Be BOLD

To lower blood pressure and reduce heart disease risk, physicians may ask patients to follow the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) dietary pattern, which  features fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products with increased dietary protein provided primarily from plant protein sources. Penny M. Kris-Etherton, from Penn State University (Pennsylvania, USA), and colleagues report that lean beef can be enjoyed as the predominant protein source in conjunction with the DASH diet. The researchers assessed four diets for their effects on vascular health: BOLD diet—Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet (4.0 ounces of lean beef/day); BOLD+ diet—Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet (5.4 ounces of lean beef/day) plus additional protein, DASH diet (1.0 ounce lean beef/day); and Healthy American Diet (control; 0.7 ounce lean beef/day).  All 36 participants, ages 30 to 65 years, consumed all four different diets, with subjects following one diet at different times throughout the study period. Subjects were randomly assigned an order to follow each of the four diet plans for five weeks each, with a break of one week in between each new plan. Blood pressure was taken at the beginning and end of each diet period. Data revealed that the BOLD+ diet was more effective at reducing blood pressure, as compared to the other three diets tested.  Wiring that: “A moderate protein DASH-like diet including lean beef decreased [systolic blood pressure] in normotensive individuals,” the study authors also observe that: “The inclusion of lean beef in a heart healthy diet also reduced peripheral vascular constriction.”