WHAT ARE “NIGHTSHADE” VEGETABLES? Nightshade vegetables are part of a plant family called Solanaceae. The main plants in the Nightshade family are tomatoes, potatoes (but not sweet potato/yams), eggplant, peppers (all except black pepper), paprika, tobacco, gogi berries and ashwagandha. I recommend some of my patients do a trial of a diet free of nightshade vegetables for a period of time to determine if they notice any improvements in their health. Read on to find out why I recommend this to some patients.

NIGHTSHADE VEGETABLES In the 1950’s, Norman F. Childers, a professor of horticulture at Rutgers University, began to investigate the relationship between nightshade plants and arthritic as well as other medical conditions. His work involved examining naturally occurring toxins in food plants. Childers’ specific interest in the nightshade group of plants stemmed from his own experience with consumption of members of the Solanaceae (or nightshade) family. This group of plants includes: tomatoes, potatoes (except sweet potatoes and yams), eggplant, peppers (all except black and white pepper), paprika, the herb ashwagandha, goji berries and tobacco, as well as other plants that are not generally part of the human diet. Childers noticed that his diverticulitis (condition involving the intestinal wall) symptoms, and later his arthritis pain, disappeared when he avoided the nightshade foods. After some of his colleagues and acquaintances had similar relief of chronic symptoms by following the “nightshade-free” diet, Childers decided to recruit volunteers across the country to try his diet.

Much of the academic work regarding nightshades can be credited to Dr. Norman Childers who had been researching nightshades for about 50 years in farm animals, as well as through dietary modification techniques with human correspondents across the country.

In 1977, Childers and one of his students, Gerald M. Russo, published the first edition of The Nightshades and Health, which describes this association between nightshades and various chronic health ailments such as structural and arthritic type conditions. Childers included numerous abstracts in his book that describe the effects of nightshade plant consumption on livestock, such as: gait abnormalities, weakness, osteopetrosis, calcinosis and arterial calcification. He also includes several detailed case reports from the human correspondents who followed his prescribed diet and their experiences involving relief of chronic ailments.

Most of the studies involving the ill-effects of chronic solanine/nightshade plant ingestion involve animals. However, Dr. Childers did record the case histories and results that a nightshade free diet had on over 400 correspondents that chose to try it in an attempt to relieve their chronic arthritis. The following is a summary of the report issued by Dr. Childers and one of his colleagues: Total of 434 correspondents who returned questionnaire issued related to diagnosis of arthritis and their willingness to attempt elimination of nightshades as a form of treatment. Of those rigidly on the diet, 94% had complete or substantial relief of symptoms. Of dieters with occasional “slip”, 50% had complete or substantial relief of symptoms. Overall, 68% had complete or substantial relief. Childers’ case histories also emphasized the fact that transgressions in the diet can often result in a recurrence of symptoms.

In addition to arthritic conditions, I find that nightshade consumption in some individuals can also be associated with gastrointestinal symptoms, skin issues, and other chronic pain disorders, amongst other manifestations.

To determine if nightshade vegetables are affecting your health, you need to stay off all nightshades (potato, except for sweet potato/yam, tomato, eggplant, pepper except for black/white pepper, paprika, tobacco, ashwagandha, and goji berries) for at least 6-8 weeks. Some patients may feel better within days, while it can take months for others to realize the full benefit of avoidance. You should read labels carefully and have 100% avoidance for optimal results (if a label says “spices” and doesn’t say what kind, assume it has paprika or red pepper unless you check with the manufacturer). After several weeks to months, if feeling better, try adding back small amounts of nightshades and see how you feel. For many patients, permanent avoidance is necessary to keep symptoms at bay; however, there are patients who can introduce small quantities back into the diet without suffering from a relapse of symptoms.

Additional Information on Nightshade vegetables: http://www.noarthritis.com/nightshades.htm http://www.thepaleomom.com/2013/08/what-are-nightshades.html http://www.greatlifeglobal.com/services/health-a-wellness-consultations/29.html

References:

1. Childers, NF, Russo, GM. The Nightshades and Health. 1st Ed. Somerville, New Jersey: Somerset Press, Inc.; 1977. 2. Childers N.F., and Margoles M.S. “An Apparent Relation of Nightshades (Solanaceae) to Arthritis” Journal of Neurological and Orthopedic Medical Surgery (1993) 12:227-231 3. Fowler, M. Nightshade Free Pain Free! Michael Fowler; 2007. 4. Francis G et al.“The biological action of saponins in animal systems: a review.” Br J Nutr. 2002 Dec;88(6):587-605. 5. Gee JM, et al “Effects of saponins and glycoalkaloids on the permeability and viability of mammalian intestinal cells and on the integrity of tissue preparations in vitro.” Toxicol In Vitro. 1996 Apr;10(2):117-28. 6. Jensen-Jarolim E et al. “Hot spices influence permeability of human intestinal epithelial monolayers.” J Nutr. 1998 Mar;128(3):577-81. 7. Lebowitz, M., and Kapadia, A. Body Restoration: An Owners Manual. 2011