The effects of cholesterol on heart health aren’t completely cut-and-dry, though, nor are the foods that can affect cholesterol levels. There are actually different kinds of LDL, characterized by the size of their particles. And while small and medium-size LDL is strongly linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, the relationship is weaker for large-size LDL.

In the current study, eating both types of meat only led to higher levels of large-size LDL, not the other types. Eating saturated fats led to an increase in large-size LDL, but again, not the smaller types.