When I had first been exposed to the name 'nightshade,' a
plant couldn't be farther from my mind. Upon further inspection, I realized
that nightshades were not a cousin of lampshades, but a variety of important
plants that most of us are very familiar with.
Solanaceae
Solanaceae is the name for the family of flowering plants
that comes from the Latin solanum, meaning
"the nightshade plant." This family of plants provides a wide variety of
agricultural produce including tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes, chili peppers,
paprika, and tomatillos. Tobacco and petunia plants are also part of this
family.
While solanaceae is used extensively for food, medicine and
spices in humans, it is important to note that this species is high in
alkaloids, which are toxic to humans and animals. The toxicity can range from a
mild irritation to fatal.
As An
Anti-Inflammatory
Nightshades have a high anti-inflammatory rating due to
antioxidants and capsaicin. Capsaicin is found in hot peppers and is a
phytochemical that produces strong anti-inflammatory responses when eaten.
Some people can experience inflammation from these food
products because of an alkaloid referred to as solanine, which can be harmful
in large amounts. Although most people can eat their fair share of nightshades
without experiencing any negative effects, there are some that have
sensitivities to minute amounts of solanine. For people who are sensitive to
this alkaloid, eating nightshades can cause inflammatory reactions, joint pain,
and other symptoms.
If you think your joint pain may be caused from eating
nightshades, try omitting them from your diet for one-to-two weeks. If you
notice a difference, you may be sensitive to solanine. If you don't notice a
difference, nightshades are not a problem for you!
Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightshades
Nutrition
Data Blog – Nightshades: Unfairly Accused?
| 
Re: Have You Been Eating Your Nightshades?
