Lamb chops. Five fresh lamb chops with crushed rosemary herb sprinkled onto them, seen cooking above the coals of a barbecue. Red meat such as this, although a good source of protein, is 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.