Do you really like tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and potatoes? Find out why some people are shunning these popular foods.
Q I’ve heard the term “nightshade foods,” but I don’t know what foods those are. I’ve also heard that some people avoid them. Why?
—Maria G., Yuma, Ariz.
a: Nightshades are the common name for flowering plants that belong to the botanical family Solanaceae, which contains more than 2,000 different species. Many nightshades are poisonous and should never be eaten, including belladonna, also known as deadly nightshade.
Many nightshades, however, are very popular foods—tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, all types of sweet and hot peppers, cayenne, chili powder, paprika, pimentos, tomatillos, chilies, goji berries, and ashwagandha (an adaptogenic herb used in Ayurvedic medicine). In fact, in the U.S., we consume almost 230 pounds of nightshades per person per year.
Personal Stories, Limited Research
This story is from the August 2017 edition of Better Nutrition.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2017 edition of Better Nutrition.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Strike A Healing Chord
Soothe your mind, body, and spirit with three simple sound therapy techniques for self-care.
Laura's Gourmet Granola
If you’re tired of granola that’s more candy than health food, chef and entrepreneur Laura Briscoe’s offerings are just what you’ve been looking for.
News Bites
Caffeine, Peanuts, CoQ10, and Iron Deficiency.
The Overlooked Keys to a Healthy Gallbladder
Keep your bile thin and free-flowing by focusing on supportive foods, supplements, and physical activity.
Go Nutty This Year
This über-healthy alternative to traditional lattes features homemadewalnut “mylk,” along with antioxidant-rich green tea and berries.
The Three Stages of Infection
What you need before, during and after an illness, and why you need different fixes for each stage.
Taming the Flames
How to beat back chronic inflammation and protect yourself from related disease.
Deconstructing the Flexitarian Diet
How being a part-time vegan can make you healthier.
Brain Regain
How one senior used a leptin-focused diet (high-fat, no carbs) to recover from a cognitive injury, reconnect with his family, and reclaim his health.
Healthy Aging— Head To Toe
Science-backed supplements to protect all your parts.