Lean red meat in a balanced diet benefits gut and heart health. Consistency is key for lasting results.
A recent study conducted by scientists at Purdue University highlights that adhering to a consistent dietary pattern that includes lean red meat may help promote gut microbiota balance and support cardiovascular health.
Balanced Diets with Lean Red Meat Support Gut and Heart Health
Researchers in the study examined the impact of adopting and then periodically discontinuing a healthy U.S.-style dietary pattern, which included three ounces of lean red meat (beef and pork) daily. This process, referred to as “dietary pattern cycling,” was tested in healthy young adults.
The study aimed to determine how cycling on and off this balanced diet over three controlled cycles influences health markers, with a particular focus on gut microbiota diversity and cardiovascular health indicators.
“Each time participants adopted the healthy dietary pattern, their gut microbiota shifted to a beneficial composition, and cardiovascular markers, such as LDL cholesterol, showed improvement and were consistently linked with the changes in the gut bacteria,” explains Wayne Campbell, PhD, professor in the department of nutrition science at Purdue University and lead investigator on the study.
These results may also suggest that the gut microbiota may play a significant role in how diet influences cardiovascular health and underscore that lean red meats, when eaten as part of a balanced, healthy diet, may not adversely impact gut or heart health.
Consistency in Dietary Patterns Yields the Most Sustainable Health Benefits
The study highlights two important takeaways: intermittent healthy eating can offer benefits each time it’s resumed, but maintaining a balanced diet over time may yield more stable outcomes.
Returning to a habitual or “usual” diet that was unrestricted from the healthy U.S.-style dietary pattern effectively reversed beneficial microbiota changes and cardiovascular improvements within a few weeks. Notably, while the healthy dietary pattern improved serum lipid profiles quickly—within just three weeks—maintaining it consistently would likely be necessary to sustain these benefits.
“It’s better to consistently consume a healthy diet to support long-term health outcomes,” suggests Dr. Campbell. Dr. Campbell explains that this is true especially if you already enjoy lean red meat daily as part of a healthy balanced diet.
The study adds to a growing body of evidence supporting recommendations for consuming a balanced, healthy dietary pattern, that may include lean red meats, for long-term health benefits.
Reference: “Healthy Dietary Pattern Cycling Affects Gut Microbiota and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: Results from a Randomized Controlled Feeding Trial with Young, Healthy Adults” by Yu Wang, Tzu-Wen L. Cross, Stephen R. Lindemann, Minghua Tang and Wayne W. Campbell, 24 October 2024, Nutrients.
DOI: 10.3390/nu16213619
The study was funded by the National Pork Board, the Foundation for Meat and Poultry Research and Education, and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
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