Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionNightshade FoodsIntolerance SymptomsAllergy SymptomsHealth ConditionsHealth BenefitsAlternative FoodsTips
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
Nightshade Foods
Intolerance Symptoms
Allergy Symptoms
Health Conditions
Health Benefits
Alternative Foods
Tips
Nightshade intolerance means that the body is unable to digest, or break down, compounds found in nightshade plants. These include eggplant, tomatoes, potatoes, bell peppers, paprika, and cayenne.An intolerance affects the digestive system. That’s why nightshade intolerance can cause digestive issues like gas, diarrhea, nausea, and bloating. Symptoms usually occur from 30 minutes to 48 hours after eating.Michelle Garrett / Getty ImagesNightshade Intolerance Vs. AllergyA food intolerance, or food sensitivity, happens when a person’s body can’t break down certain compounds in a food, such as the alkaloids found in nightshades.Food intolerances may affect up to 20% of people.In many cases, a person with the condition may be able to eat a small amount of the food they are intolerant to without it causing significant issues.Afood allergyinvolves the immune system, which identifies a certain food as a threat and produces an antibody that triggers an allergic reaction. In the U.S., about 6.2% of adults and 5.8% of children have a food allergy.An allergic reaction to a food can be potentially life-threatening and might happen even when eating a small amount.Foods In the Nightshade FamilyNightshades are a group of 3,000 species of plants in theSolanaceaefamily. Popular edible nightshades include:Potatoes (except for sweet potatoes)TomatoesBell peppersEggplantHot peppersBanana peppersGoji berriesTomatillosPaprikaCayenne pepperChili pepper flakes and powderSymptoms of Nightshade IntoleranceA sensitivity or intolerance to nightshades may cause several symptoms.These may begin within half an hour of eating a food, but in some cases can take up to 48 hours to appear.Possiblesymptoms of a nightshade intoleranceinclude:DiarrheaAbdominal painBloatingNauseaFlatulenceSkin rashItchingIf you suspect you have an intolerance to nightshades, you can try eliminating them from your diet before reintroducing them one at a time to check for symptoms.Nightshade Allergy SymptomsAn allergy to nightshades is rare, only affecting an estimated 0.8% of people.Unlike an intolerance, symptoms of a food allergy appear within seconds or minutes of ingesting a food, such as nightshades.Food allergy symptoms include:Swelling of the face, throat, and mouthItchy or tingling mouthHivesNauseaVomitingDifficulty swallowingDiarrheaAbdominal painDizziness or feelings of light-headednessWheezingShortness of breathItchy eyesSneezingIf you suspect you have an allergy to nightshades, stop eating them and see a healthcare provider.Only a medical test—such as a skin prick test, blood test, or oral challenge—can confirm a food allergy.When to Call 911In severe cases of an allergic reaction, a person may experienceanaphylaxis, a medical emergency that can be life-threatening. Get medical help immediately if you are experiencing these symptoms of anaphylaxis:Trouble breathingTrouble speakingTrouble swallowingSwelling in the tongueFeeling faintTightness in the chestNightshades and Health ConditionsNightshades contain high levels of substances calledalkaloidswhich are sometimes linked to increased inflammation. For this reason, people withinflammatory conditions—like arthritis, lupus, and cancer—sometimes avoid these foods.However, there is no scientific evidence of an association between eating normal levels of nightshades and increased inflammation.Certain ingredients in nightshades may actually be beneficial for inflammation. For example, tomatoes and bell peppers containcarotenoids, antioxidants that protect cells when there is inflammation in the body.Health BenefitsIn addition toantioxidants, many fruits and vegetables from the nightshade family are a good source of nutrients. For example:Eggplant: Contains fiber and potassium, and is an excellent source of magnesiumBell peppers: Rich source of vitamin CPotatoes:High in fiber and potassiumTomatoes: Good source of vitamins C and KNightshade AlternativesIf you have a nightshade intolerance or allergy, you can still get many of the benefits of these fruits,vegetables, and spices from a few simple swaps. For example:Instead of potatoes:Eat cauliflower, sweet potatoes, or yams.Instead of eggplant:Try mushrooms.Instead of bell peppers:Substitute radishes, zucchini, or celery.Instead of tomatoes:Try carrots or beets.Instead of paprika, cayenne, and red pepper:Use ground white or black pepper.How to Adjust to Eating Nightshade-FreeIf you have a nightshade intolerance or allergy, you’ll want to avoid these foods when eating out and grocery shopping. Here’s how:Be prepared:Look at a restaurant’s menu online, and call to ask about ingredients in the dishes. If you have an allergy, take an EpiPen with you to the restaurant.Speak up:Tell the restaurant’s manager and your server about your dietary restrictions, and ask aboutcross-contamination.Avoid all nightshades:When grocery shopping, steer clear of all nightshades, keeping in mind that there are many types. For example, peppers include those of the chili and banana varieties too.Read labels:Nightshades may be hidden in some ingredients like “spices” or “natural flavors.” Potatoes may also be found in foods that list “starch” as an ingredient.SummaryNightshades are a group of plants that includes tomatoes, eggplant, some potatoes, and many peppers. They are good sources of fiber and antioxidants and contain a variety of vitamins and minerals.People who have nightshade intolerance should eat these foods sparingly, or replace them with other options that provide similar nutrients. Suspect you have an allergy to nightshades? Do not eat them, and see an allergist for testing.
