Extreme diet: Nothing but potatoes for a year

Aussie Andrew Taylor started the year with a crazy idea that's changed his life. Since January 1, he's eaten nothing but potatoes.

He had many non-believers, who said it wasn't healthy or he wouldn't last the year.

But now, almost a full year later, he's not only survived but he's lost 50kg and feels happier and healthier than ever. 

"Spuds are healthy", says Taylor. "They've got all the protein, all the vitamins, all the minerals, obviously everyone knows they've got carbs, they've got a little bit of fat too. They've got antioxidants, they've got heaps of fibre, they've got everything we need." 

"I'm pretty healthy, feeling good and I've lost heaps of weight..."

After a year of the simple diet, he says next year seems like hard work. "I've gotten used to this extraordinarily simple way of eating." He says he's most likely to carry on eating potatoes in 2017, maybe with broccoli thrown in as a novelty.

Throughout the year he's had check-ups with his doctor, who won't recommend the diet to others, but was supportive. 

Taylor says his cholesterol, blood pressure and sugar levels have all dropped since he started the diet.

He says he started the year weighing 151.7kg and now weighs about 99kg.

- NZME