Eating These Fruits & Vegetables Can Make Your Pain Worse

Learn the dangers of nightshades. Check out the article we found over at My Health Maven.

Nightshades are a specific group of plants belonging to the Solanaceae family which includes over 2,000 species. They are also some of the most popular foods consumed today; they include tomatoes, potatoes, all types of peppers, and eggplant. Not truly a nightshade member but containing the same inflammation-inducing alkaloids are blueberries, huckleberries, goji berries and ashwaganda (Indian Ginseng).

Nightshades induce inflammation through a specific chemical known as solanine. Researchers now believe this chemical may actually irritate the gastrointestinal tract. When it’s absorbed into the bloodstream, it can cause destruction of the oxygen-carrying red blood cells. Solanine is known as an aceytlcholinesterase inhibitor – it acts to prevent the breakdown of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh), leading to excessive build-up of ACh in nerve receptor sites. This action allows for constant over-stimulation of Ach receptors, especially within the nervous system as it’s responsible for stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system.

One of the major problems attributed to nightshades is arthritis. In fact, one in three arthritics will react badly to nightshades. Some researchers believe that arthritis is often misdiagnosed in people who may in fact only be experiencing the effects of nightshade consumption. Alkaloids appear to affect the metabolism of calcium. Though not yet understood how, nightshade foods may remove calcium from bones and deposit it in soft tissue, setting the stage for arthritis. For this reason, researchers have recommended that all individuals with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or other joint problems like gout eliminate nightshade foods from their diet.

Norman F. Childers, PhD, is the founder of the Arthritis Nightshades Research Foundation. He has the following to say on this subject: “Diet appears to be a factor in the etiology of arthritis based on surveys of over 1400 volunteers during a 20-year period. Plants in the drug family, Solanaceae (nightshades) are an important causative factor in arthritis in sensitive people.” The primary cause of the reactions in some people is the presence of an alkaloid called tropane which many are very sensitive to.

For those that suffer from arthritis or an arthritis related disease such as lupus, rheumatism, and other musculoskeletal pain disorders members of the Solanaceae family of flowering plants, more commonly known as nightshades, may be adversely affecting their health.

The Nightshade List:

Tomatoes (all varieties, including tomatillos)
Potatoes (all varieties, NOT sweet potatoes or yams)
Eggplant (aubergine)
Okra
Artichokes
Peppers (all varieties such as bell pepper, wax pepper, green & red peppers, chili peppers,
cayenne, paprika, etc.)
Goji berries
Tomarillos (a plum-like fruit from Peru)
Sorrel
Garden Huckleberry & Blueberries (contain the alkaloids that induce inflammation)
Gooseberries
Pepino Melon
The Homeopathic “Belladonna”
Tobacco
Paprika
Cayenne Pepper

Soy sauce made in the U.S. is generally made with genetically modified (GMO) soy beans, which are cut with the nightshade plant Petunia. A healthier option is to purchase Braggs Amino Acids at your health food store. It is naturally-fermented soy sauce and the only other ingredient is spring water….it tastes exactly the same as other soy sauces only this one is pure.

Note: The condiments black/white pepper and pepper corns are NOT nightshades

Other Ingredients / Products to Avoid:

Homeopathic remedies containing Belladonna (known as deadly nightshade).
Prescription and over-the-counter medications containing potato starch as a filler (especially prevalent in sleeping and muscle relaxing meds).
Edible flowers: petunia, chalice vine, day jasmine, angel and devil’s trumpets.
Atropine and Scopolamine, used in sleeping pills

Topical medications for pain and inflammation containing capsicum (in cayenne pepper).
Many baking powders contain potato starch
Don’t lick envelopes, many adhesives contain potato starch
Vodka (potatoes used in production)

-Read labels carefully because you could be doing everything else right, and still be sabotaged by one small amount of an ingredient.
-Never buy a food that uses the generic term of seasoning or spices, because you won’t know what is really in your food.

Image Credit: http://www.flickr.com

Next Article: How To Safely Clean Your Fruits & Vegetables

Read full article: What Are Nightshades?