Fat enemy of human’s health: why fries are bad for arteries?

The study, published in the August 15 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, illustrates how daily bad habits add up, over the years, to heart disease, heart attacks and strokes, experts said.

Saturated fats include all animal fats found in meat and dairy products, as well as coconut and palm oils. Most other vegetable fats are polyunsaturated or mono-unsaturated, Independent Online reports.

Eating just one fatty meal can have a major impact on your arteries - for better or for worse.

So says a new study that shows eating a meal high in saturated fats, like a cheeseburger and fries, can reduce the ability of the body's "good" HDL cholesterol to protect against clogged arteries.

However, a single meal high in heart-healthy polyunsaturated fats, like those found in sunflower and corn oil, can have the opposite effect, helping protect the arteries from plaque buildup.

Saturated fats are mostly found in animal products like butter, red meat, and lard. But they are also found in some plant products, such as coconut and palm oils.

Polyunsaturated fats are primarily plant-based and include safflower, corn, and sunflower oils. They are usually liquid at room temperature, CBS News reports.