Nightshades are a family of foods and spices packed with nutrients. Some common nightshades include:
- Eggplant
- Tomatoes
- Potatoes
- Bell peppers
- Hot peppers
- Paprika
- Chili pepper flakes
Nightshades have a bad reputation in certain diet communities for contributing to inflammation. However, there is little evidence to support this theory. If you’re avoiding nightshades because of this you may be doing more harm than good by removing healthy foods from your diet unnecessarily.
That being said, as with all foods, it is possible to develop an allergy or sensitivity to nightshades.
How Food Allergies Develop
When you have a food allergy, your body misidentifies that food or substance in the food as something dangerous and releases IgE antibodies to neutralize the allergen. The next time you eat that food the antibodies send a message to your immune system to release chemicals like histamine. These chemicals cause symptoms, including:
- Tingling or itchy mouth
- Rash
- Congestion
- Digestive problems
More severe reactions include:
- Swelling of the face, mouth, tongue and/or throat
- Difficulty breathing
- In rare cases, anaphylaxis. A severe allergic reaction that causes your airways to constrict. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate medical attention
See an Allergist
If you have had any food allergy symptoms after consuming nightshades, get tested by an allergist. They can use blood and/or skin prick tests to determine your specific allergens and help you manage your condition.
Nightshades aren’t one of the more common food allergies, so it’s possible that your reaction was actually to another more common allergen like soy, seafood, gluten, dairy or nuts.
You May Have a Sensitivity to Nightshades
Sometimes people have sensitivities to certain foods, which means that even though no immune response is triggered when they eat it, they can still experience unpleasant symptoms such as stomach aches, heartburn and nausea.
If you believe you have a sensitivity to nightshades, try removing them from your diet for a few weeks to see if your symptoms improve. Just make sure that when you’re doing your shopping at Westview Corner Grocery you are replacing them with equally nutritious food. Some suggestions include:
- Portabella mushrooms for eggplant
- Cauliflower for white potatoes
- Cumin for paprika
For more information on food allergies or to schedule an appointment with an expert allergist, call ENT of Georgia North today.
