Assorted meats. A selection of fresh meats with herb garnishing, tomato and garlic. The meats are: chicken, ham, lamb and pork chops, and beef pieces. Apart from the white meat in chicken, red meats such as these, although a good source of protein, are high in saturated fats which can raise blood cholesterol levels. Unless eaten in moderation, foods associated with cholesterol are thought to cause atherosclerosis, a disease in which fatty deposits thicken in blood vessels, increasing the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke.