There is food that is good for you and food that is bad for you. Increase the good food, cut down on the bad food, and you’re healthier, right? Well, when it comes to foods that are high in trans fats, saturated fats, or LDL (bad cholesterol), some foods need to be cut out of your diet entirely. Even moderate amounts of these can contribute to heart problems, weight loss, and generally make you feel tired and sluggish. That also means that cutting these out of your diet will have an immediate effect on how you feel in your daily life.

Foods that have high levels of LDL, or “bad cholesterol” as your doctor calls it, is a substance found in processed meats and high fat fried meats, that builds up over time on your artery walls. Inevitably this leads to heart disease if not kept in check and steps are not taken to lower it. This means you need to cut out the processed meats like bacon, sausage, and cold cuts as well as ice cream, butter, and pork – foods that will not only contribute to cholesterol build up but slow you down during the day.

Trans fats are so bad that many cities are banning the use altogether. Unlike other fats, no amount of trans fat is good for you and it’s important to check the label of any food product to make sure it’s trans fat-free. Fast food chains are notorious for their trans fat use but other top offenders to avoid include margarine and butter spreads, pre-prepared soups, frozen food, baked products and cake mixes, chips, cereals, and candy.

Unlike trans fats, saturated fats don’t need to be completely eliminated but they definitely need to be severely limited. It is best to get your low amount of saturated fats from natural sources like salmon, beef, eggs, or nuts rather than processed food like ice cream. Some foods you should definitely avoid include butter, lard, many high fat cheeses, processed meat, and any kind of cream product.