the right direction toward healthier living and wellness. Spread the good news. Beef, it’s what’s for dinner, and it’s good for you, too!
