(Foreword: This is the continuation of our response to Lolita L. on her quest for foods that are surprisingly bad for her cholesterol.)
Dear Lolita L.,
And now, moving on to more in the list.
5. Flour Tortillas
You need this for your taco. But, sad to say, they are not good for your cholesterol. If you really want your taco, you can however, begin with corn tortillas without frying them. And be sure to add some healthy toppings. Choose grilled native chicken, some juicy tomatoes, and chopped lettuce.
6. Organ meats
The liver, kidneys, and sweetbreads are not wise choices. They have higher cholesterol compared to other cuts. Beef liver may be high in iron, but you can get iron from other sources without the risk of bad cholesterol. If you do really want meat, be sure to limit it to 3-ounce portions once a month.
7. Butter vs Margarine
Margarine is made from vegetable oils, so it has unsaturated "good" fats — polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, which can help your "bad" cholesterol (LDL). But, be sure to get the soft tub margarine variety rather than the stick ones because the former have lower trans fats. Now to your butter. Sorry, since it is made from animal fat, it has more saturated fat.
8. Pasta
Remember that pasta is still high in calories and carbs. Be sure to choose well. Go for marinara or marsala, not meatballs, and linguine with clams, and not lasagna. And don’t forget to limit your intake. Oops...we are out of page. Let’s continue this next time. Until then again!
Dr. Fritz
(Dr. Fritz Legarde Espedilla is an aesthetic dermatologist and surgeon and a clinical sexologist. She is also trained in hypnotherapy and Medical Acupuncture. She has been in the broadcast media for more than a decade and has written a book based on her 15 year stint with her radio program, “Healthy is Sexy Secrets ni Dr. Fritz.” For your questions, you may e-mail them to dokfritz@yahoo.com. If you don’t wish your letter to be published, we regret that we cannot answer them. Thank you for your understanding.)