Diet Care Post : 5 reasons Potatoes Are Good For Your Heart

Dated : 25th Jun, 2013

Source : www.farmfreshdirect.net

Potatoes contain many wonderful ingredients that make them an essential part of a balanced diet, and many of them also help you maintain good heart health. Five reasons potatoes help your heart stay healthy.

1.  Potatoes are cholesterol-free and have zero saturated fat

According to the 2010 Dietary guidelines by the USDA and Department of Health and Human Services, potatoes have no cholesterol or saturated fat. While many factors affect heart disease, diets low in cholesterol and saturated fat may reduce its risk.

2. Potatoes are a good source of potassium and low in sodium

Diets containing foods that include potassium and are low in sodium may reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke. 

Potatoes with skin are loaded with potassium — more than bananas, spinach or broccoli — and are naturally sodium free.

3. Potatoes are a good source of fiber

A medium potato with skin contributes 2 grams of fiber, which provides 8% of the daily value per serving. 

Dietary fiber has been shown to have numerous health benefits, including improving blood lipid levels, regulating blood glucose, and increasing satiety (makes you feel full longer), which may help with weight loss.

4. Potatoes are an excellent source of Vitamin C

Vitamin C protects arteries from the damaging effects of cholesterol. Potatoes rank in the top 5 of dietary sources of vitamin C for Americans, and provide 45% of the daily value.

5. Potatoes are a good source of Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 is required for the synthesis of hemoglobin and essential component of red blood cells. It also helps reduce levels of homocysteine, of which high levels have been implicated in heart disease and stroke.

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Can You Eat Baked Potatoes With Heart Failure?

Nutrients

Potatoes do not have any saturated fat and only have trace amounts of sodium. Potatoes are starches, or forms of carbohydrate that provide you with energy and calories you need for exercise and movement. 

One medium-sized potato with its skin provides 45 percent of your daily recommended vitamin C and 18 percent of the daily potassium you need, based on a 2,000 calorie per day diet. The skin provides fiber, which can help keep your digestive system healthy, and the entire potato only has 110 calories.

Potassium

You need reliable sources of potassium in your diet, particularly if your doctor prescribes diuretics to help with symptoms of heart failure. 

Along with sodium, potassium plays a critical role in the regulation of your cardiovascular system; potassium in particular helps regulate your heartbeat. 

Losing too much potassium from the increased urination triggered by diuretics can hurt your health. Potatoes, along with bananas and prunes, are good sources of potassium and can help regulate your levels. 

In contrast, kidney problems that sometimes accompany heart failure can result in a buildup of potassium in your bloodstream, so always talk to your doctor and ask if potatoes are an appropriate choice for your particular situation.

Considerations

Potatoes not unhealthy, but how you prepare them and what you put on top of them can alter their healthfulness. 

Fried potatoes have more calories, and those drenched in butter or deep-fried in saturated or trans fats can cause buildup of artery-clogging plaque. 

Some restaurants add fat to the skins of their "baked" potatoes, so ask your waiter how the chef prepares them.