by Gerry L. Galvan

Visitacion Valley's merchant association has found itself seemingly rudderless with the departure in January of its president, who was manager of the Bank of America on Leland Avenue.

Colleen San Diego left the institution only a few weeks into the new year "to pursue other lines of professional interest." Her successor,

Marilyn Myhre, gave no details on San Diego's departure from Bank of America except to say that her last day was Jan. 15.

Vincent Chao, principal of Visitacion Valley Elementary School and ranking member in the merchant group said the loss of San Diego from the Merchant Association has left a big void in the neighborhood.

"She was a dynamic force that inspired members to set high goals for business in the Valley," he explained. "She inspired everybody to work much harder to arrive at the set goals. It's unfortunate that Colleen has chosen to leave."

Chao expressed confidence that San Diego's successor at the bank would be invited to join and be just as active in neighborhood civic activities.

Although interested, Mhyre, a third generation San Franciscan from the Sunset District who began her official duties on Jan. 19., said she preferred attending just to her banking responsibilities for several months before seriously considering additional activities with the neighborhood.

Mhyre has been connected with the Bank of America for 28 years. Her immediate previous assignment was an the bank's Excelsior branch on Ocean Avenue, after serving at six other Bank of America branches in San Francisco.

"I find the neighborhood a very friendly society," said Mhyre of her new role in Visitacion Valley. "My staff of 12 is experienced. My fellow workers are great employees. Their attitude has contributed a lot to client satisfaction. The bank staff and customers are symbiotically happy with the business at hand."

With a wide array of services including: home loans, home equity loans, refinancing, business accounts, investment portfolios and
investment advice, Mhyre said she will see to it that Visitacion Valley bank clients get their money's worth.

"I will make it a practice to be visible to clients in the neighborhood and will personally give business advice to any and all in need of and seeking such advice," she explained. "In return, I will seek the residents' input on how they and the bank can work together." 

A 'Scape to Giants Past

Candlestick Park was a little more than a year old when the San Francisco Giants hosted the Cincinnati Reds on July 6, 1961. And local author Craig Carrozzi remembers that game well, through the eyes of a six-year-old youth, brought by an older brother to his first baseball game.

Following two earlier books issued by his Southern Trails Publishing based in the Portola District and dealing in personal experiences while serving with the Peace Corps in South America, Carrozzi will be releasing his third title, City 'Scapes in March.

"Scapes" is short for "Escapes," things the local kids used to do for fun to get their minds off the rigors of urban living. And City 'Scapes is about a little boy and baseball, but it goes well beyond those distinctions.

"Like Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea," explained Carrozzi, "which at first glance seemed a story about fishing, City 'Scapes goes deep into the human psyche. Hemingways' old man, a once powerful human feeling his age and living in the past, has his counterpoint in the little boy of City 'Scapes who is just awakening to the possibilities of life and greets his day with wonder."

With the Giants playing their final season at what is now known as 3Com Park at Candlestick Point before moving to Pacific Bell Park in 2000, the new book recalls the excitement of Candlestick's earlier days, an open-ended field notorious for bad weather. More than a dozen interesting photos include classic shots of Willie Mays, Willie McCovey and Orlando Cepeda, as well as Seals Stadium, the former minor league ball park at 16th and Bryant Streets that served as the Giants' first home in the late 1950s. One rare picture shows the remains of Seals Stadium after its late 1959 demolition, little more than an empty lot with the etchings of a baseball diamond, where neighborhood youth would gather to play their own versions of memorable games.

"This is a story of nostalgia and wonderful memories," summarized Carrozzi, a baseball historian with a unique take on both current and past issues. City 'Scapes will be available at Giants' retail outlets and at many bookstores. 

 Muni Announces Survey Results on Metro

Reliability is the leading rider concern, according to results of a customer survey of Muni Metro riders conducted in December, 1998.

On-time performance led the list of customer concerns with a cumulative total of 61 percent of the vote. Overcrowding also ranked high on riders' lists, with 18 percent of the vote. System safety and access to information ranked much lower at 4 percent and 5 percent, respectively.

Respondents came from Muni Metro's core ridership: 49 percent are peak hour riders, 58 percent ride the system at least four times a week, and 88 percent have been using the system for more than a year.

