what exactly are night shade vegetables?

Answer 1

Naturally Occurring Toxins in Foods






Natural toxins are normal. However, we can consume the fruit or vegetable safely when proper precautions are taken.

There are superstitious beliefs about the nightshade family (Potatoes, Tomatoes, Peppers, and Eggplant) and how they may harm the immune system or be unfit to eat. Actually, many of the vegetables in the nightshade family are staples in one's diet, particularly in the Middle East where Eggplant, Peppers and Tomatoes are eaten in abundance. These vegetables are also known for their great medicinal qualities. People following the macrobiotic diet don’t eat fruits, they are actually all fruits, in the nightshade family.

The nightshade family of foods do indeed have a potential toxin. This is mother nature’s way of protecting themselves from insect damage. The toxin is found in the green part of these vegetables. Proper choosing and storage can cut down these risks.

Potatoes should always be stored in a dark cool place and kept away from light. To be safe, any green part on the potato, including any growths, should be cut away before using. Don’t ever eat green potatoes , they contain the toxin solanine. Potatoes may turn green when exposed to light and you’ll see a green skin. Never eat the leaves or stems from a potato either.

Green Tomatoes have this toxin, glycoalkaloids. These toxins cause them to have a bitter taste to be unappealing for consumption. Although a delicious southern food (fried green Tomatoes), we should not consume green Tomatoes. And never eat the leaves or stems of Tomatoes.

Eggplant and Peppers should be ripe to avoid the toxin. That means no green Peppers and no green Eggplant. Green Peppers, though common, are actually just immature. When allowed to ripen they will turn a glorious red or yellow or orange or even purple. Green Peppers have a distinctive and strong flavor not at all like the mature fruit which is sweet. Again, avoid the leaves and stems.

This toxin can cause nausea, vomiting, and headaches, but you have to eat a whole lot of it for this to occur. In super great quantities, they can cause convulsions and unconsciousness so it can be serious.

People with arthritis sometimes avoid these foods because they may aid in inflammatory conditions, but the reports are conflicting on this advice.

Sweet Potatoes aren’t in nightshade family, they are part of the morning glory family.

Personally, after researching this, I find nothing that leads me to believe the nightshade family is unsafe in average quantities and there is plenty of research on the great antioxidant value and nutritional value of this group, not to mention tasty and versatile!

Fun Fact:

Nightshade vegetables are actually all fruit! We eat them as vegetables (like in salads, side dishes, and not generally snacking out of hand or in desserts) so we consider them vegetables but they are indeed all fruit! What makes a fruit? It's all in the seeds and germination - fruits have seeds that develop from the "ovaries" of flowers. You'll also note that fruit get picked or snipped and leave the plant alive while vegetables, well, we're eating the entire plant there so there's nothing left. Other popular vegetables that are really fruit include okra, cucumber, summer squash and hard squash. Fruitarians do eat these "vegetables" as well as nightshade "vegetables" because of that.

Links:

What does Nightshade mean?, World's Healthiest Foods
Nightshade Vegetables, Cyber Macro
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Cherries, Apples, Peaches and Pears all contain toxic seeds, leaves and bark but the fruit is perfectly fine and quite delicious!

The green leaves of the Rhubarb are very poisonous, but the red fruit itself is fine.

In addition, Corn can harbor a mold that is toxic. That toxin is a carcinogen. Because of this, Delicious Organics will not offer any products with corn syrup. Corn is also now the single most genetically modified organism modified organism, next to soybeans. Corn is also a grain and can raise insulin levels. Personally, we avoid corn in products, we read labels and don't eat processed foods with corn (except the occasional non-GMO corn chip) though we do indulge in organic fresh corn when it’s in season a couple times a year.

Broccoli, Lentils, and Grapefruit contain naturally occurring pesticides that can cause mutations if eaten in large enough quantities.

Peanuts and peanut butter often have traces of aflatoxin, a substance found in a mold that grows on the nuts. This toxin is known to cause cancer in high enough amounts. Delicious Organics only offers products with peanuts that are grown in arid climates like Arizona because that toxin is not found to grow there.

