Low Nightshade Diet - Food guidelines

Dietary Guidelines for a low nightshade diet

"Nightshades" is the common name for a group of plants belonging to a scientific order called Polemoniales and to a scientifically family called Solanaceae.

Nightshade plants produce substances known as alkaloids to protect themselves from insects. Alkaloids can impact nerve-muscle function, trigger inflammatory reactions, digestive disorders and compromise joint and bone integrity.

The Most Common Foods in the Nightshade Category are:

• Belladonna
• Cayenne
• Chilli
• Eggplant
• Goji Berry
• Mandrake
• Paprika
• Peppers
• Pimentos
• Potatoes
• Tobacco
• Tabasco sauce
• Tamarillo
• Wolfberry

Tips for reducing nightshade alkaloid exposure:

• Cooking reduces alkaloid content of nightshade foods by about 30 to 50%.
• Thickly peel nightshade food as most alkaloids are at the skin.
• Eat fresh and avoid old nightshade foods.
• Discard any green or sprouted potatoes.
• Or remove any green or sprouted areas of potatoes before cooking.
• The green and sprouting spots indicate high alkaloid levels.
• Store a potato somewhere that is cool, dry and dark.
• Keep potatoes away from light. The exposure to light will increase alkaloid formation.