Vegetables and fruits are part of my healthy diets for the past years now. But I’ve never heard of a group of edible plants called nightshades vegetables.
The aches and pains on my back had gotten worse last year. So I thought to go get an X-ray. The sports doctor I saw said my spine is in good condition. He suggested to go get some physical therapy and was given exercises to do everyday. I even bought seat cushion and lumbar support for my back, lumbar support back braces, and exercise balls. I would do them daily. They helped temporarily but the aches and pains would come back in no time. I even went to see and got my back worked on by a chiropractor this year. It would help for a day or two, then I’m back with aches and pains on my back again. I was getting frustrated.
One thing good though, each time, I would feel good in the morning after a good sleep; but then I started feeling back pain towards the afternoon after I was done with my daily lunch. And it goes through the night and I barely can sit for long without using my back braces and I have to use a heating pad before I go to bed. I started getting very concerned. I tried to avoid over the counter medication for back pain, but I resorted to taking them to ease the pain three weeks ago. I tried not to take the doze that’s suggested on the label. I know there’s side effects in taking them everyday. I tried not to rely on medication if I can avoid them.
I read that homemade Ginger tea is good to ease aches and pains; and good for colds and flu and at the same time it helps lowering my blood pressure. I drink it every morning on an empty stomach and it does help. As long as I don’t drink too much of it. And it’s anti-inflammatory.
I started researching the internet to get answers to the continuous back pain, stiffness, achy and mostly a very cold sensation running through my upper back and; I got the answer! Through extensive research and links, I found out what’s causing the back pain and I was dumbfounded that some of the veggies and fruits I’ve been eating are the cause of my aches and pain! I was totally and intensely shocked, for I thought I was doing myself a favor by eating healthy foods!
The culprits are the veggies and fruits that have Solanine in them! Solanine is a poisonous compound that has pesticidal properties for plants natural defenses against bugs. The plants actually have drug-like substances called alkaloid drugs. Solanine is a natural pesticide, protecting the plants from insects that may harm them. It might be a protection for the plants, but have bad side effects for some humans and it includes me! And Solanine chemical compound can be found in a group of nightshades vegetables such as eggplants, tomatoes (all varieties including tomatillos, white potatoes, peppers (red, green, yellow, orange), jalapeño, chili, cayenne), paprika and ground cherries. Foods that contain Solanine that are not directly in the nightshades family are: apples, blueberries and huckleberries, okra and artichokes.
I found out that nightshades foods contain four types of alkaloid drugs which can be dangerous to those that are sensitive to Solanine and the other alkaloid drugs. Steroid alkaloids, which includes Solanine, propane alkaloids, pyrrolizidine alkaloids and indole alkaloids. These drugs including Solanine may cause paralytic-like muscle spasm, aches and pains, tenderness, inflammation and stiff body movements. Another health problem is soft tissue calcification around the joints.
The experts and doctors on these particular food toxins indicated that people’s body cannot metabolize (break down) a particular substance as Solanine. The Solanine then builds up in the major organs, including the thyroid gland and skeletal muscles and can cause all sorts of problems. This can result in an inflammatory response and different people have various levels of sensitivity, depending on genetics, nutritional status or other factors.
On a practical level Solanine can do the following in sensitive patients; act as an endocrine disruptor especially to the thyroid, 2) cause chronic joint pain, arthritis (all forms), joint inflammation- this is due to solanine’s ability to remove calcium from the bones and deposit it in any weak or genetically predisposed area of the body, for the same reason it can be a major contributor to osteoporosis (since it removes calcium from the bones) and arteriosclerosis (it can deposit the calcium in the blood vessels), “leaky gut” as well as IBS, appendicitis, birth defects including spina bifida, depression (correcting it in one patient stopped their strong suicidal tendencies), migraines, Solanine can greatly interfere with calcium and vitamin D absorption, despite supplementation.
Solanine may sneak in potato starch used to help shredded cheese to separate from each other. Paprika is in mustard, mayo and few other condiments. The majority of salad dressings and spices has some form of pepper in it to help the taste. Some of the pre-seasoned meat uses chili powder or cayenne powder. I have to be conscious and on the look out and read labels more closely.
I have incorporated since last year bell peppers (nightshade veggies)-red, yellow and orange, in my veggie salads. I ate apples maybe 3 times a week. I would make some eggplant parmesan and eggplant omelette. I’ve always have consumed blueberries. I’ve used some paprika in dishes I’ve made that calls for it. And of course, tomatoes are in most of my homemade cooking. I don’t eat much potatoes as it could screw up my diet, so not a problem to eliminate it. Thankfully, there are other varieties of veggies and fruits that safe to eat and there’s no Solanine in them.
I’ve started eliminating these nightshade veggies and fruits with Solanine, in my cooking and my raw veggie salads and fruit consumption. According to a clinical research on Solanine, it can take 6 months or more to clear these chemicals from the body so just eliminating them for a few weeks may not provide a clear enough indication. It suggested to keep a journal of symptoms while totally avoiding nightshades and foods with Solanine for a minimum of 6 months.
I have not eaten any nightshade veggies for two weeks now; so I can tell which foods would give me inflammation attacks that causes stiffness and cold sensation in my back. I ate an apple yesterday and sure enough, my back reacted to my ingesting the apple with skin, with aches and cold back sensation just after a few hours up through the night.
Today, I’ve had some ginger tea first thing in the morning; and had some oatmeal with milk. I had my daily veggie salad sans Solanine chemical compound and ate a sumptuous main course and red grapes for dessert. My immune system did not attack my body for an invader it hated- Solanine! I was pain free and no cold sensation on my back! I’ve started incorporating back my Vitamin Code Grow Bone System to heal my joints and bones.
Vegetables and fruits are not created equal! I’ve learned a big lesson and got familiarized with Nightshades foods. I prayed to God to give me wisdom about this health problem and He gave me discernment and led me to know about Nightshades foods and Solanine. God is good all the time! God is always to my rescue! I just have to always pay attention to what the Holy Spirit of God is placing in my heart and mind.
Greatest GIFT - Naomi Jeremiah 