Arthritis is a long-term condition in which the connective tissues and muscles of your joints become inflamed, causing stiffness and joint pain. It can also degrade the cells of your bones at your joints, contributing to permanent damage and joint disfigurement. Although many arthritis remedies focus on topical pain relief, diet may also affect this condition. Nightshade vegetables may make symptoms worse for some arthritis sufferers.
Types of Nightshades
Nightshades are vegetables that belong to the Solanaceae family of plants, according to certified nutritional consultant Phyllis Balch, author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing." These vegetables include potatoes, tomatoes and eggplants, also known as aubergines. Peppers are nightshades -- these include habaneros, bell peppers, cayenne peppers, jalapenos and serranos. Tobacco is also a nightshade.
Chemicals in Nightshades
Although the reason is not clear, several steroid and glycoalkaloid chemicals in nightshade vegetables may increase inflammation and pain associated with arthritis, according to "Journal of Neurological and Orthopedic Medical Surgery." These include solanine, which is found in potatoes and eggplants; nicotine, which is present in tobacco; capsaicin, the chemical that gives peppers their characteristic heat; and tomatine, a chemical found in tomatoes.
Availability of Evidence
The majority of the evidence available to establish the connection between nightshade vegetables and arthritis is anecdotal. In a postcard survey conducted in 1979, 30 percent of 2,453 respondents claimed improvement in arthritis symptoms after switching to a diet free of nightshades, according to the "Journal of Neurological and Orthopedic Medical Surgery." A similar survey was conducted in 1985, in which 68 percent of respondents diagnosed with arthritis claimed that eliminating nightshades improved symptoms. Scientific studies have only been completed on laboratory rats, so the effect of nightshades on humans is not clear.
Alternatives
Although scientific evidence is not available to confirm the connection between arthritis and nightshade vegetables, there are numerous vegetable alternatives to replace nightshades if you believe that nightshades increase your arthritis symptoms. These include broccoli, kale, artichokes, corn, chickpeas, lentils, lima beans and squash. These foods can provide vitamins, minerals and fit in your diet without adding chemicals that may worsen arthritis.
References
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C. et al.; 2010
- "Journal of Neurological and Orthopedic Medical Surgery"; An Apparent Relation of Nightshades (Solanaceae) to Arthritis; N.F. Childers, Ph.D., et al.; 1993
