Nightshade vegetables include eggplant, tomato, capsicum and potatoes (again), which contain small amounts of alkaloid components which can be poisonous in large doses.
Nightshade is a family of plants that includes tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes, and peppers. Tobacco is also in the nightshade family. Nightshades are unique because they contain small amounts of alkaloids. Alkaloids are chemicals that are mainly found in plants.
Tomatoes and Avocados are fruits and not vegetables. Tomatoes belong to the Nightshade fruit family while Avocados belong to the Laurels family.
And everyone's favorite cruciferous veggie, broccoli, is also not on the nightshade vegetable list. Colorful fruits and vegetables like blueberries and broccoli are often mistaken for nightshades. But these fruits and veggies are actually full of antioxidants.
Solanine is concentrated in the leafy greens bugs try to eat, one major reason why we only eat the tomato or pepper fruit, not the rest of the plant. It can also be found in foods that aren't part of the nightshade family, including blueberries, apples, cherries, and artichokes.
Here's a list of vegetables that people often think are nightshades, but are not nightshades: Black pepper. Coffee.
Berries like goji berries and garden huckleberries (which are different than regular huckleberries). Though blueberries also contain solanine, they aren't nightshades.
Some diets claim that nightshades are inflammatory and should be avoided. This idea is rooted in the fact that nightshades are a large family of plants that contain a chemical compound called alkaloids. In extremely high doses, some alkaloids can make inflammation worse or be poisonous.
Zucchini is not a nightshade. Cucumbers are not nightshades. Coffee is not a nightshade. Squash is not a nightshade.
Although they're generally referred to as vegetables, many nightshades are botanically considered fruits, such as tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers. Nightshades belong to the Solanacaea family of plants.
While this is a common misconception, no, beets are root vegetables, not nightshade vegetables. Nightshade vegetables can be linked to causing inflammation whereas beets can prevent it. Potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, bell peppers and spices sourced from peppers are all examples of nightshade vegetables.
Foods that are not nightshades, but often get mistaken for them. Zucchini, cucumbers, and mushrooms are not nightshades, even though many people think they are.
However, today most people eat “edible” nightshades every day in the form of French fries, mashed potatoes, salsa, spaghetti sauce, ketchup, and many other popular foods. Nightshade vegetables contain enough toxins to cause inflammation in some people, particularly those with autoimmune disease.
Allergies are caused by glycoalkaloids, a compound naturally produced by all nightshade plants. This is a natural pesticide that helps the plant fight against pathogens, such as bacteria. It can also stimulate an immune response in people.
Nightshades are a botanical family of foods and spices that contain chemical compounds called alkaloids, explains registered dietitian Ryanne Lachman. Common edible nightshades include: Tomatoes. Potatoes (but not sweet potatoes).
Strawberries are not nightshades; in fact, they're part of the rose family! A strawberry is not actually a berry. By technical definition, a berry is a fleshy fruit produced from a single seed. The strawberry, however has its dry, yellow “seeds” on the outside (each of which is actually considered a separate fruit).
Although there is a plant known as "Watermelon Nightshade" due to it's leaves resembling watermelon vine leaves, watermelons are not a member of the nightshade family. Common nightshade foods include tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, bell pepper, tomatillo, chili peppers, paprika and others.
Nightshade fruits and vegetables — tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and potatoes — have sparked debate for decades. The point of contention? Whether or not these foods can cause flares in some people with autoimmune disease, including inflammatory forms of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.
Refined carbohydratesFoods that contain flour, such as breads and crackers, and foods such as white rice and instant mashed potatoes are high-glycemic foods that cause inflammation.