Q: I have inherited a genetic cholesterol problem from my father, I am 24 and very active at gym but I still have to watch what I eat (just because of the cholesterol alone). There are a lot of foods that don’t specify if and how much cholesterol they contain, only the saturated fat, mono- and poly-saturated fat. What should I look out for if the cholesterol is not shown?

A: What you need to be looking out for on labels are saturated fat and Trans fats, and then also cholesterol to a lesser degree. A few years ago when your dad was younger, the focus of heart-healthy nutrition was to avoid foods high in cholesterol. However, with research we now know that the real baddies are actually Trans and saturated fats and that these fat types have a greater impact on increasing heart disease risk, than dietary cholesterol.

So, while eating lots of foods that are high in dietary cholesterol can increase blood cholesterol levels, foods high in unhealthy saturated fats and Trans fats have a greater effect on increasing blood cholesterol levels, especially the levels of LDL-cholesterol (the unhealthy one).

Trans fats are a type of fat that is formed when unsaturated fats (polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats in vegetable oils) are hydrogenated. This is done to change their structure and make them for more suitable for specific types of food processing, production and manufacture.

Saturated fats are found mostly in fats of animal origin, especially in fatty and processed meats like patties, sausage, viennas and also cheese and butter. The plant sources of saturated fat include coconut oil and palm oil.

Remember that dietary fat is an essential part of the diet, but for your heart health, keep an eye on the total amount of fat in your diet and then also on your saturated and Trans fat intake.

It’s great that you are aware, eating healthily and active from a young age!

For more info on different types of fat, read my answer to another Women's Health reader’s question here.