Have your meat and eat it, too? - health matters - Brief Article

Meat lovers take note--you just might be able to enjoy that steak without all the guilt about cholesterol and heart health. A recent study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2001; 730-736) suggests that high-fat diets don't necessarily raise cholesterol concentrations--as long as active, non-smoking lifestyles are part of the bargain.

Dr. Robert H. Glew and colleagues from the University of New Mexico, in Albuquerque, took blood samples from 121 male and female members of the Fulani, a nomadic African tribe, to assess their cholesterol levels and nutrient intake.

The major sources of protein in the Fulani diet are meat and milk, and the main sources of saturated fatty acids are dairy products and red palm oil. The findings from the blood samples showed that the daily protein intake of the Fulani was higher than U.S.-recommended levels. In addition, the typical Fulani diet contains lower-than-recommended levels of folate and vitamins B-6 and C, which are believed to be heart-protective.

"Despite a diet high in saturated fat, Fulani adults have a lipid profile indicative of a low risk [for] cardiovascular disease," states the study. "This finding is likely due to their high activity level and their low total energy intake."

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