The survey indicated a public outreach effort designed to involve riders in the effort to improve Muni Metro. Thirty-five thousand surveys were distributed over two weeks, and 6,500 completed surveys were returned in stations, by U.S. mail, and on the Internet, a response rate of 19 percent.

Concerns matched those identified by Muni and the Muni Metro Delivery Team. Over the net few months, the Delivery Team will support Muni's implementation of several efforts to improve system reliability with:

*Installation of communication tools to improve communication between Central Control and the Muni Metro system.

*Potential to reorder trains at the Embarcadero turnaround.

*Added support on each line to regulate the flow of trains.

Brochures describing survey results will be distributed at downtown stations during PM commute, and will be available on Muni Metro cars throughout the system. Throughout the coming year, Muni Metro will maintain the dialogue initiated with the survey. In addition to regular bulletins announcing system changes, the Muni Metro Delivery Team will conduct two more surveys in order to receive feedback on improvements.

Results according to 6,521 respondents follow:

How frequently do respondents ride Muni Metro?

Fifty-eight percent ride the system at least 4-6 times per week with 20 percent a few times each year, 22 percent a few times each month, 25 percent 4-6 times each week, 20 percent on weekdays only, and 13 percent every day.

Which lines do respondents ride most frequently?

J: 13 percent; K: 20 percent; L: 24 percent; M: 23 percent; N: 20 percent.

What time of day do they ride?

Peak commute hours: 49 percent; off-peak commute hours: 27 percent; weekends: 24 percent.

How long have respondents ridden Muni Metro?

Less than six months: 7 percent; more than six months: 5 percent; more than one year: 88 percent.

Two top concerns according to the respondents:

Seventy-one percent of responses had to do with on-time performance, with reliability at 28 percent, delays at 25 percent, overcrowding at 20 percent, wait between cars at 18 percent, safety/security at 4 percent, announcements during trips at 3 percent and access to system information at 2 percent.

Overall, how satisfied are respondents with Muni Metro?

Satisfied: 5 percent; neutral: 13 percent; unsatisfied 82 percent. 

Board President to Lecture on City's Budget Process

Supervisor Tom Ammiano, the new president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors will be guest speaker at Coleman Advocates, 459 Vienna St. from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 24 as part of their Children and Youth Lecture Series. Call 239-0161 for more information. 

Drug Fighting Grant for San Francisco

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) on Jan. 22 announced a $700,000 grant from the Office of National Drug Control Policy for the San Francisco High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).

"The fight against the illegal drug trade in San Francisco is a fight for a better quality of life and all of our citizens," Said Pelosi. "Drug dealers ruin or neighborhoods and threaten the safety and security of law-abiding San Franciscans, and we cannot allow this to happen.
The HIDTA program supports joint efforts between local, state and federal authorities in areas deemed to have critical drug trafficking problems that adversely affect the nation. San Francisco is one of 21 HIDTA areas in the country.

This $700,000 grant supplements existing funds and brings the total grant to $2.5 million. HIDTA funds an array of drug control activities including interdiction, investigation, prosecution, treatment and prevention. 

Availability of Assembly Fellowship Applications

Assemblywoman Carole Migden (D-San Francisco) is encouraging interested individuals  to apply for the 1999-2000 Assembly Fellowship Program. The 11-month fellowship program offers 18 college graduates the opportunity to become fulltime Assembly staff members working on fiscal and policy issues in an Assemblymembers Capitol office.

As part of the program, the Fellows actively engage legislative members, senior staff, officials and lobbyists on issues of state importance. Fellows are paid a stipend of $1,792 per month plus health, dental and vision benefits while earning 12 graduate units at California State University, Sacramento (CSUS). The Assembly Fellowship is a jointly sponsored program administered by CSUS and the California State Legislature.

"The Assembly Fellowship Program offers invaluable experience to individuals seeking to expand their knowledge of the legislative process," said Assemblywoman Migden. "I have had the privilege of having fellows in my office for the last three years and each has performed in exemplary fashion. I know of no other program that offers so much insight into the governmental process."
Applicants must have earned their undergraduate degrees by June of 1999. Individuals with advanced degrees or those in mid-career are also encouraged to apply.

