What’s the Deal with Nightshades?

Peppers, tomatoes, and eggplants are commonly consumed vegetables in the nightshade family. The foods in the nightshade family are tasty, nutrient-rich, and staples in many cultures worldwide. So, what are nightshades? Are nightshades a good choice for everyone? What are the health effects of nightshades?What are Nightshades?Nightshade vegetables are the edible parts of flowering plants belonging to the Solanaceae family of plants. It isn’t clear where the name ‘nightshades’ came from, but there are rumors some nightshades were used as hallucinogens and narcotics.Nightshades also include veggies that have been staple foods of several societies for hundreds of years. They’re generally referred to as veggies, but many of the nightshades are botanically fruits, including peppers, eggplants, and tomatoes. The nightshade family has over 2,000 plant varieties, and only a small number of them are eaten as food. Some plant varieties, such as belladonna, are poisonous.These are some of the nightshade veggies that are most commonly consumed:PeppersTomatoesEggplantsPotatoesTomatillosTobaccoMost edible nightshades are keto-friendly and don’t contain too many carbs. Numerous spices and herbs are also derived from the […]…