Food Sensitivity: Nightshade Vegetables |
There is a group of vegetables which - if eaten frequently or in excess - are now known to cause Leaky Gut - and lead to more serious medical conditions (references below).
However in most cases these vegetables are not eaten at every meal - or even every day . . . and that's why they are much less likely to be a major cause of chronic symptoms, when compared to the four main food intolerances (gluten, dairy, fructose and yeast).
The most commonly eaten nightshade vegetables are:
- Capsicum family (bell peppers, chili peppers, jalapeno, cayenne pepper etc.)
- Eggplant (Aubergine)
- Goji berry
- Ground cherry
- Potatoes - especially potato skins
- Tamarillos
- Tomatoes, tomatillos
How to reduce the risk of symptoms
There are a few simple guidelines in relation to nightshade vegetables:
 Cook the vegetable - don't eat it raw
Don't eat the skin of potatoes
Avoid concentrated versions (dried ground chili, sundried tomatoes, concentrated juice extracts, hot chili sauce etc.)
If you eat lots of nightshade vegetables in large amounts several times a day - you can expect to have some intestinal damage.
But if you eat moderately from the group once or twice a day most bodies will manage easily.
How Do Nightshade Vegetables Cause Leaky Gut?
Depending on the quantity eaten, the effect of saponins in these foods can damage the gut lining and lead to disease.
Saponins in these foods have evolved to protect the plant from being decimated by insects. The action of the saponins it to dissolve the cell membranes of predatory insects so they die.
Unfortunately this same effect - damage to cell membranes - can also be suffered by mammals (like us!) frequently in the small intestine.
The result is a gut lining that develops holes and allows the passage of foreign - often toxic - substances into our bloodstream - making us ill . . . Leaky Gut.
In addition some of this group of vegetables (e.g. potatoes) also contain lectins which cause additional gut damage in large amounts.
Remember - the effects of nightshade vegetables depend on the quantity eaten. Over-indulgence - as with any 'modern food' may lead to problems.
What's the Solution?
Find out your food intolerance now! Once you discover which foods cause your particular symptoms, you can avoid them and your intestine will heal quickly.
This is knowledge you will use for the rest of your life - so you can remain healthy and disease-free.
The Healing Program has been designed to find any food sensitivity: so you can easily find out which foods are making you sick.
Watch video of FAQs of the Healing Program
Francis G, Kerem Z, Makkar HP, Becker K. The biological action of saponins in animal systems: a review. Br J Nutr. 2002 Dec;88(6):587-605.
Keukens EA, de Vrije T, van den Boom C, de Waard P, Plasman HH, Thiel F, Chupin V, Jongen WM, de Kruijff B.. Molecular basis of glycoalkaloid induced membrane disruption. Biochim Biophys Acta 1995;1240: 216-228.
Smith DB, Roddick JG, Jones JL. Potato glycoalkaloids: some unanswered questions. Trends in Food Sci Technol 1996;7:126-131.
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