Nightshade intolerance means that the body is unable to digest, or break down, compounds found in nightshade plants. These include eggplant, tomatoes, potatoes, bell peppers, paprika, and cayenne.
An intolerance affects the digestive system. That’s why nightshade intolerance can cause digestive issues like gas, diarrhea, nausea, and bloating. Symptoms usually occur from 30 minutes to 48 hours after eating.
Michelle Garrett / Getty Images
Nightshade Intolerance Vs. Allergy
A food intolerance, or food sensitivity, happens when a person’s body can’t break down certain compounds in a food, such as the alkaloids found in nightshades.Food intolerances may affect up to 20% of people.In many cases, a person with the condition may be able to eat a small amount of the food they are intolerant to without it causing significant issues.
Afood allergyinvolves the immune system, which identifies a certain food as a threat and produces an antibody that triggers an allergic reaction. In the U.S., about 6.2% of adults and 5.8% of children have a food allergy.An allergic reaction to a food can be potentially life-threatening and might happen even when eating a small amount.
Foods In the Nightshade Family
Nightshades are a group of 3,000 species of plants in theSolanaceaefamily. Popular edible nightshades include:
Symptoms of Nightshade Intolerance
A sensitivity or intolerance to nightshades may cause several symptoms.These may begin within half an hour of eating a food, but in some cases can take up to 48 hours to appear.
Possiblesymptoms of a nightshade intoleranceinclude:
If you suspect you have an intolerance to nightshades, you can try eliminating them from your diet before reintroducing them one at a time to check for symptoms.
Nightshade Allergy Symptoms
An allergy to nightshades is rare, only affecting an estimated 0.8% of people.Unlike an intolerance, symptoms of a food allergy appear within seconds or minutes of ingesting a food, such as nightshades.
Food allergy symptoms include:
If you suspect you have an allergy to nightshades, stop eating them and see a healthcare provider.Only a medical test—such as a skin prick test, blood test, or oral challenge—can confirm a food allergy.
When to Call 911In severe cases of an allergic reaction, a person may experienceanaphylaxis, a medical emergency that can be life-threatening. Get medical help immediately if you are experiencing these symptoms of anaphylaxis:Trouble breathingTrouble speakingTrouble swallowingSwelling in the tongueFeeling faintTightness in the chest
When to Call 911
In severe cases of an allergic reaction, a person may experienceanaphylaxis, a medical emergency that can be life-threatening. Get medical help immediately if you are experiencing these symptoms of anaphylaxis:Trouble breathingTrouble speakingTrouble swallowingSwelling in the tongueFeeling faintTightness in the chest
In severe cases of an allergic reaction, a person may experienceanaphylaxis, a medical emergency that can be life-threatening. Get medical help immediately if you are experiencing these symptoms of anaphylaxis:
Nightshades and Health Conditions
Nightshades contain high levels of substances calledalkaloidswhich are sometimes linked to increased inflammation. For this reason, people withinflammatory conditions—like arthritis, lupus, and cancer—sometimes avoid these foods.
However, there is no scientific evidence of an association between eating normal levels of nightshades and increased inflammation.
Certain ingredients in nightshades may actually be beneficial for inflammation. For example, tomatoes and bell peppers containcarotenoids, antioxidants that protect cells when there is inflammation in the body.
