Markethealthbeauty.com | What is a nightshade plant? You may be one of the people in the world who likes to eat vegetables. However, there are some concerns that arise for some people related to vegetables or nightshade plants. The name may still be foreign and sound scary, but is it true?
What is a Nightshade Plant? Getting to Know About It
According to Gardening Know How, nightshades are a large family of diverse plants. Among them are ornamental plants such as belladonna, Datura, Brugmansia, and Nicotiana (tobacco). In addition, many vegetables belong to the nightshade family of the Capsicum and Solanum species. For example, tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), peppers (Capsicum Spp.), and eggplant (Solanum melongena).
There are several types of nightshade species scattered in various regions of all continents except Antarctica. However, the largest are found in Central America and South America. These species are Hairy Nightshade (S. Sarrachoides), Eastern (black) Nightshade (S. Ptycanthum), Cuttleaf Nightshade (S. Triflorum), and Black Nightshade (S. Nigrum).
Location of the Danger of Nightshade Plants
According to Medicinenet, the term “nightshade” is usually associated with poisonous plants. The alkaloid found in it is functions as an insecticide as the plant grows.
Some alkaloids have a positive effect on human health, while others can have a negative effect. For example, the tobacco nightshade plant can cause cancer. Meanwhile, excessive consumption of nightshade can result in abdominal pain with nausea and diarrhea. You may also have a fever or headache. It is usually high in unripe fruits and tastes bitter.
Overall, there is no strong evidence that nightshade vegetables are harmful and fatal to human health. However, some research suggests that vegetables from this family may not be the best for people with certain inflammatory or autoimmune conditions such as arthritis, migraines, osteoporosis, and inflammatory bowel disease. Nightshade also doesn’t cause inflammation directly, but can increase already existing inflammation.
Benefits of Nightshade Plants for the Body
Nightshade vegetables that are safe for consumption offer an excellent source of nutrients for a healthy body, including vitamins, protein, and fiber. For example, bell peppers contain vitamin A, potatoes contain vitamin C, and eggplants contain vitamins B1, B6, and vitamin K. In addition, they also contain antioxidants that can protect cells from damage caused by stress.
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Consumable Nightshade Plants
Knowing the types of nightshade plants you can eat will help you figure out which ones are safe to eat. In addition, for those of you who are sensitive, you can avoid eating them. Well, here are some nightshade vegetables:
- Tomato.
- Peppers.
- Potato.
- Eggplant.
- Chili pepper (including chili).
- Tamarind.
- Goji berries.
- Raspberry.
