Heart Health

View Our Heart Healthy RecipesNational Heart Health Month


Big news! America's favorite potato is certified by the American Heart Association as a heart-healthy food. The well-recognized heart-check mark reminds consumers that eating potatoes is a great way to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

What exactly makes a fresh Idaho® potato heart-healthy?

  • Only 110 calories for a 5.3 ounce spud
  • 0 fat
  • 0 cholesterol
  • 0 sodium

 

Additionally, potatoes are a good source of potassium – an extremely important nutrient. According to the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, adding just 1600 mg of potassium a day to your diet can lower your risk of stroke by 21%. One medium Idaho® potato contains 759 milligrams of potassium and provides roughly 25% of the recommended daily dose of this essential nutrient.

And, here’s an interesting fact…while 89% of Americans consider bananas to be a significant source of potassium, only 27% associate potatoes with potassium and yet a potato has nearly twice the amount of potassium per serving (759 mg) as a banana (422 mg)!

Did you know that 97% of Americans aren’t meeting their daily potassium requirement? That’s an alarming number, especially since approximately 70 million Americans have high blood pressure.


We've scoured the Idaho Potato Commission's recipe database and have identified several of our favorite heart-healthy recipes. These recipes are low in fat, cholesterol and calories, contain little sodium, and are loaded with potassium and flavor! Enjoy!