Nightshade Free


What are Nightshades?

Nightshades are a group of vegetables that belong to the Solanaceae family with more than 3,000 species of plants belonging to this group.1 Nightshades contain a group of chemical compounds known as alkaloids which are toxic chemicals within the plant that protect it from molds and pests.2 These alkaloids are called solanine and it works as an insecticide as the plant develops.

Many Common Nightshades include tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes, peppers and tobacco. There are also many herbs and spices that are made from these vegetables such as paprika, chili powder, curry powder and cayenne pepper. Black and white pepper are not nightshades despite their pepper naming conventions, they are derived from peppercorns which are not in the nightshade family.3

Are Nightshades bad for you?

For those who have no Nightshade intolerance or allergy, nightshades are relatively safe. One main problem with Nightshades is the possibility of consuming too much solaine which can cause you to get sick to your stomach with nausea or diarrhea as well as the possibility of headaches. Those with existing inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and inflammatory bowel symptoms may have adverse reactions to consuming Nightshades resulting in increased inflammation. How to know if nightshades are bad for you? It is recommended to eliminate Nightshades from your diet if you believe they are causing adverse reactions. If you eliminate nightshades and then reintroduce them to your diet you can see how you feel and identify if Nightshades are the cause of discomfort. Some people can be allergic or intolerant to alkaloids and should avoid Nightshades at all cost. An allergy to these alkaloids is rare, but it can sometimes occur. Having nightshade intolerance is more common than an allergy. Nightshade allergies and intolerance have differing symptoms and are described below:

Nightshade Allergy:

The alkaloids in nightshade may cause allergic reactions in some people, reactions to consuming nightshades for those who are allergic may experience:

Nightshade Intolerance:

A nightshade intolerance is much less severe than an allergy to alkaloids and only impacts the digestive system. People who have a nightshade intolerance lack certain enzymes needed to properly digest these foods.

Symptoms of a nightshade intolerance after consuming these foods can be the following:

If you experience any symptoms associated either with a Nightshade allergy or intolerance when consuming Nightshades it is advised to stop consuming these foods. The best course of action is to reach out to medical professionals to test for an allergy. In addition, if you want to see if nightshades are the cause of discomfort you can reach out to a doctor or dietitian to assess starting an elimination diet.

How do you cook with a Nightshade Allergy?

Recipeeper has made it easy to find easy delicious recipes that are nightshade free. You can find thousands of nightshade free recipes here. We've developed a nightshade free filter to ensure that people can easily find recipes that contain no nightshades.

Recipeeper's Nightshade Free Tag Methodology:

To determine if a recipe is nightshade free we filter out any ingredients that may contain nightshades. Recipes are denoted nightshade-free if they do not contain any of the following:

Tomatoes and products containing tomatoes: Tomato, Marinara, Ketchup, Pizza Sauce, Bbq Sauce

Vegetables and Fruits: Potatoes, Eggplants, Bell Peppers, Jalapenos, Chili peppers, Hot peppers, Habeneros, Red Pepper, Tamarillo, Sweet peppers, Tomatillo, Garden Huckleberries, Kutjera, Nranjilla, Goji Berries, Ground cherries, Pimento, Ashwagandha Berries, Cocona, Chipotle Peppers

Spices: Curry powder, Chili powder, Cayenne, Paprika, Five spice, Garam masala, Steak seasoning, Italian Spice blend

Other: Gluten-free bread, Gluten-free pizza crust, Gluten-free crackers, Vegetable broth, Adobo Sauce

Disclaimer: Recipeeper is not a registered allergist and the recipe search tool should not be taken as advice for what to eat. Consult your doctor to determine which foods are safe for your consumption, and always double check ingredients!