Saturated fats are a hot topic in the nutrition world today, mainly because they increase the blood cholesterol that leads to heart disease. Though the average person should consume less than 10% of these “solid” fats each day, most Americans go well over that amount. If you want to cut down on the saturated fats that you’re likely unknowingly consuming, here are two foods to avoid.

1. High-fat cuts of meat. Saturated fats often appear in the marbled parts of meat, which are quite literally where the fat is stored in the animal. Avoid marbled meats like bacon, salami, and lesser quality cuts of steak in order to reduce your saturated fat intake, and be sure to trim the fat from any meat that you prepare.
2. Coconut oil. Though many sources have been preaching the health benefits of coconut oil lately, if you’re avoiding saturated fats the negatives often outweigh the positives. Coconut oil is a hydrogenated oil, which is by definition the food that contains the most saturated fat. It is made up of 93% saturated fat, and just one tablespoon of coconut oil contains 65% of your recommended daily value.

Top 10 Foods Highest in Saturated Fat [Healthaliciousness]
Saturated Fats Are Primarily Found in What Groups? [SF Gate]
Saturated Fat [CDC]
Fat and Oils [Better Health Channel]

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/Phú Thịnh Co