Celery harbors toxins that at high enough levels damage the human immune system and causes photosensitivity. (Highest levels occur in celery that has brownish patches.) Celery also contains naturally occurring nitrates. Spinach, Eggplant, Beets, Lettuce, Turnip Greens, Green Beans, Radishes, and Collards absorb nitrates from the ground fertilizers. The nitrogen in the ground oxidizes into nitrates. These nitrates cause the bitter flavor we associate with some greens like Collards. Organic vegetables have far less, minimal levels of nitrates because of the natural compost used to fertilize the soil as compared with the conventional cousins. While these naturally occurring nitrates are fine in these quantities for adults (although they may trigger migraines in some people), babies should not be given these foods until their detoxification system is more mature, at least 9 months of age.

Spinach, Chard, Beets and Beet Greens, Mustard Greens, Sweet Potatoes , Peanuts, Almonds, Cashews, (most nuts), Beans, Soybeans, Rhubarb, Plantains, Ginger, Pumpkin, Cabbage, Green Beans, Mango, Eggplant, Tomatoes and Tomatillos, Lentils, Parsnips, Bell Peppers, Black Pepper, Parsley, Rhubarb, Summer Squash, Star Fruit, Berries (especially Strawberries and Cranberries), Oats, Coffee, Tea, Chocolate and Cocoa, and contain oxalic acid which while limiting the absorption of calcium also cleans the intestinal tract. Eat these things 2-3 hours before eating dairy or taking calcium supplements to maximize calcium absorption. Debate exists whether it is more beneficial to cook these things, like spinach and chard, or eat it raw (juice it). Cooking turns the oxalic acid into crystals that are sharp and in large quantities can damage the stomach, kidneys and limit the absorption of iron, but cooking also breaks down cell walls and allow us to absorb more nutrients. The answer? Moderation and variety. Very large amounts could cause calcium and other nutritional deficiencies. People with kidney or gallbladder problems may want to avoid these foods.

Raw beans, legumes, and peas, including soybeans, lentils, black-eyed peas, peanuts and mung beans contain trypsin inhibitors that block important digestive enzymes and should therefore be used sparingly.

Alfalfa Sprouts can harbor e-coli bacteria and listeria. This can be uncomfortable for an adult who will get sick, but can be deadly to an unborn baby so pregnant women should avoid these sprouts. Alfalfa sprouts also contain the amino acid canavanine which is an anti-nutrient that can inhibit the natural immune system. Therefore, we would all do well to avoid alfalfa sprouts. Mature alfalfa does not contain this amino acid.

White Button Mushrooms also contain a toxin that in sufficient quantities is carcinogenic.


this information was collected from a variety of sources cited throughout the site including:

Answer 2

Nightshade Vegetable

Answer 3

Night shade vegetables refers vegetables that are dark blue/purple in color. It is best to eat a variety of colors when eating your 5 to 9 servings of fruit and vegetables/day. To find out more (and accurate) information on the benefits of eating fruit and vegetables go to: www.5aday.org.

Answer 4

Do glow-in-the-dark objects stop glowing when somebody turns the lights on? If you died with braces on would they take them off? If someone has their nose pierced, have a cold, and take thier nose ring out. Does snot come out of the piercing hole? How come lemon washing up liquid contains real lemons, but lemon juice contains artificial flavorings. Do you wake up or open your eyes first? Did Noah have woodpeckers on the ark? If he did, where did he keep them? Why are builders afraid to have a 13th floor but book publishers aren't afraid to have a Chapter 11? How do you handcuff a one-armed man? If the FBI breaks your door down do they have to pay for it? In some books, why do they have blank pages at the very end? Why can't donuts be square? Why put a towel in the dirty clothes? got them from her website. now, my own questions: does d light turn off when u shut d fridge? why does d candyman make chocolate? why does d ice cream cone have a pointy bit at d end, u cud poke som1's eye out wid dat thing? except 4 chuck norris, can a real person sneeze wid their eyes open? and if u did, wud ur eyes pop out? why do we hav 2 hav a monday. i h8 it? if santa knows if we r sleeping/ awake or if we'd been bad/good, does dat mean he's a stalker?

Answer 5

Veggies in the Nightshade family: tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, red and green peppers and paprika.
Some people with Rhumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia have to avoid them as they make theconditions flare up or get worse.

Answer 6

Tomatos

Answer 7

Both are good for you, each fruit/vegetable has different vitamins. Therefore as more variety, as better. Vegetables have generally less sugar than fruits.

Answer 8

YO MOMMA