Macro partitioning

Replacing saturated and trans fatty acids with unsaturated fatty acids lowers LDL cholesterol and reduces cardiovascular disease risk, whereas simply reducing total fat without this substitution may worsen the lipid triad (high triglycerides, low HDL, small LDL particles).

Focus on swapping saturated fats (like butter or fatty meats) for unsaturated fats (like olive oil, nuts, or fish) rather than just cutting total fat. Simply eating less fat but replacing it with refined carbohydrates may not improve your cholesterol profile and could worsen it.