Eating whole wheat tortillas can help keep your heart healthy. A study published in "Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases" found that people who ate at least 2.5 servings of whole grains each day had a 21 percent lower risk of having a cardiac event than people who ate 0.2 servings.
What tortillas are the healthiest?
Which Type of Tortilla Is Healthier?
- Corn Tortillas. Offering a firm, chewy texture, corn tortillas come out ahead in a side-by-side nutrition competition with other types.
- Flour Tortillas. You may prefer flour tortillas for their mild flavor and pillowy-soft texture. ...
- Whole-Wheat Tortillas. ...
- Chicken and Guacamole Tacos. ...
What is the healthiest tortilla?
What is the healthiest tortilla for a wrap?
- Macronutrients. If you're only concerned with calories, a corn tortilla is your best bet, but whole-wheat tortillas have the least fat.
- Vitamins and Minerals.
- Fiber.
- Sodium.
- Healthiest Fillings.
What restaurants have heart healthy options?
The Healthiest Dish to Order at 20 Fast Food Chains
- Arby's. Get your hit of poultry plus 23 grams of muscle-building protein —minus the trans fats and starchy bread that comes along with most of the other menu items.
- Burger King. ...
- Carl's Jr. ...
- Chick-Fil-A. ...
- Chipotle. ...
- Domino's. ...
- Jack In The Box. ...
- KFC. ...
- Hardee's. ...
- Panda Express. ...
Are tortillas healthier than homemade bread?
Whole-grain bread is better than bread made from enriched flour. You should look for whole-grain bread for a more complete nutrient package. Tortilla can be a healthier choice than bread because of the relatively lower calories – but keep in mind that this only applies to small-sized tortillas.
What is heart healthy at a Mexican restaurant?
Best: Ceviche It's low in calories but packed with protein. The fish also gives you calcium and heart-healthy omega-3 fats. Ceviche often comes with tostadas or fried corn tortillas. Each tostada has about 60 calories, so use only one or two to scoop up the ceviche.
What Mexican food is good for cholesterol?
Chicken fajitas are low in cholesterol and a great choice. Guacamole is best eaten as a salad or as a dip with baked chips. Chicken burritos, ceviche, and topopo salads are also low in cholesterol. Tamales made with chicken are also low in cholesterol.
Are corn tortillas low cholesterol?
Corn tortillas are much healthier than flour tortillas. Corn tortillas generally have lower fat and cholesterol contents, along with fewer added ingredients.
What Mexican food is low in sodium?
Low Sodium - Mexican FoodSalsa Verde. ... Mini Pepper Nachos with Corn, Black Beans and Avocado. ... Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice. ... Slow Cooker Chicken Carnitas Tacos. ... Chicken Carnitas Burrito Bowl with Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice. ... A Low-Fat, High-Protein Guacamole With a Healthy Secret Ingredient.More items...
Are tortillas bad for cholesterol?
Flour tortillas are much higher in saturated fat than corn. You need to watch this number if you're concerned about your heart health—eating too much of it can raise your bad cholesterol and put you at risk for heart disease.
Is salsa good for your heart?
It's healthy for your heart Salsa only contains ingredients that are from plants, and it's naturally cholesterol-free.
What can I eat at night to lower my cholesterol?
Foods to lower cholesterolbarley.oats.okra.eggplant.nuts, such as almonds, peanuts, and walnuts.beans, such as kidney beans, garbanzo beans, and black-eyed peas.lentils.fruits, such as apples, citrus fruits, and strawberries.More items...
What are the worst foods for high cholesterol?
High-cholesterol foods to avoidFull-fat dairy. Whole milk, butter and full-fat yogurt and cheese are high in saturated fat. ... Red meat. Steak, beef roast, ribs, pork chops and ground beef tend to have high saturated fat and cholesterol content. ... Processed meat. ... Fried foods. ... Baked goods and sweets. ... Eggs. ... Shellfish. ... Lean meat.
What kind of chips can I eat with high cholesterol?
