Nightshades
Many of us have heard the whispers in health-conscious communities about the necessity of avoiding nightshades, but why?
Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and potatoes have become staples in the modern diet and are often eaten multiple times per day in different variations. We will commonly eat potatoes with hot sauce for breakfast, peppers and tomatoes on a salad for lunch, and eggplant parmesan for dinner. It would seem that we are doing our due diligence to maintain a healthy body through incorporating all these vegetables into our diet, but upon a closer look we discover the hidden toxicity in these plants and the long-term degenerative effects of eating them regularly.
The leaves, stems, and roots of plants in the Solanaceae family are poisonous. They contain a pro-inflammatory compound called "solanine" that studies have shown to cause pain and inflammation in the joints. Crack open any book pre-20th century and you will find these plants listed as toxic and recommended to be avoided. Our ancient ancestors around the world knew to avoid these plants and their fruits, as it is was common knowledge that they caused cramping in the legs, gastrointestinal upset, and general toxicity.
"Centuries ago, the fruits of the plant were also considered poisonous; only in the past few hundred years have they been used as foods...When grazing on these plants animals develop stiff legs and a number of symptoms indicative of calcium problems; the compound obviously detrimental effects their calcium metabolism." (excerpt from "Traditional Foods are your Best Medicine.)
Eating toxic foods results in chronic inflammation in the body, which can lead to long-term degenerative health issues, such as arthritis. Our ancestors saw a direct link between eating nightshades and experiencing pain in the body, which is why they chose to avoid the plants. However, western culture is still catching up to the idea that we may be poisoning ourselves with food, so you will find conflicting evidence and recommendations online. In addition, the physical effects of eating these plants will often be felt 1-2 days after consumption, making it difficult to connect the dots between a source of pain and a food.
I personally cut out nightshades a couple weeks ago, and have noticed a marked decrease in my inflammation. I have not experienced any achey-ness in my body or feverishness (common side effects of inflammation) since I cut them out.
So, if you are suffering from inflammation, body aches and discomfort, arthritis, or a host of seemingly unrelated symptoms...try cutting out nightshades! You may be surprised at the effects.