Not all trans fats are the same — some might be more harmful, and others might be less harmful, depending on where they come from.

Dietary intake of industrial trans fatty acids, even at low levels, is causally associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

Man-made trans fats and natural trans fats in dairy and meat are made of different chemical parts, and these differences might affect your health in different ways.

In the U.S., the amount of harmful fats from processed foods in people’s blood dropped by more than half between 2000 and 2009, likely because food labels and restaurant rules changed to cut down on these fats.

Eating foods with trans fats, like fried snacks and baked goods, might raise your risk of heart disease because they can cause body-wide swelling and mess up your cholesterol levels.

People who eat a lot of trans fats (like in fried or processed foods) are more likely to have heart problems than those who eat very little.