What Are Nightshade Vegetables—and Why Do They Get Such a Bad Rap?

Registered dietitians set the record straight.

Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and white potatoes are all what’s known as nightshade vegetables.

But does that mean these veggies should be avoided?

Some people have come to think so, but that’s not necessarily the case.

What Are Nightshade Vegetables and Fruits?

TheSolanceaefamily includes the following.

Nightshades have tons of health benefits.

Besides providing gut-loving fiber, nightshade vegetables (some of which are actually fruits!)

We can’t talk about nightshade vegetables without mentioning solanine, the natural pesticide found in these plants.

Solanine is a colorless, glycoalkaloid chemical that’s produced by nightshade plants to make them unpalatable to insects.

Besides nightshade sensitivity, some people are allergic to nightshades.

“If none of them poses any problem, then they can likely be included in their diet.”

There are some clever swaps that could give you similar results in dishes.

Disparities in state-specific adult fruit and vegetable consumption united states, 2015.

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2017;66. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6645a1

U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Are green potatoes dangerous?

August 23, 2024.https://ask.usda.gov/s/article/Are-green-potatoes-dangerous