It’s often the people who frequently eat French fries proclaiming that potatoes are unhealthy. Of course soaking potatoes in oil is unhealthy. Almost everything soaked in oil is unhealthy.

However, as a whole food, potatoes are nutrient-rich and can promote weight loss.

Oil-Soaked Potatoes

Oil is pure fat, devoid of nutrients. As part of a whole food, like an avocado, oil can provide health benefits. However, oil is junk food when taken out of a food and eaten by itself.

So, adding oil to any healthy food can make the food unhealthy. And because potatoes eagerly soak up oil when fried, fried potatoes can be quite unhealthy.

Eating straight fat from a vegetable or animal is just that: eating straight fat. Common sense tells us that eating straight fat will make the body gain fat.

Nutrients

A good rule of thumb is eating natural whole foods. For potatoes, this means eating all of the potato. Taking off the skin takes away nutrients, including fiber.

When eaten with the skin, potatoes are a great source of fiber, vitamin B6, vitamin C, manganese, and potassium.

Weight Loss

As a healthy source of carbs, potatoes can help with weight loss. Potatoes can also help lower blood pressure. Again, eat potatoes with the skin and do not add oil or butter.

In addition, potatoes help us feel full. So, eating potatoes can help prevent overeating.