Applications are available at either Assemblywoman Migden's Capitol office, Room 2114 (916-319-2013) or by contacting the Center for California Studies at 916-278-8906 located on the campus of CSU, Sacramento. 

Second "Bay Area 2000" Documentary Includes 1906 Earthquake and Fire

In the second of 12 chronological documentaries, San Francisco--Into the Fire looks at San Francisco at the turn of the 20th century (1900-1910). Narrated by PBS's Frontline narrator Will Lymon and produced by KRON's award winning producer Ken Schwartz, the one-hour documentary shows how San Francisco survived one of the worst natural disasters in American history--the Great Earthquake and catastrophic fire of 1906 which nearly pounded the city into extinction.

San Francisco--Into the Fire will be presented on Sunday, Feb. 14, 21 and 28 at 8 p.m. on BayTV (Channel 35 on most Bay Area cable systems). 

A Search for Visual History of the Mission

Current and former residents of the Mission neighborhood are being asked to bring their family albums and share their photographs and stories with the San Francisco Public Library on Sunday, Mar. 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mission Branch Library at 2601 Mission St., 3rd Floor (in the Bay View Bank Building).

Did you shop on the Miracle Mile? Do you remember the El Capitan theater? Old St. Anthony's Church? Oh's Health Food Store? If you grew up in the Mission District, owned a business or went to school there, S.F. Public library is asking for your help. On the Mar. 7 Photo Day, library staff and volunteers will copy selected images from personal photograph collections while the donors are interviewed. These copied photographs will be added to the History Center Photograph Collection at the Main Library and to the Mission Branch Library. The photographs will become important primary sources for research by scholars, students, and the general public.

"We're looking for photographs of everyday life that show how people lived in the Mission from the late 1800s to the present," said Susan Goldstein, city archivist. "We hope people will share their pictures of family and community celebrations, their workplaces, weddings and other ceremonies, political and social organizations, and all the other pieces of life that ar collected in family albums, old business files, or club and organizational scrapbooks."

Appointments to participate in the Mission's Photo Day are strongly recommended and can be made by contacting Kate Connell at 557-4596. Volunteers who wish to assist library staff in a variety of ways on the Photo Day should also contact Kate Connell by Feb. 26. 

Community Lecture on Osteoporosis

St. Luke's Hospital is sponsoring a free question and answer lecture on Osteoporosis on Friday, Feb. 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Noe Valley Ministry, 1021 Sanchez St. Call 641-6465 to register. 

Volunteers Needed to Mentor

Culturally sensitive adults are needed to mentor African American and Latino youth in foster care. Call Alternative Family Services at (415) 626-2700. 

Hospice Care Stamp Issued by U.S. Postal Service

On Feb. 9, first-class postage stamps celebrating hospice care became available for release across the country. Hospice by the Bay of San Francisco urges you to purchase these stamps to raise awareness of hospice care, which helps thousands of people every year.
For more information on how Hospice by the Bay serves people with terminal illness and their families, call (415) 626-5900. 

Shanti Volunteer Training

Shanti still needs your help because people still have AIDS. Comprehensive trainings are held in San Francisco for Shanti Volunteers, with the next training taking place over two weekends, Feb 19, 20, 21, 27, and 28. Please contact Shanti recruitment specialist Maureen Smith at (415) 674-4722 to apply. 

African American History Program at Randall Museum

The Randall Museum celebrates National African American History Month with both a workshop and program on Saturday, Feb. 27.
When the Drums Sang, a participatory workshop that invites children to use rhythm, song, acting and movement to help dramatize African folktale begins at 1 p.m. It is followed at 2 p.m. by Family Affair, a lively performance highlighting the unique music, instruments, folktales and history of African American culture. Cost is $5 for both events. For more information, call 554-9600. 

Volunteer Health Group Issues Challenge to Kaiser

A Torrance-based patient-support group for sufferers of spinal cord injury recently challenged Kaiser Foundation Health Plan to justify its possible rate increase of $1 per member for pharmaceutical benefits.

