What are Nightshade Vegetables?

Nightshade vegetables are part of the Solanaceae plant family and contain alkaloids such as solanine. In large quantities, this alkaloid can be toxic and has been linked to inflammation in the body. Nonetheless, some positive health benefits of these vegetables include the nutrients they offer, like vitamin C, lycopene, potassium, and manganese. However, there are also some risks associated with eating nightshade vegetables.

Perhaps the biggest risk is “leaky gut” or when the lining of the digestive tract does not function properly. Some individuals may also be allergic to nightshade vegetables, which they can notice through symptoms such as hives, mouth-tingling, and swelling. While they do offer beneficial nutrients, nightshade vegetables may not be suitable for people with autoimmune conditions.

For more information, visit EatDat.

References

1. Smith, Lori. “Nightshade Vegetables and Inflammation: Do They Affect Arthritis?” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 2020, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321745#nightshades-and-inflammation.
2. Story, Erica N, et al. “An Update on the Health Effects of Tomato Lycopene.” Annual Review of Food Science and Technology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2010, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3850026/.
3. Jenkins, D J, et al. “Effect of a Very-High-Fiber Vegetable, Fruit, and Nut Diet on Serum Lipids and Colonic Function.” Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Apr. 2001, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11288049/.
4. Patel, Bijal, et al. “Potato Glycoalkaloids Adversely Affect Intestinal Permeability and Aggravate Inflammatory Bowel Disease.” Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Sept. 2002, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12479649/.\
5. A, Fasano. “Leaky Gut and Autoimmune Diseases.” Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Feb. 2012, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22109896/.