How Healthy is a Potato-only Diet?

只吃土豆的减肥法有多健康？

Can a diet of eating only potatoes for 60 days be good for you?

This is precisely what one American man has done in order to "remind the public about the nutritional value of potatoes."

Chris Voight, a 45-year-old from Washington, has eaten nothing but 20 potatoes every day for the last two months.

As Head of the Washington State Potato Commission, he's trying to debunk perceptions that potatoes are unhealthy and instead are a good source of fibre, potassium and vitamin C.

So, how has the diet affected his health?

He said: "I've been struggling being borderline high cholesterol for four or five years. I absolutely feel great. I've always had lots of good energy on this diet, I've had no strange side effects, I sleep well at night."

Mr Voight also claimed to have lost 1.5 stone (10 kilos) since beginning the diet.

He accepted that a diet of just potatoes was not sustainable in the long term but said his experiment had shown how "truly healthy" the vegetable is.

"I'm not encouraging anyone to go on this crazy diet, nor would my doctor. This diet was just a bold statement to remind people that there is a lot of nutrition in a potato."

So what is Mr Voight planning to eat once freed from his self-imposed diet?

"I think my first meal is going to be a spicy beef taco, a glass of milk, a crunchy apple, and yes… roasted potatoes."

In 2003, American filmmaker Morgan Spurlock embarked on a McDonald's-only diet for a whole month in order to investigate the health effects on the body. While filming Super Size Me he gained 1.7 stone (11 kilos) and also experienced depression and lethargy.