Stay Away From These Nightshade Vegetables If You Have a Sensitivity

Some people have a sensitivity to nightshade vegetables and fruits, which means they are unable to digest them fully. If you have a nightshade sensitivity and eat nightshades, you may experience a variety of unpleasant symptoms including but not limited to diarrhea, gas, bloating, nausea, painful joints, headaches and depression.

Peppers, tomatoes and eggplant are all on the nightshade vegetables list. (Image: Stocksy/Deirdre Malfatto)

But what exactly falls under the category of nightshades? Nightshade vegetables and fruits belong to the family of Solanaceae plants of the Solanum genus. This group of plants contains more than 2,000 species that are widely used as food and medicine. Below is a list of common nightshade vegetables and fruits that you should avoid if you suspect that you have a nightshade sensitivity or intolerance.

Are Potatoes Nightshades?

Sweet potatoes don't have the nightshade alkaloids that are found in regular potatoes. (Image: voltan1/iStock/GettyImages)

Potatoes are part of the nightshade family. This includes white, red, yellow and blue-skinned potato varieties. Sweet potatoes and yams are not nightshades, however. If you have a sensitivity to members of the nightshade family, you should avoid the obvious foods made from potatoes like mashed potatoes and french fries, but also be sure to read ingredient lists on all processed foods to avoid potatoes and potato starch.

Are Tomatoes Nightshades?

Tomatoes fall into the category of nightshade fruits. (Image: Magone/iStock/GettyImages)

Another widely consumed member of the nightshade family is the tomato. Although people often refer to the tomato as a vegetable, scientifically, it falls into the category of fruit. If you have a nightshade sensitivity, it's best to stay away from all raw tomatoes and also from cooked tomatoes in foods like pasta sauce and ketchup. Be sure to read the ingredient lists on soups and condiments such as hot sauces, barbecue sauces and marinades, because they often contain tomatoes.

Are Peppers Nightshades?

All peppers belong to the nightshade family. (Image: gerenme/iStock/GettyImages)

All peppers belong to the Solanaceae family. This includes common ingredients like bell peppers, jalapeños, habaneros, cayenne peppers and paprika. Paprika, a spice made from ground, dried peppers, is used in a variety of cuisines. Be sure to read labels and communicate well with servers and chefs when eating out to avoid the ingredient. Peppercorns, on the other hand, are not a member of the nightshade family.

Are Eggplants Nightshades?

All varieties of eggplant are nightshade vegetables. (Image: ThierryHennet/RooM/GettyImages)

Eggplant appears in Italian, Thai, Indian and other cuisines, and even though you need to avoid eating eggplant if you have a nightshade sensitivity, you can easily avoid dishes that contain eggplant. If you are ordering a meal that contains mixed vegetables, be sure to communicate to your server that you cannot eat eggplant and other nightshades. When in doubt, it's best to avoid a food or dish altogether if you have an allergy or sensitivity.

Are Tomatillos Nightshades?

Tomatillos are another member of the nightshade family. (Image: Ryan Benyi Photography/Image Source/Getty Images)

Tomatillos, another member of the nightshade family, are often used in Mexican cuisine in dishes like chile verde and salsa verde. Tomatillos have a papery husk and the fruit hangs like small round paper lanterns from the plant. Tomatillos are typically picked when they are still green and used to lend a citrusy tartness to dishes.

6. Are Goji Berries (and Other Berries) Nightshades?

Goji berries, garden huckleberries, ground cherries and cape gooseberries are all in the nightshade family. (Image: Stocksy/Jeff Wasserman)

Goji berries fall into the nightshade family. These slightly sweet red berries, sometimes called wolfberries, are native to Asia. They can be eaten raw, dried or made into a juice. They're easy nightshades to avoid, but be sure to read the ingredient list of all juices, smoothies, teas and nutritional supplements to be sure they don't contain goji berries. Other berries in the nightshade family include garden huckleberries, ground cherries and cape gooseberries, but not normal gooseberries nor blueberries.

How Is a Nightshade Sensitivity Different From a Nightshade Allergy?

When you have a nightshade allergy, your body thinks the proteins from the nightshade vegetable or fruit is a harmful substance and attempts to fight them off. In contrast, with a nightshade sensitivity, you are unable to fully digest the nightshade vegetable or fruit, leading to digestive complications and other symptoms.