The next time you\u2019re at a barbecue, though, feel free to add a patty or two to your plate, thanks to research<\/a> on the surprising effects of red meat on men\u2019s cholesterol.<\/p>\n Eating hamburgers too often is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and heightened cholesterol thanks to the amount of sodium and saturated fat<\/a> in typical servings.<\/p>\n While moderation is key and a good old-fashioned hamburger can be made healthy with some simple swaps<\/a>, one study is telling a different story about the health effects.<\/p>\n The study, published in the journal Nutrients, took a look at men\u2019s cholesterol and blood vessel health after eating multiple burgers during the week alongside a regular diet.<\/p>\n Of 23 men who ate five burgers per week for five weeks, the researchers found that adding high-fat ground beef (around 25% fat) or low-fat ground beef (about 5% fat) didn\u2019t harm blood vessels.<\/p>\n The positive changes from the high-fat beef may even be linked to lower cholesterol.<\/p>\n The team used flow-mediated dilation \u2014 a non-invasive ultrasound test \u2014 to measure how well blood vessels widen when blood flow increases.<\/p>\n Beef with higher amounts of fat resulted in better blood vessel dilation, supporting proper blood flow and reducing blood pressure.<\/p>\n The low-fat beef didn\u2019t change blood vessel dilation, however.<\/p>\n The researchers believe the reduced blood pressure is connected to the surprising effects the high-fat beef had on cholesterol, namely \u201cbad\u201d cholesterol.<\/p>\n The data was collected from participants who had completed a previous study<\/a> looking at the effects of high- or low-fat ground beef on cholesterol.<\/p>\n Despite an increased intake of saturated fat, the high-fat ground beef lowered low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL, or \u201cbad\u201d cholesterol.)<\/p>\n LDL cholesterol causes plaque to build up<\/a> in arteries, narrowing blood vessels and increasing the chances of heart disease and stroke.<\/p>\n Previous research has shown that diets heavy in red meat and animal fats raise LDL cholesterol levels, increasing the\u00a0risk of heart disease<\/a>.<\/p>\n However, both types of beef also lowered \u201cgood\u201d cholesterol that helps clear extra cholesterol from the blood vessels.<\/p>\n The study was the first to find that short-term consumption of high-fat beef reduced blood pressure and potentially cardiovascular disease risk, countering the well-researched belief that foods high in saturated fat are unhealthy diet choices.<\/p>\n Other research has found that switching to plant protein \u2014 specifically mycoprotein, a protein made from fungus\u00a0\u2014 could help lower bad cholesterol by 10%, and may even have benefits comparable to those of the Mediterranean diet.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/close-shot-young-man-eats-137707052.jpg\")
While hamburgers high in saturated fat can contribute to high cholesterol, one study found surprising results in men. WHstudio Leushin N \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/man-measuring-blood-pressure-table-137706772.jpg\")
Men who ate five burgers a week made with high-fat beef saw reductions in both blood pressure and cholesterol levels. New Africa \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n