If you have high cholesterol, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends limiting your intake of saturated fats from foods like meat and dairy to 6% or less of your daily calories....Beanitos Black Bean Chips.Calories130Total fat7 gramsSaturated fat0.5 gramsCholesterol0 mgFiber4 gramsAug 2, 2022
What is the healthiest Mexican food to eat?
The Healthiest Dishes to Order at a Mexican RestaurantTacos and Burritos: Lettuce Tacos.Tacos and Burritos: Grilled Fish Tacos.Tacos and Burritos: Soft Chicken Tacos.Tacos and Burritos: Vegetarian Burrito.Fork and Knife Entrées: Ceviche.Fork and Knife Entrées: Fajitas.More items...•
Are flour tortillas high in sodium?
One 6-inch flour tortilla can contain more than 400 mg of sodium, and that number jumps to more than 500 mg for a 10-inch tortilla. Instead, choose plain corn tortillas, which contain just 15 mg of sodium in two 6-inch rounds.
What Mexican food is healthy?
In general, more nutritious options include fajitas, bean burritos, grilled chicken dishes, and soft tacos. Here are also some of the most nutritious choices to look for on the menu.
What Mexican food is healthy?
In general, more nutritious options include fajitas, bean burritos, grilled chicken dishes, and soft tacos. Here are also some of the most nutritious choices to look for on the menu.
What is the healthiest choice at Mexican restaurant?
The Healthiest Dishes to Order at a Mexican RestaurantTacos and Burritos: Lettuce Tacos.Tacos and Burritos: Grilled Fish Tacos.Tacos and Burritos: Soft Chicken Tacos.Tacos and Burritos: Vegetarian Burrito.Fork and Knife Entrées: Ceviche.Fork and Knife Entrées: Fajitas.More items...•
Are quesadillas bad for cholesterol?
The favorite choice for the term "Quesadillas" is 1 Meatless Quesadilla with Cheese which has about 60 mg of cholesterol....Popular Types of Quesadillas.Cholesterol(mg)Quesadilla with Beef and Cheese98Quesadilla with Chicken and Cheese941 more row
Are Mexican fajitas healthy?
Fajitas use one of the healthiest available cooking methods: grilling. They also come with grilled vegetables such as bell peppers and onions, which are valuable sources of antioxidants. Go for shrimp or white-meat chicken, instead of steak, to avoid the saturated fat content of red meat.
Are flour tortillas healthy?
The most common type of tortilla that you'll find in the shops and restaurants across the USA are flour tortillas.
Are corn tortillas healthy?
Corn tortillas aren't as famous in the USA as flour tortillas, but they are, in fact, a much more authentic style of tortillas. Corn tortillas are also considered a much healthier alternative to flour tortillas.
Are whole wheat tortillas healthy?
Another tortilla option on the menu is the whole wheat tortilla. These are becoming increasingly popular (just like whole-wheat bread), and in terms of their healthiness, they lie somewhere between corn tortillas and flour tortillas.
Are tortillas better for you than bread?
Bread makes for a great comparison to tortillas. For anyone that was brought up eating traditional bread, be it sliced bread or baguettes, tortillas are often seen to be a healthier alternative.
So, what are the healthiest tortillas?
Tortillas are so varied and so different that it's impossible to judge them all equally. Some are considered healthy; others are healthier than bread, while other tortillas might not be so great if you're counting the calories.
We love homemade tortillas!
Ultimately, we always recommend making homemade tortillas if you're looking out for your health. You control the size of the tortillas, select the best ingredients, and produce the healthiest tortillas - be they corn, flour, or whole wheat.
Dietary Fiber
Tortillas serve as a source of dietary fiber -- a type of carbohydrate important to digestive function. Fiber fights constipation by adding bulk to your stool to help keep you regular. It also softens your stool so it's easier to pass.
Iron
Tortillas benefit your circulation by boosting your iron intake. A 12-inch tortilla offers 3.9 milligrams of iron -- 49 percent of the daily iron requirements for men or 22 percent for women, according to the NYU Langone Medical Center. Iron allows you to produce hemoglobin, the protein your blood needs for oxygen transport.
Niacin
Tortillas contain niacin, or vitamin B-3, a vitamin you need to support your metabolism. Getting enough niacin allows your body to break down fats, carbohydrates and proteins, so that your cells can convert these nutrients into useable fuel.
