JULY 16, ‘25 // WITH TEHILA (WIDENBAUM) KAPLAN, INHC What Are Nightshades? Nightshades are a group of plants from the Solanaceae family, which includes over 2,000 species, though only a small number are commonly eaten. The edible ones are known as nightshade vegetables (or fruits, technically, in many cases) and include familiar favorites like tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes, bell peppers, and chili peppers. You’ll also find lesserknown members like goji berries and tomatillos in this group. Many spices are derived from nightshades too, such as paprika, chili powder, cayenne, and crushed red pepper. (Quick side note: black and white pepper come from a completely different plant and aren’t related to nightshades at all.) Nightshades have a bit of a mysterious past. The name is thought to come from their darker, more toxic relatives like belladonna, also known as deadly nightshade, which was historically used as a narcotic or hallucinogen. But when it comes to food, these plants have been part of traditional diets around the world. So how are nightshades different? They contain naturally occurring compounds called alkaloids, which help the plant defend itself from insects and disease. In most people, these compounds aren’t an issue. But for those with certain sensitivities, autoimmune conditions, or gut imbalances, alkaloids can sometimes trigger inflammation or immune responses, more on that coming up. Nightshades You may have heard that some people avoid “nightshades” like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant and wondered, why would anyone cut out such healthy vegetables? It sounds a little extreme at first, but for some people, nightshades can trigger real issues, kind of like how wheat or dairy affects those with sensitivities. If you deal with autoimmune conditions, food intolerances, or something like leaky gut, these veggies might actually be part of the problem. For most people, though, nightshades are totally fine. In this article, I’m breaking down what nightshades are, why they cause reactions for some, and how to tell if they’re something your body does or doesn’t get along with. 142
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