Arthritis & Nightshades
Nightshades are a family of flowering plants that belong to the Solanaceae family.
Some people may be sensitive to certain compounds found in nightshades, particularly solanine and capsaicin.
The alkaloid found in nightshades is solanine.
It functions as an insecticide while the plant is growing.
Tomatoes (all varieties):
- Includes cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, and heirloom tomatoes.
Bell Peppers (all colors):
- Green, red, yellow, orange, and other varieties.
Hot Peppers:
- Includes chili peppers, jalapeños, serranos, habaneros, and cayenne peppers.
Eggplant:
- All varieties of eggplant.
Potatoes (not sweet potatoes):
- White potatoes, red potatoes, russet potatoes, and other non-sweet varieties.
* Steer clear of potatoes that have turned green; they’ve developed exceptionally high amounts of solanine and aren’t safe to eat.
Tomatillos:
- Small green fruits with a papery husk, often used in Mexican cuisine.
Paprika:
- A spice made from ground, dried peppers.
Cayenne:
- A type of chili pepper commonly used to make a ground spice.
Goji Berries:
- These are small, red berries often used in dried form.
Ground Cherries:
- Small, yellow-orange fruits enclosed in a papery husk.
Tobacco is also in the nightshade family.
- Sweet potatoes and black pepper are not considered nightshades and are generally well-tolerated by most people.