Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease and is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the American Heart Association, or AHA. Consuming foods high in saturated fats, such as French fries, is one of the primary contributing factors to the development of coronary artery disease. The typical American diet consists of too much saturated fat, thus it is important to understand the connection between this type of fat and coronary artery disease.
Coronary Artery Disease
The coronary arteries are the primary arteries that supply blood to the heart. Plaque or fatty deposits can build up in the arteries causing damage and blockage leading to coronary artery disease. High cholesterol levels -- of which saturated fats play a large role -- are the primary contributor to coronary artery damage, but high blood pressure, smoking and diabetes also increase the risk. Coronary artery disease may lead to chest pain, heart attack, heart failure or abnormal heart rhythms, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Saturated Fats
Fats are an important component of a healthy diet, but consuming too much and the wrong kind can lead to a variety of complications, such as obesity and heart disease. Fats are broadly grouped into unsaturated fats and saturated fats. Unsaturated fats are considered the healthier fats as they may help lower bad cholesterol levels and decrease the risk of heart disease. Saturated fats and trans fats -- a form of saturated fat -- are unhealthy fats. They are the main dietary contributors to high LDL, or bad cholesterol levels, and also increase total cholesterol levels and decrease HDL or good cholesterol, according to the AHA.
Connection
Coronary artery disease develops slowly over time through an accumulation of damage to the lining of the arteries. Plaque, a combination of fat, cholesterol and other substances in the blood, accumulates particularly well on damaged vessels leading to a condition known atherosclerosis, according to the Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Saturated fats have been shown to raise total cholesterol levels, particularly LDL, or bad cholesterol. High levels of cholesterol and fat in the blood increase the chance of plaque buildup on the artery walls. This in turn increases the risk of coronary artery disease and its complications.
Dietary Recommendations
Saturated fats are found in a variety of animal products and certain vegetable oils. Fatty meats, such as beef and pork, are high in saturated fats as well as whole milk, cheese, butter and ice cream. Coconut and palm oils are also high in saturated fats. The AHA recommends consuming no more than 7 percent of daily calories in the form of saturated fat. Trans fats are made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oils and are high in baked sweets, such as cookies and donuts as well as fried foods, such as French fries. No more than 1 percent of total daily calories should come from trans fats, according to the AHA.
Prevention
Eating a diet low in saturated and trans fats can help prevent the development of coronary artery disease. Foods high in saturated fats can easily be replaced with other dietary choices. Olive oil, which is high in unsaturated, healthy fats, can be used to replace butter when sautéing foods or used in salad dressing or marinades. Avoiding fried snack foods, such as chips, and replacing them with nuts can help lower high cholesterol levels and decrease the risk of coronary artery disease. Fatty meats can be replaced with lean meats, such as turkey and fish. It is important to note that fats -- saturated or unsaturated -- are high in calories and consuming too much can lead to weight gain. The AHA recommends consuming no more than 30 percent of daily calories from fats.
