Don't forget how foods play a major role in good health and healing. For instance, if you have any type of arthritis, stay away from night shade vegetables like these: Nightshade is a term used to describe the Solanaceae family of plants. Solanaceae includes the famous psychoactive "deadly nightshade" or belladonna, as well as some of the most common edible plants. Members of the nightshade family include:
potatoes
tomatoes
bell peppers
eggplant
tobacco
petunias
mandrake
hot peppers (capsicum)
wolfberries
Solanaceae is also known as the potato family.
Problem Nightshades
Holistic practitioners often recommend avoiding nightshades in the diet, especially to patients suffering from arthritis or other types of pain and inflammation.
"Foods from the nightshade family tend to exacerbate any inflammatory conditions you might have," says Tom Woloshyn in The Complete Master Cleanse (2007). "They may also cause headaches and trigger migraines in some people."
The nightshades most often warned against are tomatoes, bell peppers, potatoes and eggplant. Avoiding tobacco, another nightshade, goes without saying in health-conscious circles.
Nightshades, Inflammation and Pain
How and why do nightshades contribute to inflammation and pain? Nightshade plants are known for producing a range of alkaloid chemicals, which may be toxic – from irritating to lethal. These chemicals can also contribute to allergic reactions.
Read on
Types of Metabolic Cleansing
The Magical Plants of Harry Potter
Growing, Planting and Harvesting Eggplant
Alkaloids produced by the nightshade family:
nicotine in tobacco
hallucinogenic and deadly tropane alkaloids in belladonna
mildly irritating alkaloids in tomatoes, potatoes, and other food nightshades
As a group, nightshades have a bad reputation in alternative health circles and many practitioners recommend avoiding tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and eggplant, or eliminating them from the diet entirely – especially if you are seeking to eliminate chronic pain symptoms or headaches.
I have also found that eating sugar just makes the arthritis pain worse.
Keep on a healthy protein diet and "good" fats. Eat, yogurt, cheese, boiled eggs, salmon, nuts, whey protein shakes, avocado's, meat, beans, tofu and fresh vegetables. (except those that are night shade). |