In response to a recent state ruling mandating that Kaiser cover Viagra and other drugs to treat erectile dysfunction, the HMO announced it would raise its pharmaceutical benefit rates, possibly $1 for each of its 5.7 million members in California, and would charge a 50 percent copayment per prescription for Viagra.

"It is clear Kaiser is using Viagra as an excuse to raise its monthly fees," said CyCy Lambert, founder of RVL S.C.O.R.E. "We want to know how Kaiser arrived at its calculation that a $5.7 million monthly increase, in addition to a 50 percent Viagra copayment, may be necessary. Such rate increases indicate a sizeable profit for Kaiser."

RVL S.C.O.R.E. is a patient-support group based in Torrance whose goal is to improve the overall quality of life for those with spinal cord injury or disease. The organization provides various free programs including advocacy, living support and housing assistance, family and peer counseling, and vocational training. 

Unsung Hero Awards a Celebration of Leadership

San Francisco Public Library's Unsung Hero Awards program is accepting nominations for individuals from the African American community who give unselfishly of their time and energy, but are not widely recognized for what they do.

Winners will be honored at the Eleventh Annual Unsung Hero Awards Program, which will be held on Sunday, Feb. 28 at 1 p.m. in the Koret Auditorium of the Main Library.

All nominations must be turned in no later than Feb. 19. Nomination forms are available at the following libraries: Bayview/Anna E. Waden Branch, 5075 Third St.; Western Addition Branch, 1550 Scott St.; Ocean View Branch, 111 Broad St.; Potrero Branch, 1616 20th St.; and the African American Center of the Main Library, Civic Center. Winners will be selected by a committee of community representatives. 

Lead Paint Abatement Grant for San Francisco

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) on Feb. 4 announced the City and County of San Francisco will receive a $3 million Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant for the removal of lead-based paint in targeted neighborhoods.

"Children are particularly vulnerable to the damaging effects of lead poisoning," said Pelosi. "We must do all that we can to remove this environmental hazard from all homes in our community."

The Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Grant Program is designed to support local efforts to remove lead-based paint hazards from housing, encourage the development of an effective action plan to prevent childhood lead poisoning, and develop ways to maintain lead education activities beyond the life of the grant.

This grant will target 500 privately owned low-income homes built prior to 1978 in the Mission District, Tenderloin (north of Market), Oceanview-Merced Heights-Ingleside, Bayview-Hunters point and Visitacion Valley. About 75 percent of houses and apartments built before 1978 in the United States contain lead paint.

In addition, Consumer Action will receive $60,000 under the Local Lead Hazard Awareness Campaign Grant Program. The program will support efforts to increase awareness of lead poisoning in communities of color.

"I commend Consumer Action for its leadership in bringing public attention to the hazards of lead-based paint," said Pelosi. "Mayor Willie Brown must also be commended for his leadership in ridding the city of lead-paint and other environmental causes of lead poisoning."
Lead poisoning is one of the most common environmental child health problems in the united States and is caused by too much lead in the body. Lead is especially harmful to children younger than six. Lead poisoning affects three to four million young children, about one in six under the age of six. 

Workshop for School Age Child Care

Children's Council of San Francisco is offering a full day workshop geared to school age child care staff and administrators based on Kids' Time: A School-Age Care Program Guide on Saturday, Feb. 27. at 2601 Mission St.

Triple A, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. is a module geared to line staff and includes age appropriate activities: creating school-age care environments; behavior management and planning  program activities. From 1 to 4 p.m., Find Them, Keep Them, Make Them Proud is a module geared for administrators with topics including: selecting and supervising program staff; developing school-age care program leadership; school-age care program leadership; and school-age care program growth, development and evaluation.

Cost is $25 per person and includes lunch and a copy of Kids' Time: A School-Age Care Program Guide, a comprehensive 156-page program guide developed by the Department of Education, Child Development Division. Registration deadline is Feb. 24. Call 243-0700 for more information. 

Valentine's Day Party for Adoptable Pets

This Valentine's Day weekend, come visit the critters at the San Francisco SPCA Maddie's Pet Adoption Center and fall in love!
The animals are hosting a party on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 13 and 14 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for potential adopters and their friends. Pink lemonade, cookies and candy will be available for human guests.

