JULY/AUGUST 2019JULY/AUGUST 2019 EATINGWEATINGWELL ELL 6161
Tomatoes, eggplants, okra, potatoes and all
manner of peppers (bell and otherwise):
these familiar produce picks are members
of the nightshade family. Like other fruits
and veggies, they pack plenty of benefi cial
nutrients like the cholesterol- reducing ly-
copene in tomatoes and potatoes’ blood-
pressure-lowering potassium. So why are
they non grata in some diets?
Nightshades contain compounds (such
as glycoalkaloids and tropane alkaloids)
that nightshade opponents claim can in-
crease infl ammation in the body, leading
to health issues. “In high concentrations,these compounds are quite toxic,” says
Gaurav Moghe, Ph.D., an assistant profes-
sor of plant biology at Cornell University.
(They’re what make ornamental night-
shades like petunias unfi t to eat.) While
edible nightshades also have some of
these same compounds, he says the levels
are so teeny that they’re harmless for the
majority of healthy individuals, and no
solid research suggests otherwise.
Some folks with infl ammatory condi-
tions, such as eczema, psoriasis and in-
fl ammatory bowel disease, report feeling
better after nixing nightshades, but theresearch is far from defi nitive. In some
of the studies, participants eliminated
multiple food groups—so, was it the
nightshades or something else? Plus,
some improvements were self- reported
(not measured by a doctor).Bottom Line: If you have an infl am-
matory condition, talk to your doctor
to see if it’s worth trying a nightshade-
elimination diet. Otherwise, as long as
you feel fi ne when you eat grilled egg-
plant or a tomato sandwich, keep enjoy-
LEIGH BEISCH; FOOD STYLIST: DAN BECKER ing these nutritious plants.