Who doesn’t love a good cooking show?
I might be one of the biggest cooking show addicts out there!
Hands down, my favorite episodes usually involve watching a red, juicy steak sizzle on the grill or drip juices as it’s pan-fried in garlic and butter to yummy, unbeatable perfection.
Yes, I’m a steak junkie. I’m not alone either…
When it comes to red meat, people are passionate. It’s a passion that’s been turned into a virtue in the age of paleo and keto dieting.
Unfortunately, researchers at the University of South Australia has some bad news for all of us whose mouths water even thinking about grilling up a juicy steak or burger.
That sizzle you hear as you’re cooking could be the sound of a heart attack on a plate. But does that mean you’re doomed to never indulge in that deliciousness again? I’ve got some research that shows how you might get around it.
And it’s all about the AGEs
No, not your age… advanced glycation end products — or AGEs.
These are compounds that, when eaten, can build up in your body and actually interfere with your normal cell function, leading to stiffening of your veins and myocardial tissue, inflammation and oxidative stress. All things that up to a heart disaster.
So, what does that have to do with the red meat that makes up one of the favorite parts of your diet?
Well, those Australian researchers say that the results of their study showed that eating a diet high in red (or processed) meats causes your level of those AGEs to skyrocket.
To top it off, they found that AGE levels can rise even farther into the red zone based on the method you use to cook your meat. Basically, the hotter you cook it, the worse for your heart.
When asked to sum up their results, researcher Dr. Permal Deo put it this way, “The message is pretty clear: if we want to reduce heart disease risk, we need to cut back on how much red meat we eat or be more considered about how we cook it.”
In other words, while grilling, frying or searing may be what makes for a great cooking show, at home, it could make for a high risk of heart disease.
Choose your cooking method wisely
To protect your heart skip anything that involves high-heat caramelization. Instead, stick with slow cooking methods such as:
- Steaming
- Boiling
- Stewing
- Poaching
Not near as appetizing as grilling, eh? Even with my family history of heart problems, I can’t give my grilled steaks up that easily. Of course, I have followed conventional advice to reduce the amount of red meat in my diet and eat more of what has been found to promote heart health.
But I’ve also found a way to reduce the harm caused by my occasional juicy steak indulgence…
See, this information about what AGEs do to your heart is not brand new. It’s actually been a concern for years — almost as long as I’ve been a health researcher. And in my research, I kept coming across data on how antioxidants are like kryptonite to AGEs.
And one of my favorite antioxidants is CoQ10. It’s not in the spotlight as much as resveratrol, the “wine” antioxidant, but if keeping your heart in shape is your biggest priority, CoQ10, which is vital to your heart muscle, should be your best friend.
Just recently I read a study that people eating mostly a Mediterranean diet have reduced AGEs in their blood serum levels. And when they supplemented with CoQ10, that benefit was accentuated. In other words, supplementing CoQ10 helped reduced the amount of AGEs.
Fortunately, I’ve been supplementing with CoQ10 for years. If you haven’t, isn’t it time to start?
But while you’re at, there are other heart-healthy nutrients you can take along with it — you know, because, like me, you may have a lot of years eating red meat to make up for.
I’ve found all of them in Peak Cardio Platinum™…
- CoQ10 — More than 300 studies have demonstrated the cardiovascular health benefits of CoQ10. From supporting cellular health and helping maintain blood pressure levels within a normal range to combating free radical damage, this molecule acts as a “spark plug” for your heart cells.
- Vitamin K2 — One specific form of Vitamin K2 — called MK-7 — is known for supporting both arterial health and healthy blood flow.
- Nitrosigine® — A big part of caring for your blood vessels and maintaining optimal blood flow is wrapped up in a molecule called nitric oxide. It’s what allows your arteries to open, receive blood flow and relax again. That’s why Nitrosogine®, which helps your body make nitric oxide on demand, is so powerful.
- Nattokinase — An enzyme that comes from the fermentation of soybeans, nattokinase helps safely support blood flow. And over 17 scientific studies have proven it to be effective for promoting circulatory health.
Remember, be smart about how much red meat you eat and how you cook it… and take extra care to promote your heart’s health.
Sources:
Red hot meat: the wrong recipe for heart disease — EurekAlert!
Mediterranean Diet Supplemented With Coenzyme Q10 Modulates the Postprandial Metabolism of Advanced Glycation End Products in Elderly Men and Women — Research Gate