All animals adopted on Valentine's Day weekend will come with a special package of goodies to start off the new relationship in the best possible way: heart-shaped ID tags, collars and a small bag of hearty treats will be included in the adoption package for both dogs and cats. Call 552-3500 for more information. 

Coalition Investigating Practices of Six Major HMOs

At the request of Citizens for the Right to Know, a coalition of patient advocacy and health care provider organizations, the California Department of Corporations (DOC) has launched a major investigation of six major managed care plans for possible violations of California law.

On Jan. 25, the Department sent "demand letters" to Aetna U.S. Health Care, Key Health Plan, Health Net/Foundation, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Molina Medical Centers and United Healthcare of California.

The letters require the plans to:

*Restore to their formularities all drugs which have been deleted by the plan effective on or after Jan. 1, 1999.

*Refrain from making any other deletions from their formularities without the approval of the Department until the Department completes its investigation of possible violations of the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act which regulates HMOs in this state.

"We are encouraged by the actions of the Department of Corporations and feel confident that the investigation will prove that health plans which restrict access to life-saving and life-enhancing medications are in violation of state law," said Elizabeth Helms, president of the TMJ Society and founding member of Citizens for the Right to Know.

Potential illegal acts include:

*HMOs formulary deletions were based solely on cost considerations.

*HMOs did not inform the Department of all formulary deletions.

*HMOs did not disclose their formularies upon Right to Know's request.

*HMOs did not comply with the Knox-Keene Act by providing medically necessary medications to their patients.

*HMOs reclassified certain medications from a drug benefit to a medical benefit in order to avoid paying for them.
"Too many patients are being switched at the pharmacy counter from a medicine that's working to one that may be less effective or are being denied the drug altogether and having to pay the full cost themselves," said Helms. "Patients are even having to switch health plans to gain access to the medicines they need to stay well, on the job and out of the hospital."

In recent months, several major health plans have been quietly moving to restrict access to dozens of major medications--prescription drugs to prevent heart attacks, stroke, Alzheimer's and complications from ulcers. In addition, medicines to treat depression and migraines are at risk.

Citizens for the Right to Know was formed in 1994 to educate consumers about their health plans and to require HMOs to disclose benefits and exclusions to consumers prior to enrollment. Over the years, the coalition has produced a series of booklets to help consumers choose the right plan for them and to work with their plan if they experience difficulties obtaining care.

Over the past year, Right to Know and its member organizations have been receiving an increasing number of calls from patients who are having difficulty with drug switches and denials. As a result, the coalition launched a public awareness campaign to determine whether the alleged drug switching problems were really injuring people. The calls to a 1-800 number confirmed that the problem was substantial and occurring primarily in California.

In December of last year, Right to Know met with representatives of the Department of Corporations and shared the collected information and the names of individuals who had been switched or denied medications. Consequently, DOC launched an investigation into possible violations of the Knox-Keene Act and other possible illegal acts. The DOC sent letters to all Knox-Keene licensed plans asking them to provide information as to what medications they were planning to drop from their formulary in 1999. For some plans, there were more than 60 drugs planned for deletion and patients were going to be actively switched or denied.

After reviewing the responses of the plans who complied with the original request and the urging of Assemblyman Gallegos, the DOC issued letters to six health plans on Jan. 25.

On a related matter, Right to Know contacted major health plans in the state to determine whether they were in compliance with the new disclosure requirements of AB 974. Seven health plans appear to be in violation of AB 974 by Assemblyman Gallegos which requires disclosure of drug formularies. They are: Blue Cross of California, Care first Health, Health Net/Foundation, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Molina Medical Centers, Omni, and One Health Plan.

"In the past several months, since AB 974 was signed into law requiring continuity of care, health plans appear to have been moving to drop dozens of major medications from their drug formularies," said Helms. "By moving to eliminate new and innovative therapies and denying access to more costly medicines the health plans save money. It's a cynical game to save money at the expense of quality care for the patient."

Citizens for the "Right to Know" is an alliance of more than 80 health care organizations and consumer groups whose focus is to educate consumers about the need to become informed purchasers of health care. 

