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What’s the deal with “nightshades”?
I’ve been asked about my diet quite a bit regarding all the things I’ve removed from it while tackling rheumatoid arthritis. When I give the list, there is usually one thing that gets a follow up question: nightshades.
Nightshades are a family of vegetables referred to scientifically as Solanaceae. They include common vegetables like peppers, white potatoes, eggplants, tomatoes, tomatillos, goji berries, okra, and even ashwagandha, the herb that is so popular for its stress-relieving properties.
Several common herbs and spices, such as chili pepper, paprika, cayenne, and red pepper flakes, also fall into the nightshade family. Black and white pepper are from peppercorns (a fruit), which are not nightshades.
Nightshades contain numerous beneficial nutrients, like vitamin C, antioxidants, B vitamins, and minerals.
Nightshades are gaining a reputation for being problematic for certain health tendencies, such as inflammation, arthritis, or diabetes. This comes down to the presence of another nutrient found in nightshades, known as alkaloids, which contain nitrogen. In nature, the presence of alkaloids in nightshades serves as a natural insect repellent to prevent the plant from being destroyed. When these anti-nutrients are consumed, they are assumed to also cause problems with a person’s digestive system, leading to inflammatory problems, intestinal disorders, and digestive upset.
Leaky gut, a problem in which the barrier function of the small intestine stops working effectively, can also be caused or worsened by the presence of nightshades, thus worsening chronic conditions. In some cases, eating these foods can also worsen existing symptoms of conditions like arthritis, thanks to alterations in the body’s gut bacteria. They can also play a role in the intestinal problems that are associated with celiac disease.
Beyond digestive and inflammatory problems, people can develop allergies to certain nightshades that can involve itching, swelling, hives, and even difficulty breathing.
While it can be hard to specifically diagnose some aspects of nightshade problems, they are best found when eliminating all nightshades from the diet for at least 30 days to determine if symptoms improve. Adding them back in, one at a time, can help to identify if one nightshade is a problem, or if the whole category causes symptoms to return.
For a list of signs and symptoms of nightshade sensitivity, how to avoid them, and/ or how to substitute for them in your diet, click here. (Link will take you to full article, the material in which was used for this post, 14 Signs of Nightshade Sensitivity)
