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There are various different types of fat – some of which can be more unhealthy than others. Saturated fat is one of the least healthy types of fat. If you regularly consume large amounts of saturated fat, you could raise your ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol, which could increase the risk of health problems like heart disease and strokes. As a result, you should try to keep saturated fat consumption low. 

But just how do you know if you’re eating too much saturated fat? Certain foods are more likely to contain this type of fat. Below are just some of the biggest culprits to watch out for. 

Cooking oils

Certain cooking oils such as coconut oil can be very high in saturated fats. If you have a tendency to splash lots of coconut oil in your pan when you cook, you may want to consider reducing the amount of oil you use. Air frying is a great way to use less oil when frying foods – recipes like air fryer chicken breast can be a great substitute for deep fried chicken. An alternative option to using less oil could be to use different oil. The likes of canola oil are very low in saturated fats, making them a much healthier option.

Fatty meats

Fatty cuts of meat can be another big source of saturated fat. Beef, lamb and pork are some of the main offenders to look out for. You can reduce your consumption of saturated fat in meat by opting for lean cuts – looking out for things like lean bacon and lean mince when going shopping. Alternatively, try to stick mainly to meats that are known to be less fatty like chicken and turkey.

Cheese, cream and butter

A lot of processed dairy products are high in saturated fat. Butter is by far the worst of the dairy products – by reducing your consumption of butter you could make a big impact in reducing your intake of saturated fats. Foods like cheese and cream should also be limited. Try to use less when cooking and consider looking into vegan alternatives (certain vegan cheese alternatives can be a lot more healthy). 

Cakes and cookies

If you like to snack on cakes and cookies throughout the day, you may want to start cutting back. Cakes and cookies are big sources of saturated fat. Of course, some cakes and cookies are healthier than others – an oatmeal pistachio cookie is likely to contain a lot less saturated fat than a double chocolate chip cookie made from unsalted butter dough.

Pastries and pies

It’s worth also considering your intake of pastries and pies. This includes pizzas (which tend to be worse due to also containing a high level of cheese). There are ways of making pastries and pies healthier. This includes opting for thinner crusts and using oil instead of butter. In most cases, pastries and pies will always contain a fair amount of saturated fat, so the best option is often to eat less of these foods. 

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This is a contributed post