Yet, there are two distinct kinds of LDL cholesterol particles:

Small, dense LDL cholesterol

Large, “fluffy” LDL cholesterol

The second ones are not harmful, and studies have shown that they do not cause. On the other hand, the small, dense LDL particles, however, lead to a plaque buildup in the arteries. Namely,  trans fat raises the small, dense LDL, and the large, and benign LDL is stimulated by the large, fluffy ones.

What’s more, research has suggested that the consumption of refined sugar and carbohydrates, including soda, bread, and bagels, increase the number of small, dense LDL particles. This means that our health and body may suffer much more from the combination of trans fats and refined carbs, than from saturated fat.

However, due to the hypothesis about the cholesterol levels, industrial low-fat foods, harmful trans fats (margarine, vegetable oils, etc.), processed fructose and a lot of refined sugar replaced healthy saturated fats, such as lard and butter.