Fun Fact Friday: Beef and your valentine

With Valentine’s Day only a few days away, how about a fun fact about beef and love?

Did you know, according to a recent consumer survey, a majority of Americans agree the best way to say “I love you” to your sweetheart on Valentine's Day is with a steak?

I tend to agree. I mean, what’s not to love about beef?

Not only does it taste great, but lean beef is a nutritional powerhouse. On average, one serving of lean beef is only 154 calories yet a naturally rich source of 10 essential nutrients — including protein, iron, zinc and B-vitamins.

It’s also part of a heart-healthy diet. As I’ve reported before on Make Mine Beef, recent research called BOLD (Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet) found that adding lean beef to the most recommended heart-healthy diet can lower heart disease risk by reducing levels of total and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol.

Even the fat in beef is good for you — half the fat in all beef is monounsaturated, the same kind found in olive oil. And one-third of the saturated fat in beef is stearic acid, which has a neutral effect on blood cholesterol levels and is the same fat recognized in chocolate for its benefits.

While I haven’t finalized the menu for Valentine’s Day yet, beef will definitely fill the center of the plate Tuesday night. What about you? Do you show love with beef?