Beef

Studies in people

• Benefit

  Gut bacteria and heart risk²

  In healthy adults, up to 71 g/day of lean beef in a Mediterranean-style diet raised gut bacteria variety and lowered TMAO.

Animal and lab studies only

• Benefit

  Enzyme effects on digestion⁵

  Tenderizing beef with enzymes like bromelain helped its proteins break down more during digestion in lab studies.

Study type not stated

• Concern

  Retail meat handling risks³

  Studies of beef sold in shops found poor conditions at several stages that could put shoppers at risk.

• Benefit

  Taste and tenderness⁴

  Beef with more marbling tasted more tender, juicy and sweet, and had more healthy fats.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least two findings in people. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.