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May 2, 2023 · Nightshade is a family of plants that includes tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes, and peppers.Tobacco is also in the nightshade family. Nightshades are unique because they contain small amounts of ...
Sep 19, 2019 · Common edible nightshades include: Tomatoes. Potatoes (but not sweet potatoes). ... In fact, there are many other plants in the nightshade family that are poisonous to humans (like, ahem, tobacco
- Overview
- Tomatoes
- Potatoes
- Bell peppers
- Hot peppers
- Eggplant
- Tomatillos
- Goji berries
- Blueberries
Nightshade plants contain dangerous alkaloids like solanine. There also fruit like blueberries, which are not nightshade plants but do contain solanine. Despite this, many such fruit and vegetables are safe to eat.
Nightshade fruits and vegetables are a broad group of plants from the Solanaceae family. Nightshade plants contain poisonous alkaloids, one called solanine.
While ingesting nightshade plants can be fatal, fruits and vegetables in this same classification of plant — many of which you’ll find at your local grocery store — are actually safe to eat.
This is because the amount of this toxic compound is lowered to nontoxic levels once the fruits and vegetables ripen. Still, the leaves and berries of the deadly nightshade plant are toxic and shouldn’t be consumed.
Tomatoes are a staple of many diets for numerous reasons. In addition to how easy they are to grow, they’re also packed with nutrition. This fruit is high in vitamins A and C, and is also a good source of potassium, vitamin B-6, manganese, and dietary fiber.
Research suggests that tomatoes contain carotenoids, powerful antioxidants that may protect the body from certain conditions. Lycopene, a carotenoid found in abundance in tomatoes, is thought to protect against cancer, inflammation, diabetes, and oxidative damage.
Potatoes are one of the most abundantly grown foods used in the Western world. They’re also part of the perennial nightshade family that can be mildly poisonous under certain conditions.
Potato “eyes” or sprouts, as well as any green skin or flesh, are likely to contain a toxin called solanine. But solanine can also be found in parts of the potato that aren’t green.
Solanine may be found in potatoes that are:
•picked too early
•exposed to light
•stored someplace too cold, like the fridge
If you need a boost of vitamin C, bell peppers are a great choice. One green pepper contains more vitamin C than an orange.
Bell peppers are one of the most versatile snacks in the nightshade family. You can slice them up and dip them in hummus, add them to a stir fry, or try making this bell pepper farro salad.
Hot peppers may be nightshades, but like the sun they can bring some heat. And if your tongue can endure the burn, these fiery devils contain good nutrients.
Common hot peppers — like jalapenos, serrano peppers, and red or green chilies — are good sources of vitamin C and vitamin A.
Capsaicin, what helps give spicy peppers their kick, has been shown to decrease inflammation, which can help people with joint disorders walk with less pain.
If you want something sweet with your spice, try making these chili-chocolate dipped cherries.
Eggplant is a good source of manganese, a mineral that helps enzymes in your body carry out important functions. Additionally, according to researchers, eggplant peels contain a natural antioxidant called anthocyanin that can help protect your skin from the oxidative stress of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation.
Because of their meaty texture when cooked, they’re popular among vegetarians — think eggplant parmesan — as well as with vegans.
The tomatillo is a nightshade that grows in a husk and is similar to a tomato. Common in Central and South America, it’s a staple of Mexican green sauces and can be boiled, fried, or steamed.
While not as nutritiously plentiful as your garden-variety red tomato, they contain small amounts of antioxidants and can help you sneak some extra fiber into your diet without adding in many extra calories. They are also a source of minerals such as iron, phosphorus, and copper.
To find fresh goji berries, you’ll have to visit a Chinese farm. But they’re also typically found at specialty food stores in dried form, sometimes labeled as wolfberries.
Dried goji berries contain protein and numerous amino acids such as tyramine. Research suggests they may support your immune system and the production of blood cells in your body. What’s more, they may protect against radiation, aging, cancer, and oxidation.
If you’re trying them for the first time, know that it’s possible to be allergic to them. You’ll want to stop eating them if you develop a rash or become ill.
To get more beneficial nightshades in your diet, try adding goji berries into this double berry cobbler.
Blueberries are not technically a nightshade plant. But, like nightshades, they contain some solanine.
Blueberries have been called a “superfood” because they contain antioxidant compounds.
According to researchers, evidence from recent studies show that blueberries contain flavonoids, specifically one called anthocyanin, that’s directly associated with cognitive benefits.
With that in mind, blueberries are thought to reduce risks for inflammatory diseases such as metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and cardiovascular disease.
A cup of blueberries is a good source of vitamin C, as well as supplying some dietary fiber.
For a healthy morning burst of blueberry bliss, try this blueberry and spinach smoothie.
Sep 7, 2021 · What are nightshades exactly? Pre TB-12-tomato-hysteria, most of us probably hadn't even heard of nightshades. "Nightshades consist of a huge number of plants that share a few common characteristics," says Beaver. "Scientists refer to this plant family as Solanaceae. You may actually have some nightshades in your garden, such as petunias.
Mar 7, 2023 · Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and white potatoes are all what's known as nightshade vegetables. They belong to a plant family called the Solanaceae family, which, fascinatingly, also encompasses deadly, inedible plants like tobacco, belladonna, and mandrake. But even the edible nightshades we see at the grocery store contain small amounts of ...
Mar 26, 2024 · Influencers love to malign tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, and peppers. ... The name “nightshades” comes in part from the infamous Belladonna plant, also known as the “deadly nightshade ...
Jul 28, 2020 · Some believe, however, that they can trigger inflammation and immune dysfunction. Nightshade vegetables belong to the family of plants with the Latin name Solanaceae. Potatoes, tomatoes, peppers ...
