Inflammation? Joint pain? Arthritis? Fibromyalagia? Joint cracking? If so, you may want to check out these articles...HERE and HERE. In a nutshell, you may be sensitive to nightshades. Muscle pain and tightness, morning stiffness, poor healing, arthritis, insomnia and gall bladder problems—these can all be caused by nightshades. Nightshades can also cause heart burn or GERD.
What are nightshades? Well, they are plants that belong to a scientific family called Solanaceae.
Plants in this family include tomatoes, potatoes (not sweet potatoes or yams), eggplant and peppers—this means all peppers including chili peppers, habenero, cayenne pepper and paprika (not peppercorns).
According to various articles I've read, in the 18th century tomatoes and eggplants weren't even eaten, and just used as ornamental decor. Both were considered toxic; in fact the eggplant was even called the "mad apple" as it was thought to make people insane.
More recently, studies have shown that the toxicity and high glutamates of these foods (and numerous others like gluten, soy, corn, casein from cows milk, all forms of MSG) can have an effect neurologically as well as the muscle and joint problems listed above. People who suffer from epileptic seizures, ADD, Autism and other similar disorders would be wise to avoid the nightshades.
In another article, I recently read, there are a few fruits and vegetables that contain nutrients that can improve inflammation such as grapes, apples and onions. These contain the substances Resveratrol and Quercetin both of which through research are showing mounting evidence that these protective nutrients can help squelch the flames of systemic inflammation that are at the root of many chronic diseases.
So, do your research and maybe try decreasing the nightshades and increasing grapes & apples. Another item you may want to look into is food sensitivity and intolerance tests that are now widely available. So far, from my research, the ALCAT tests seem to be the most effective though not 100% accurate. I'm sure, as most things I type about these days, there will be many out there to disagree and say these food tests are useless-but I think they can be used as another weapon in finding out ones ailments rather than immediately taking some drugs that simply mask the problems and never get rid of the actual issue at hand.
Oh-and for anyone that actually read through to the bottom here-and gives a hoot (hehehe), I'm up to 48 push ups!!!! John reckons I could have done the 50, but since we didn't have the camera rolling, I'm waiting till next weekend! ;-0
Cheers and ciao for now!
15 Weeks till Comp Time!
3 hours ago
7 comments:
So interesting you posted this - I just learned about nightshades and was considering eliminating them from my diet. Aren't onions nightshades also?
I don't know... I'm currently doing no sugar and no wheat... but it just seems like no matter which way I turn someone has info about more foods that I shouldn't eat... half of them contradicting the other things I've read! I'm running out of things to eat!
I'm thinking I should just try to go completely raw... but then I hear that's not ideal either!!
From my research, onions are in a completely different family-so no they are not nightshades.And yes..you are running into the problem that so many of us have in recent years with sooo much contradictory information out there. That's one reason I suggest the food sensitivity test-everyone is different at what is bad for some, may be vital for another.
Another thing you can do is keep a food journal and see if your body reacts certain ways to different foods. Of course, you won't know if it's a delayed or "build up" effect-but it could at least give you indication of immediate intolerances.
In the end, it's all trial and error, and if you pay attention to your body, and treat it well-you will find what works best for you to maintain true health and hopefully keep you off the script drugs in the future. ;-0
And I meant to add, Marie, that if you try going without nightshades and don't notice any difference say, after a month, then you probably don't have a sensitivity to them and if you like them, go back to eating them and try something else. ;-0
hiya, this is very interesting information. thank you for writing about it. i suffer from chronic pain, but do not take medications for it. i am doing more in the exercise area, but still have not made it to the gym. (i know, if not now, when??) but i have increased the length of time that Kane and I go for our walks. little by little and bit by bit. hope you are doing well, and that 2011 is fabulous for you. *gentle hugs* from the east :)
Very interesting. I am indeed a Nightshader, and I suffer many of those ailments. Perhaps I should cut them out for a while.
Wow. Awesome info. I am so glad I found your blog... I'm absorbing all of it!! Thank you SO much for sharing.
Thanks again Ms. Byn! Glad you are finding some helpful info! :-)
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