Show someone that you care with a delicious, natural-nutrient, healthy meal of beef. Grill up some magic with a T-bone steak for two. While you add spice to your love life, improve the health of the one you love with beef.

 

 

 

A recent study by Pennsylvania State University evaluated the effects that diets including lean beef had on the health of adults with moderately elevated cholesterol levels.

 

The study used a rigorously designed Randomized Controlled Clinical Intervention Study to investigate the effects of cholesterol-lowering diets with varying amounts of lean beef. Thirty-six participants (adults ages 30-65 with moderately elevated cholesterol) were randomly assigned to a treatment order and consumed a total of four diets for five weeks each. The cross-over design allowed each participant to serve as his or her own control, reducing any errors associated with biological variation.   The four diets tested in the study were: Healthy American Diet (HAD) as control; Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH); Beef in Optimal Lean Diet (BOLD); and Beef in Optimal Lean Diet Plus (BOLD-PLUS). Although BOLD and DASH diets were both rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products, the diets differed in their primary protein source. The BOLD and BOLD-PLUS diet’s primary protein source came from lean beef while DASH and HAD included white meat and plant protein. The BOLD diet included an average of 4.0 oz/day of lean beef and the BOLD-PLUS diet included 5.4 oz/day of lean beef, while the HAD and DASH diets included 0.7 and 1.0 oz/day of lean beef, respectively. Many of the BOLD and BOLD-PLUS diet menu plans incorporated recipes from The Healthy Beef Cookbook.   

 

After five weeks, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in the participants were significantly reduced in the BOLD, BOLD-PLUS and DASH diets compared to the HAD diet.  

 

Overall, participants following the BOLD and BOLD-PLUS diets experienced a 10 percent decrease in LDL cholesterol from the start of the study. The improvements in heart health risk factors seen from the BOLD diets were as effective as those from the DASH and other heart-healthy diets, many of which emphasize plant proteins.  

 

 

Ingredients

1. 1 beef T-Bone steak, cut 1 inch thick (about 1 pound)
2. 1 teaspoon steak seasoning

Sauces:
1. Wasabi, Citrus, Coffee and Mole Sauces (recipes follow)

 

Instructions

1. Prepare desired Sauce(s); set aside.
2. Press steak seasoning evenly onto beef steak. Place steak on grid over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill, uncovered, 14 to 16 minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill, covered, 15 to 19 minutes) for medium-rare (145°F) to medium (160°F) doneness, turning occasionally.  
3. Remove bone; carve steak crosswise into slices. Serve with sauce(s). 
   
   Mole Sauce (Spring): Combine 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce, 1/4 cup water, 1/4 cup raisins, 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder, 2 teaspoons packed brown sugar, 1 teaspoon minced garlic, 3/4 teaspoon ground ancho chile powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt in small saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 10 minutes to blend flavors, stirring occasionally. Carefully pour hot sauce in food processor or blender container. Cover; process 30 seconds or until smooth, adding 1 to 2 tablespoons water to thin sauce, if necessary. Return to saucepan; keep warm until ready to use. Makes 1 cup
   
   Lemon-Pesto Sauce (Summer): Combine 3 tablespoons basil pesto sauce, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel and 1/4 teaspoon coarse grind black pepper in small bowl. Makes 1/4 cup
   
   Wasabi Sauce (Fall): Combine 3 tablespoons maple syrup, 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce, 1-1/2 teaspoons wasabi paste and 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger in small bowl. Makes about 1/3 cup
   
   Coffee Sauce (Winter): Combine 1/2 cup strong brewed coffee, 1-1/2 tablespoons packed brown sugar, 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, 1-1/2 teaspoons cornstarch and 1 teaspoon smoked paprika in small saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 4 to 5 minutes or until sauce is thickened and reduced by about half, stirring occasionally. Stir in 1 tablespoon butter, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper; keep warm until ready to use. Makes about 1/2 cup 

Click for Nutritional Info

 

 

In the spirit of the political atmosphere, it is necessary to take a closer look at the political games of extreme animal rights groups: the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), People for the Ethnical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the Farm Sanctuary. The goal of these organizations is to veganize Americans, asking everyone to give up all those delicious juicy hamburgers/pork chops/cheeses/eggs to save the planet. They look for an emotional plea, changing the message for each audience and using the weakest link to accomplish their  organizations' true agenda: not to support the local animal shelter (a great cause) but to end animal agriculture.