In addition toantioxidants, many fruits and vegetables from the nightshade family are a good source of nutrients. For example:
Nightshade Alternatives
If you have a nightshade intolerance or allergy, you can still get many of the benefits of these fruits,vegetables, and spices from a few simple swaps. For example:
How to Adjust to Eating Nightshade-Free
If you have a nightshade intolerance or allergy, you’ll want to avoid these foods when eating out and grocery shopping. Here’s how:
Summary
Nightshades are a group of plants that includes tomatoes, eggplant, some potatoes, and many peppers. They are good sources of fiber and antioxidants and contain a variety of vitamins and minerals.
People who have nightshade intolerance should eat these foods sparingly, or replace them with other options that provide similar nutrients. Suspect you have an allergy to nightshades? Do not eat them, and see an allergist for testing.
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Berghi ON, Vrinceanu D, Cergan R, Dumitru M, Costache A.Solanum melongenaallergy (A comprehensive review).Exp Ther Med. 2021;22(4):1061. doi:10.3892/etm.2021.10495American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Food Intolerance Defined.Tuck CJ, Biesiekierski JR, Schmid-Grendelmeier P, Pohl D.Food Intolerances. Nutrients. 2019.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.Food intolerance versus food allergy.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Allergy Facts.Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation.Should I eat nightshade vegetables?NHS.Food intolerance.Arthritis Foundation.Best vegetables for arthritis.Berghi ON, Vrinceanu D, Cergan R, Dumitru M, Costache A.Solanum melongenaallergy (A comprehensive review). Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine. 2021.NHS.Symptoms - food allergy.MedlinePlus.Food allergy testing.Lupus Foundation of America.Will ‘nightshade’ vegetables increase joint pain or lupus flares?Prostate Cancer Foundation.Nightshade foods.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America New England Chapter.Eating out with food allergies.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Berghi ON, Vrinceanu D, Cergan R, Dumitru M, Costache A.Solanum melongenaallergy (A comprehensive review).Exp Ther Med. 2021;22(4):1061. doi:10.3892/etm.2021.10495American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Food Intolerance Defined.Tuck CJ, Biesiekierski JR, Schmid-Grendelmeier P, Pohl D.Food Intolerances. Nutrients. 2019.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.Food intolerance versus food allergy.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Allergy Facts.Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation.Should I eat nightshade vegetables?NHS.Food intolerance.Arthritis Foundation.Best vegetables for arthritis.Berghi ON, Vrinceanu D, Cergan R, Dumitru M, Costache A.Solanum melongenaallergy (A comprehensive review). Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine. 2021.NHS.Symptoms - food allergy.MedlinePlus.Food allergy testing.Lupus Foundation of America.Will ‘nightshade’ vegetables increase joint pain or lupus flares?Prostate Cancer Foundation.Nightshade foods.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America New England Chapter.Eating out with food allergies.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Berghi ON, Vrinceanu D, Cergan R, Dumitru M, Costache A.Solanum melongenaallergy (A comprehensive review).Exp Ther Med. 2021;22(4):1061. doi:10.3892/etm.2021.10495American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Food Intolerance Defined.Tuck CJ, Biesiekierski JR, Schmid-Grendelmeier P, Pohl D.Food Intolerances. Nutrients. 2019.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.Food intolerance versus food allergy.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Allergy Facts.Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation.Should I eat nightshade vegetables?NHS.Food intolerance.Arthritis Foundation.Best vegetables for arthritis.Berghi ON, Vrinceanu D, Cergan R, Dumitru M, Costache A.Solanum melongenaallergy (A comprehensive review). Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine. 2021.NHS.Symptoms - food allergy.MedlinePlus.Food allergy testing.Lupus Foundation of America.Will ‘nightshade’ vegetables increase joint pain or lupus flares?Prostate Cancer Foundation.Nightshade foods.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America New England Chapter.Eating out with food allergies.
Berghi ON, Vrinceanu D, Cergan R, Dumitru M, Costache A.Solanum melongenaallergy (A comprehensive review).Exp Ther Med. 2021;22(4):1061. doi:10.3892/etm.2021.10495
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Food Intolerance Defined.
Tuck CJ, Biesiekierski JR, Schmid-Grendelmeier P, Pohl D.Food Intolerances. Nutrients. 2019.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.Food intolerance versus food allergy.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Allergy Facts.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation.Should I eat nightshade vegetables?
Arthritis Foundation.Best vegetables for arthritis.
Berghi ON, Vrinceanu D, Cergan R, Dumitru M, Costache A.Solanum melongenaallergy (A comprehensive review). Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine. 2021.
NHS.Symptoms - food allergy.
MedlinePlus.Food allergy testing.
Prostate Cancer Foundation.Nightshade foods.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America New England Chapter.Eating out with food allergies.
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