HEALTH ADVICE :Eating steak or salmon every day could be 'as good for your heart

According the latest research, People who eat excess of protein-rich food were found to have lower blood pressure and more healthy arteries, significantly lowering the risk of heart attack and stroke.


Scientists say the benefit is down to amino acids - the building blocks of proteins - which help strengthen the cells, tissues and muscles in our body.

People who ate high levels of certain amino acids saw benefits on similar scale to those expected for stopping smoking, reducing salt intake or increasing exercise.

People who eat lots of protein-rich food such as steak were found to have lower blood pressure and more healthy arteries, significantly lowering the risk of heart attack and stroke

The team, from the University of East Anglia, said that protein-rich foods including meat, fish, dairy produce, beans, lentils, broccoli and spinach all contain the beneficial compounds.

Eating a 75g portion of steak a day, a 100g fillet of salmon or a pint of skimmed milk would help ward of heart disease, they said.

Their study, published in the Journal of Nutrition, was based on health data from 2,000 British women.

The researchers investigated what foods the women ate, focusing on seven different amino acids.

Those who consumed the highest amounts of amino acids had lower measures of blood pressure and arterial stiffness - major causes of heart attacks and strokes.

Different food source had different benefits, they found.

Amino acids from vegetables and pulses - such as beans, lentils, broccoli and spinach - were associated with lower blood pressure.

Whereas amino acids from dairy, meat and fish were linked to lower levels of arterial stiffness.

Lead researcher Dr Amy Jennings, from UEA’s Norwich Medical School, said: ‘This research shows a protective effect of several amino acids on cardiovascular health.

Eating a 75g portion of steak a day, a 100g fillet of salmon or a pint of skimmed milk would help ward of heart disease, the researchers found
Increasing intake from protein-rich foods such as meat, fish, dairy produce, beans, lentils, broccoli and spinach could be an important and readily achievable way to reduce people’s risk of cardiovascular disease.

Results from previous studies have provided evidence that increased dietary protein may be associated with lower blood pressure.