When Low Fat Isnt Low Enough

Low-fat diets have been heralded for years. But the actual point, says Johns Hopkins cardiologist Pamela Ouyang, M.D., is low-certain-kinds-of-fat.

Use polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats (the kind in liquid vegetable oils, nuts and seeds). These fats actually may improve cholesterol levels. But keep the lid on the saturated fats that are part of meat, poultry and dairy products, such as whole milk, and on trans-fat—also called partially hydrogenated oil. Saturated fat increases unhealthy LDL cholesterol. Trans-fat is bad for you, too—it increases LDL, raises triglycerides and lowers beneficial HDL.

Get more heart tips at hopkinsmedicine.org/heart.