Nutritional Drawbacks and Healthy Meal Ideas
While tortillas contain beneficial nutrients, they also contain large amounts of salt. A 12-inch tortilla boosts your sodium intake by 803 milligrams, providing 35 percent of the recommended maximum daily sodium intake, according to the Linus Pauling Institute.
Whole Grains
Look for tortillas made from cornmeal or whole-grain wheat, rather than white flour. Tortillas made from 100 percent cornmeal are always made from the whole grain, and they are also gluten-free. Choose corn tortillas, or other gluten-free options, if you're trying to avoid gluten.
Eat Your Veggies
Opt for tortillas that contain veggie purees, such as spinach or tomato, especially if the tortillas also contain whole grains. Read the ingredient panel carefully, though, because many veggie tortillas contain a tiny amount of vegetable puree, along with less healthful ingredients, such as white flour and shortening.
Healthy Fats
Although many brands of shortening no longer contain trans fat, shortening still isn't the healthiest choice. Choose tortillas made with healthier oils, such as olive oil, which contains monounsaturated fats.
Make Your Own
Try making your own tortillas, especially if you can't find healthful varieties at the store. Traditional recipes call for lard or shortening, but olive or canola oil works well too. Use whole-wheat flour and add pureed vegetables, such as roasted red peppers, steamed spinach, roasted tomatoes or pumpkin.
1. Siete Foods' Chickpea Flour Tortillas
Siete Foods should be one of your go-to brands if you're looking for healthy wraps made with alternative ingredients. We love their tortillas made from chickpea flour, but they also make version from cassava flour, almond flour, and more.
2. Greenleaf Foods' Raw Spinach Wraps
These spinach wraps really are packed with spinach and other natural ingredients. Flip over the package and you'll only see apple, spinach, onion, quinoa, coconut nectar, and psyllium husk on the ingredient list.
3. Angelic Bakehouse's 7-Grain Wraps
These wraps are made from sprouted whole grains (wheat berries, quinoa, millet, oat groats, barley, rye berries and amaranth) along with whole wheat flour, wheat gluten, agave, oat fiber, and molasses.
4. NUCO's Organic Coconut Wraps with Turmeric
Made from only four ingredients (three of them derived from coconut), this is one of the simplest wraps on our list. Our ears perked up when we hear the mention of turmeric in these wraps. But keep in mind that the turmeric needs to be paired with piperine, an ingredient in black pepper, for optimal absorption of curcumin.
5. Norigami's Gluten-Free Pea Wraps with Chia Seeds
These grain-free wraps are made with eggs, pea protein, agave, glycerin (used as a sweetener and preservative), and chia seeds. That's it! But don't be fooled by the 15-calorie label because these wraps are super tiny! At 4.3 grams per wrap, they're substantially smaller than other wraps which are closer to 40 or 50 grams in size.
6. Flatout's Foldit 5 Grain Flax Flatbread
Flatout's flatbreads come in a variety of flavors, but the five-grain flax flatbread has the benefit of grain diversity. It has 8 grams of whole grains and 5 grams of fiber, and you'll find ingredients like triticale, rye, millet, buckwheat, and oat fiber on the nutrition label.
1. Toufayan's Organic Sprouted Whole Wheat Wraps
This family-owned bakery has been in business for 90 years (and is now one of the largest privately held specialty bakeries in the US). Beyond this organic sprouted whole wheat wrap, you can also find low-carb and low-sodium wraps under their name.
Weight Control
Choosing whole wheat tortillas can help you control your weight. A study published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found that women who ate whole grains weighed less and were 49 percent less likely to gain weight than women that chose refined grain products.
Antioxidant Protection
Whole grain foods like wheat tortillas are a good source of manganese, a mineral that your body relies upon for normal brain and nerve function. Manganese is an important component of superoxide dismutase, a strong antioxidant that protects you from free radicals.
Heart Health
Eating whole wheat tortillas can help keep your heart healthy. A study published in "Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases" found that people who ate at least 2.5 servings of whole grains each day had a 21 percent lower risk of having a cardiac event than people who ate 0.2 servings.
