When
cooked the right way — without heaps of butter, cheese or cream — they can even be
good for you.
Potatoes are low in calories — a medium-sized
baked potato contains only about 110 calories. They are a
good source of vitamins C and B6, manganese, phosphorus, niacin and pantothenic acid.Though the
potato diet may be effective for short-term
weight loss, it's not a long-term solution.
Potatoes are nutritious, but they don't contain all the nutrients you need for optimal health. Furthermore, very-low-calorie diets have been shown to slow metabolism and decrease muscle mass.
