There is mounting evidence to support the notion that eating lean beef on a daily basis may help to lower blood pressure, and therefore lower the risk of developing heart disease, according to new research.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one of three adults in the U.S. has hypertension. The current recommended dietary plan for Americans, according to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), includes fruits, vegetables, plant proteins and low-fat dairy products.

Penny M. Kris-Etherton, Distinguished Professor of Nutrition at Penn State and colleagues tested four different diets to determine their effects on the vascular health of people, including the DASH diet, BOLD diet, BOLD+ diet and the Healthy American Diet.

The researchers found that that the BOLD+ diet was more effective at reducing blood pressured as compared to the others diets studied. The other three diets consist of four ounces of lean beef or less, while the BOLD+ diet consists of 5.4 ounces of lean beef per day.

“This research adds to the significant evidence, including work previously done in our lab, that supports lean beef’s role in a heart-healthy diet. This study shows that nutrient-rich lean beef can be included as part of a heart-healthy diet that reduces blood pressure, which can help lower the risk for cardiovascular disease,” said Kris-Etherton in a statement.