Nightshade Vegetables: Should You Eat Them?

January 19, 2022March 13, 2022 ~ Loreeebee ~ 1 Comment

Nightshade vegetables are wonderful, versatile, and delicious if you are not sensitive to them. Unfortunately, many times people don’t realize a sensitivity to them until they are investigating unpleasant inflammatory or gastrointestinal symptoms.

What are Nightshade Vegetables?

Tomatoes (and tomatillos), okra, eggplant, peppers, goji berries, and white potatoes are all members of the nightshade family. Also included in the group are spices such as red pepper flakes, chili pepper, cayenne, and paprika. Too bad, as all of these contain antioxidants, vitamins (C and B), and minerals. Not to mention they are tasty.

Why are Nightshade Vegetables Getting a Bad Name?

Unfortunately, even though these vegetables are normally considered very healthy, they can cause more trouble than they are worth for many people. That’s because they also contain nutrients called alkaloids. The alkaloids in turn contain a nitrogen called solanine. While nitrogen is great for fertilizing plants, it is not so easily processed or agreeable in our digestive systems.

Research is now showing that nitrogen consumption can aggravate chronic digestive issues such as leaky gut, irritable bowel, and Celiac disease as well as arthritis and joint pain. Nightshade vegetables create an inflammatory response in many people, especially those afflicted with autoimmune disorders.

Allergies in any form can range from mild to deadly. All reactions, even mild ones, should be acknowledged, investigated, and prevented. Recognized currently are serious allergic reactions to nightshades ranging from hives and itchiness to swelling and difficulty breathing.

Confirm a Sensitivity to Nightshades with an Elimination Diet

Unfortunately, an elimination diet does not provide a quick diagnosis. When you complain of inflammatory or digestive episodes your physician may suggest you avoid nightshade vegetables. Or, you can make the decision yourself as you know your body better than anyone else. Either way, an elimination diet may provide some clarity.

Start by eliminating all of the vegetables and spices listed above for a minimum of one month. Then re-introduce them, one at a time, into your diet. Monitor your symptoms as you re-introduce things. You may react to one and not another from the group. Raw versus cooked versions may create different reactions too. It may be beneficial to keep a journal to record day to day changes and reactions.

Living with the Results

How severely you have to restrict nightshade vegetables from your diet will depend on your findings in your elimination diet as well as the severity of your symptoms when reintroducing them.

You make the call!

Gluten Intolerance: Know the Symptoms

January 12, 2022February 27, 2022 ~ Loreeebee ~ Leave a comment

Any of the following symptoms could be signs that you suffer from gluten intolerance. If any of these signs apply to you, get yourself checked out; you will be glad you did! I did years ago after suffering through many of the symptoms listed below; see this previous post to read about my story.

Common Symptoms

Digestive issues such as gas, bloating, diarrhea and even constipation.
Keratosis Pilaris, (also known as ‘chicken skin’ on the back of your arms). This tends be as a result of a fatty acid deficiency and vitamin A deficiency secondary to fat-malabsorption caused by gluten damaging the gut.
Fatigue, brain fog or feeling tired after eating a meal that contains gluten.
Diagnosis of an autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Ulcerative colitis, Lupus, Psoriasis, Scleroderma or Multiple sclerosis.
Neurologic symptoms such as dizziness or feeling of being off balance.
Hormone imbalances such as PMS, PCOS or unexplained infertility.
Migraine headaches.
Diagnosis of chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia. These diagnoses simply indicate your conventional doctor cannot pin point the cause of your fatigue or pain.
Inflammation, swelling or pain in your joints such as fingers, knees or hips.
Mood issues such as anxiety, depression, mood swings and ADD.

How to Deal with Gluten Intolerance

Gluten intolerance can affect many of the organs in your body, not just your stomach and intestines. This is especially true over long-term exposure. Get informed; knowledge is the best way to move forward to better health.

Gluten-free options are currently very popular in grocery stores and restaurants. I am happy to report there has been a huge improvement in the ten years since I was diagnosed with my wheat allergy.

photo credit

You are what you eat, I am living proof

May 3, 2020 ~ Loreeebee ~ 2 Comments

I know this saying is old, but it has become increasingly clear to me recently. Way back in 2011 I was diagnosed with an allergy to wheat. Since then I have avoided anything that contained wheat. It wasn’t easy, but I have grown accustomed to it. So apparently has my body.

In December of 2018 my husband and I tried out the keto diet as one of our sons was doing it and we were on vacation with him and his family. After a few weeks of experimenting with that, we altered the strict keto version to what I call a “modified keto.” We consume lots of fats, but the good, omega 3 kind. We don’t restrict vegetables or fruits, AKA the good carbs. We avoid processed foods that contain lots of sugar and preservatives, and consume lots of protein, but stick to the lean and non processed variety.

In March of this year, those good habits flew out the window with the arrival of COVID-19 isolation recommendations. Feeling sorry for ourselves (missing our kids and grandkids) or bored, or both, we began the slippery slope to snacking and TV binging.

When Easter festivities were cancelled due to social distancing measures, I still cooked a big dinner and baked delicious goodies, but divvied (most of) it up and dropped off care packages and Easter baskets to our sons’ respective doorsteps for their families to enjoy. Usually when I bake for family gatherings I include one or two gluten free varieties. Not this year, unfortunately for me. Instead I snacked on the wheat laden goodies, limiting myself to half a cookie per day to avoid the stomach problems associated with my wheat allergy.

Shortly after Easter the goodies were gone from our home, but the bumps on my scalp, one of the pre-wheat allergy diagnosis symptoms, were back. As was the bloating, fatigue and general lethargy, not to mention a few extra pounds. All the things I had worked so hard to eliminate!

If that doesn’t prove “you are what you eat” I don’t know what does.

Photo by Trang Doan, via Pexels