Study: Potatoes Good for the Heart

Published in the September 2013 Issue Published online: Sep 23, 2013
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A new scientific review suggests that eating potatoes may be good for your heart.

The review, published online this week in the Annals of Medicine, says that not only do potatoes provide several key nutrients such as vitamin C, potassium and dietary fiber, but they may also help lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Dr. Carla McGill, a nutrition scientist and Principal at Healthy Science Communications in Florida, is one of the three authors of the report. She said the review makes a significant contribution to the body of science on the potential impact of potatoes on heart health and diabetes.

The study, entitled "The Role of Potatoes and Potato Components in Cardiometabolic Health: A Review," looked at the impact of potato consumption on several key health measures, including blood pressure, cholesterol, inflammation, glycemic response, body weight and other risk factors for both heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

It found that potatoes and potato components have been shown to have favorable impacts on several risk factors for heart health and diabetes in both animals and humans.