Nightshades are the secret inflammation-causing problem of paleo. Many people have never even heard of nightshades… I know this term was completely foreign to me when I started paleo.
So what are nightshades?
Nightshades are a family of vegetation that uses different levels of toxicity as protection. Many nightshades are poisonous, but several are used in everyday cooking.
Edible nightshades:
White potatoes
Tomatoes
Eggplants
Peppers (both sweet and spicy)
Spices created from these ingredients
While normal bodies have no problem with the small levels of toxicity found in these foods, people with autoimmune disorders, and some people without, often have increased sensitivity to nightshades. We are unable to fully process nightshades, and we can experience some pretty intense symptoms when we eat them. These may include “diarrhea, gas, bloating, nausea, painful joints, headaches, and depression.” Doesn’t that sound like your autoimmune symptoms?
Cutting out nightshades can be a critical step to gut healing. I cut out nightshades completely for 6 months. I now eat tomatoes about once a week, but I am still fairly wary of peppers and only save them for special occasions. For me, potatoes never caused a problem. Everyone is different and foods affect everyone differently. This may be my new mantra.
Try cutting out nightshades and see if it can help your health. If you’re not sure these foods cause you issues, at least gain enough information to make an informed decision. Below are the resources I used for this post. Check them out for more information.
My Resources:
paleoleap.com/nightshades
http://www.livestrong.com/article/367949-list-of-nightshade-vegetables-fruits/