How eating potatoes may help protect your heart and lower disease risk

Potatoes rarely make it into conversations about healthy food, mostly because people picture chips, creamy mash or buttery roasted trays at Sunday lunch. Yet the potato itself, before it is drowned in oil or salt, is far more nutritious than many realise. Researchers have been taking a closer look at what this simple root actually offers, and the findings are surprisingly positive. A peer-reviewed study published in The Journal of Nutrition followed thousands of adults over time and found that people who ate more potatoes had a slightly lower risk of cardiovascular disease and early death. It suggests that the humble potato, when cooked sensibly, might play a small but helpful role in long-term health. Most people associate heart-healthy foods with obvious choices like leafy greens,