Nightshades—all belonging to a scientific family of plants called Solanaceae—include several thousand species of flowering plants, and most of these plants are not edible as food.At the very same time, however, there are a good number of nightshades that have been enjoyed as staple foods in diets for literally thousands of years. For some people, nightshades have been known to cause digestive issues and even aches and pains. Nightshade foods belong to a family of plants called solenoids that produce glycoalkaloids, chemical compounds that defend the plants against molds, pests, and herbivores. A number of vegetables from this family come from the genus of Solanum and Capsicum. Nightshades like tomatoes, peppers and eggplants have a bad reputation. that belong to a specific botanical family called Solanaceae. Nightshades are unique in that they all grow five petal flowers and alternate leaves that grow in a staggered fashion on the stems. They are a rich source of nutrients, but they are also harmful as regarded by some nutritionists and should be kept off your diets. A number of these plants are grown in home gardens and called nightshade vegetables. Lastly, for those who suffer from an autoimmune disease , it’s worth looking into whether or not nightshade vegetables may cause or “trigger” inflammation in the body and, thus, contribute to … Cucumbers are within the Cucurbitaceae family which includes Cucumbers, Luffa, Watermelon, Calabash, Momordia (Bitter Melon), squash, zucchini, pumpkins and gourds. Glycoalkaloids are a group of chemicals found in nightshade vegetables that … But what if I told you they all contained a dangerous neuro-toxin called alpha-solanine. Nightshades are a family of vegetables referred to scientifically as Solanaceae. Nightshades include a diverse group of plants (more than 2,000 species!) Lesser known are the commonly eaten vegetables in the same nightshade family. It probably has to do with deadly dangerous toxin it possesses known to kill humans, animals, and pests. Over-consumption of these edible species can actually be poisonous to anyone, and it is possible that the low-level toxic properties of nightshade vegetables contribute to a variety of health issues over time. Nightshade vegetables seem like healthy, nutrient-dense additions to any diet. Why do nightshades cause inflammation—and who do they affect most? A good question to ask! And the so-called “nightshade vegetables” have numerous other reasons why they’re benefical for heath, from vitamins and minerals through to fibre and polyphenols. A: One of the most persistent myths about arthritis involves avoiding the nightshade family of vegetables, of which tomatoes, white potatoes, eggplant and … The majority of these claims seem to center around a … Lectins . So what are nightshade vegetables? Nightshade vegetables are named so because they grow mainly in the shady areas and often flower during the night time. It’s true that some nightshades are highly toxic and aren’t meant to be eaten. The Latin name for this family of plants is Solanaceae, because all of them produce an alkaloid compound called solanine. Why are they called nightshade vegetables? These are thought to help protect the plants from hungry insects, but sometimes, findings show that they … Do they Cause Autoimmune Diseases? Although nightshade vegetables are a rich source of nutrients, many people claim they’re harmful and should be avoided. 9 10 11. 2008-06-13 12:52:21 2008-06-13 12:52:21. For example, many believe that a nightshade herb called belladonna was the poison that Juliet used to fake her death in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The Latin name for this family of plants is Solanaceae, but they are more commonly known as the “nightshades.” People with arthritis are often advised to avoid nightshade plants because they supposedly aggravate joint pain. But still, many people do not know what constitutes nightshade vegetables and why they might be associated with various health issues. Now time for some truths, are nightshade vegetables good for you or are they bad? For example, an Internet search on the dangers of nightshade vegetables will result in claims that they cause ailments such as arthritis, inflammatory pain, a leaky gut, and migraines. All of the vegetables mentioned are part of the Solanaceae family, aka Nightshades. What Are Nightshade Vegetables? List of related literature: Nightshade vegetables are minimized: A handful of vegetables—namely potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers—are generally to be avoided because they are high in substances called alkaloids, which can cause inflammation in … WHY SHOULD I AVOID NIGHTSHADE VEGETABLES? These are all compounds that have a high potency in nightshade vegetables. But, nightshades (also known as Solanaceae) encompasses a whole family of flowering plants that includes many very popular fruits and vegetables that you probably eat daily. Nightshades can be problematic for people with autoimmune diseases due to their lectin, saponin, and capsaicin content. Why they are called “nightshade”, we are not really sure why. Our beloved vegetables — the foods that we hated so much as a child, but our parents forced us to eat because they were “healthy” — are actually TOXIC. Asked by Wiki User. But it certainly cannot hurt to eliminate nightshade vegetables to see if they are contributing to your pain. Top Answer. Learn the truth about nightshade vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplants and why they have a reputation for causing harmful inflammation. Tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, and eggplant (as well as tobacco) all belong to the same botanical family, commonly known as the nightshades. They aren’t deadly, but they contain enough toxins to cause inflammation in some people, particularly those with leaky gut or autoimmune disease. Nightshade is a plant with poisonous juices. Some of these so called “healthy foods” may actually be damaging your health. Many of the health concerns about nightshades are due to the presence of the organic compounds alkaloids. Vegetables only make up a small portion of the entire nightshade family, but they do contain several of the foods commonly found in our diets. Upon looking at dozens of research, we found conflicting evidence on nightshade vegetables for gout. And the so-called "nightshade vegetables" have numerous other reasons why they're benefical for heath, from vitamins and minerals through to fibre and polyphenols. Answer. All … These are proteins, found in meat too, or enzymes that are found in many different kinds of foods. Nightshades belong to a scientific family of plants called Solanaceae, which includes thousands of species of fruits, vegetables, herbs, shrubs, and weeds. Why are Nightshades Bad? Tomato is known as a cancer fighter, bell peppers are commended for their nutrient density, and eggplant is a common low carb swap. Nightshade veggies are not bad for you necessarily, but they do contain compounds called lectins. The reason why nightshades are problematic for many people is due to the glycoalkaloid content (see this post). Far from being bad for you, nightshade vegetables confer a number of health benefits because they are often rich in vitamins, minerals, and other useful compounds. It even includes some poisonous plants like the belladonna, which is also called “deadly nightshade.” It was used as a poison by the ancient Romans and, before that, crafted into poison-tipped arrows. Take the nightshade vegetables or Solanaceae, a plant family that includes eggplant, peppers, potatoes and tomatoes. Why are they called nightshade? Well, they have some toxic elements but they do have many parts fit for human consumption, depending on the plant. Frank Lipman, “Why Cut Out Nightshade Vegetables”. Even the name "nightshade" sounds ominous. They include common vegetables like peppers, white potatoes, eggplants, tomatoes, tomatillos, goji berries, okra, and even ashwagandha, the herb that … And the so-called “nightshade vegetables” have numerous other reasons why they’re benefical for heath, from vitamins and minerals through to fibre and polyphenols. Wiki User Answered . Read on for a comprehensive list of nightshades, and to find out why you might want to avoid nightshades to protect or revitalize your health. Nightshades also contain naturally occurring pesticides called alkaloids. Before you cut these healthy foods out of your diet, here is some information about nightshades and how they can affect your gut. As is the case with all elements of the human diet, however, some people find that they feel healthier when they do not eat these vegetables. You may have heard of the term “deadly nightshade” referring to a plant called belladonna, which was used as a poison in ancient times. 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