Placing Beef In Proper Nutritional Context: The National Cattleman's Beef Association Initiative

Client: National Cattlemen's Beef Association

Category: Trade Association

Background

Lean beef can be consumed as part of an overall healthful diet. This has been recognized in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the United States Department of Agriculture as well as many nutritionally conscientious organizations including the American Heart Association and the American Dietetic Association. Nonetheless, many consumers still have the misperception that beef is a "bad" food and its consumption is not compatible with good health. The National Cattleman's Beef Association (NCBA) asked Dr. Rippe and Rippe Lifestyle Institute to become involved in a variety of projects exploring lean beef as part of an overall healthful nutrition plan, including a program they developed in association with the American Heart Association, "Lean and Easy with Beef."

RLI's Response

Dr. Rippe served as a spokesman for NCBA as part of the "Lean & Easy with Beef" program. This program emphasizes how lean cuts of beef can be consumed as part of a low saturated fat American Heart Association Step I Diet. Following this initial contact with NCBA, RLI received research funding to conduct a randomized prospective trial comparing lean beef to chicken as major protein sources for overweight women desiring to lose weight.

Results

Work accomplished by RLI has helped promote a greater understanding that there are no "good" foods or "bad" foods. Rather, lean beef can assume a rightful place as part of an overall healthful diet that includes a wide variety of nutrient-rich foods. The results of the research trial showed no significant differences in total weight loss or reductions in lipid values between women who ate beef and women who ate chicken. Results of this trial were presented at the 1999 North American Association for the Study of Obesity (NAASO) scientific meeting and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) 2000 scientific meeting. A number of manuscripts on the results of this trial will be submitted to major peer-reviewed journals in 2000.