Next time you’re about to scarf down a serving of fries, picture this. All the fat in those fries is going to congeal into one solid greasy lump which travels through your body into your blood vessels and comes to rest along your artery walls. Still want fries with that?

This image is not exactly textbook, but essentially it’s what happens when you overload on saturated fat. Your body reacts by making more cholesterol than it needs, and the surplus ends up in your blood, clogging up your arteries and preventing blood flow, and may eventually lead to a heart attack.

Burgers, hot dogs, fries and most other fast-foods are high in saturated fat, so try to avoid them. Don’t be fooled by words like “flame-grilled” either – that doesn't translate to low-fat or low-cholesterol. 

As well as avoiding fried and take-out foods, there are several other ways to reduce saturated fat intake. Allan Borushek, (the Calorie King!), offers these tips:

• When it comes to dairy products, choose low-fat or non-fat milk, yogurt, cheese, and ice cream.
• Avoid adding cream to desserts and coffee.
• Choose lean cuts of meat and skinless poultry;,avoid deli meats and sausages.
• Enjoy fish instead; fish is also an excellent source of omega-3 fat, which is good for cholesterol levels.
• Cook with vegetable oils such as canola, olive, sunflower and soybean instead of lard or butter or margerine.
  
• Be careful to limit cakes, pastries, and cookies as most of these are high in fat and contain hydrogenated vegetable fats. (Hydrogenated vegetable fats are a form of trans fat, which also raise LDL cholesterol levels and increase your risk for heart disease).