What makes a nightshade

In addition to nightshade sensitivities, in rare cases, some people have allergies to specific nightshade vegetables. Symptoms of an allergy vary but can include skin rashes, hives, itching in the throat, swelling, and difficulty breathing 22 , If you experience any of these symptoms when you eat a particular nightshade vegetable, it would be wise to stop eating that particular food and seek medical advice for further testing.

Others have rare allergies to nightshades. On the other hand, if you have an autoimmune condition like IBD or think you may be sensitive to nightshades, you might want to consider removing them from your diet to evaluate changes in symptoms. If you decide to do this, completely eliminate all nightshades and products containing these vegetables for at least 4 weeks.

Be sure to keep track of the severity of your symptoms during this time. After this elimination period, you should start reintroducing nightshade vegetables one at a time back into your diet. After reintroducing nightshades, compare the severity of your symptoms during your elimination and reintroduction periods. If symptoms were better during elimination and got worse when you reintroduced nightshades, you may want to continue to avoid eating them long-term. Most people are encouraged to eat nightshade vegetables.

However, if you have an autoimmune condition, you may consider eliminating nightshades to evaluate any changes in symptoms. However, there are plenty of other foods to choose from that provide many of the same nutrients and health benefits. If you still want to eat nightshades but would like to lower their alkaloid content, you can accomplish this by peeling your potatoes, limiting green tomatoes, and fully cooking these vegetables.

Eliminating nightshades means missing out on some important nutrients. However, there are many other nutrient-rich foods you can try.

Nightshade vegetables contain important nutrients and provide many health benefits. Most people are encouraged to eat them. The jury's out on nightshade vegetables and their impact on inflammation. Read on to see which foods can help. Check out some of the most nutritious nightshade fruits and veggies from tomatoes to goji berries.

Nightshades are a common part of many diets, so it is important to know how they may affect you. Keep reading to learn about nightshade allergies and…. Lectins are a type of protein that can reduce nutrient absorption. This article reviews 6 foods that are high in lectins and how to minimize their….

Global pandemic or not, properly washing fresh fruits and vegetables is a good habit to practice to minimize the ingestion of potentially harmful…. An elimination diet is a great way to identify food intolerances, sensitivities and allergies.

Find out whether it is right for you and how to follow…. Nightshades aren't necessary to meet nutrient needs, so anyone who feels better without eating them can safely avoid them. However, it's likely that the issues are not caused by the nightshades themselves.

More important things to avoid, to stay inflammation-free and prevent chronic disease, are foods that contain trans fat , high amounts of sodium , added sugar, nitrates and preservatives. If a super antioxidant-rich tomato cucumber salad is calling, it's probably okay to eat it. She is the founder and CEO of Nutritious Life , a lifestyle and media company devoted to helping individuals discover and live their most nutritious and happiest! Follow Keri on Instagram nutritiouslifeofficial.

IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Share this —. Follow today. More Brands. By Keri Glassman, R. In this article, we discuss the effects that nightshade vegetables might have on inflammation and arthritis symptoms, the health benefits of nightshades, and which other foods may have anti-inflammatory effects.

Some people believe that the solanine contained in nightshade vegetables may cause inflammation, or make inflammation related to arthritis worse. While some people may report a worsening of symptoms when eating nightshades that contain solanine, there is no research to support that solanine has a direct effect on inflammation or arthritis pain.

Instead, these symptoms may be caused by or related to a food sensitivity to the nightshade family. A study suggests that eating purple or yellow potatoes may, in fact, reduce inflammation and DNA damage. These species contain high levels of antioxidants , including carotenoids, which the authors suggest may prevent cell damage.

Despite this, if a person believes that they may have a food intolerance or food allergy to nightshades, they can remove them from their diet and make a note of any effects that this has to their symptoms. If a person wishes to eliminate nightshades from the diet, they can replace them with other non-nightshade vegetables, such as:.

Nightshade vegetables are part of the plant family Solanaceae. Some species are toxic, including the belladonna plant, which is also called deadly nightshade. Other species are commonly cultivated and eaten by humans. Solanine is found in trace amounts in potatoes and is normally safe, though the leafy stalks of the potato plant and green potatoes are toxic, and solanine poisoning has been reported from eating green potatoes.

Certain nightshade vegetables can be excellent sources of nutrients, including vitamins , protein, and fiber. Eggplant is an ingredient used in many diets, including the Mediterranean diet and is stocked in most grocery stores. Eggplant is a good source of fiber, potassium , and vitamin B-1, B-6, and K. Tomatoes are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, including biotin , potassium, iron, and zinc.

They also contain the antioxidant lycopene, which may improve inflammation. Purple, white, and yellow potatoes all offer nutritional value that includes fiber, vitamin C and vitamin B Bell peppers are great sources of vitamin A and C, potassium, and folic acid.

According to the Arthritis Foundation , there is no specific diet that a person with rheumatoid arthritis should follow, but there are some foods that can help to control inflammation.