New Drug Effective in Battle Against Cancer

Baylor-Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center and Physician Reliance Network (PRN) Research announced data Jan. 28 demonstrating that one in five patients with hard-to treat tumors responded to treatment with Xeloda (capecitabine) even though they had previously failed treatment with paclitaxil and an anthracycline-containing regimen.

Xeloda is the first chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer that is biochemically-targeted to attack cancer cells.  The data are part of the results from a phase II study of Xeloda appearing in the Feb. 1, 1999 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The large multicenter trial, conducted at 25 hospitals and cancer centers in the U.S. and Canada, established that Xeloda is effective even in heavily pre-treated patients with metastatic breast cancer. In the study, Xeloda demonstrated a favorable side effect profile.

"Xeloda is an exciting new option for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer," stated Joanne Blum, M.D., Ph.D., lead investigator of the phase II study. "It is unique among currently available therapies, as it is activated by enzymes in the body which are primarily found in tumors, focusing that cancer killing agent at the site of the cancer, limiting adverse events and damage to healthy tissue. Xeloda's pill form permits patients to be treated at home and live more normal lives."

The clinical trial involving 163 patients tested the efficacy and safety of Xeloda at 2510 mg/sqm/day. divided into two doses daily, given for two weeks followed by a one week rest period and repeated in three week cycles.
Twenty-seven of the 135 patients (20 percent) with measurable diseases had complete or partial responses. Three patients achieved a complete remission. The data from this trial were the basis for Xeloda's approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in May, 1998. Xeloda is the first oral anticancer drug indicated for patients with metastatic breast cancer whose tumors are resistant to standard chemotherapy with paclitaxel and an anthracycline-containing regimen. Xeloda is marketed by Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc.

The adverse events associated with the dosing schedule of capecitabine used in this study were predictable and controllable. No treatment-related deaths and few treatment-related serious adverse events (12 percent) were observed.

Of the 54 patients reported to have had serious adverse events, only 18 had events considered related to study treatment. The majority of all treatment related adverse events were rated as mild or moderate in intensity (grade 1 or 2). These side effects were generally manageable and reversible after dosage adjustment or discontinuation.

Dosage was adjusted at any time during the study on the basis of grade 2 or greater related adverse events. Treatment was discontinued in only 7 percent due to treatment-related adverse events. The most frequent treatment-related adverse events were, in decreasing order of frequency, hand-foot syndrome, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. Significant hair loss was not reported. In fact, hair regrowth occurred in most patients with alopecia at baseline. 

New Pill Reduces Fat in Food

Getting healthier is a common New Year's resolution that's tough to keep. Mid-winter is about the time when that cholesterol-lowering diet and exercise regimen go out the door in favor of old habits.

But now there's a new pill that can give people a new lease on their healthy New Year's resolutions. A tablet containing the dietary supplements Beta-Sitosterol and Citrus Pectin can help maintain healthy cholesterol levels by reducing fat in the foods we eat. Up to 50 percent of cholesterol problems are related to diet.

"When combined, Beta-Sitosterol and Citrus Pectin work together to alter dietary fat and cholesterol absorption," said Dan Gardner, NMD.
Over 50 studies and scientific articles are available that show Beta-Sitosterol inhibits the absorption of dietary fat and cholesterol into the system. Citrus pectin is found in rinds of citrus fruits like oranges. Beta-Sitosterol comes from unprocessed soy products like tofu, brown and wild rice and soy milk.

"Beta-Sitosterol and Citrus Pectin work through a series of actions," said Dr. Gardner. "They promote intestinal binding and excretion of free cholesterol, block absorption sites in the intestinal walls, create an enzymatic shift that decreases liver cholesterol production, and increase liver enzyme functions on the breakdown of fats."

It's recommended that people  take one Beta-S tablet 30 minutes before a meal or snack with a full eight-ounce glass of water. Beta-S should be taken in equal doses at least three times per day, whether meals are skipped or not. If a meal is especially heavy or fat laden, it is recommended to take two or more tablets.

Despite the fact that Beta-S can help maintain healthy cholesterol, Dr. Gardner encourages people to continue watching their diets. "Don't be fooled by processed low-fat products," he said. "These foods are often high in carbohydrates and refined sugars that can increase your cholesterol levels."