NUTRITION

Focus on:
Nightshade vegetables 

Are they bad for you?

Nightshades belong to the Solanaceae family of plants, and the most common edible nightshades include tomatoes, bell peppers, chilli peppers, aubergines, and potatoes (not sweet potatoes) and spices sourced from peppers such as cayenne and paprika.

Many are rich sources of nutrients and unless you know you are sensitive to them, can be enjoyed as part of a nutrient dense diet.

Bell peppers contain incredible amounts of vitamin C, with a single one providing up to 169% of the recommended daily intake!  Tomatoes are good sources of vitamin A and C and contain all four of the carotenoid antioxidants lycopene, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and lutein. In fact, the American Institute for Cancer Research lists tomatoes as one of the ‘top foods to fight cancer’.

However, some claim that Solanine an alkaloid found in plants of the nightshade family may contribute to inflammation and recently nightshade vegetables have picked up some bad press because of this.

If you’re healthy and don’t have adverse or allergic reactions to nightshades, there is no compelling reason to avoid them unless you are advised to by your GP or Nutritionist.