Tomatoes are grown and relished around the world for their sweet taste. With tons of varieties and colors of yellow, pink, black, purple, and white, everyone wants to know more about tomatoes. So, if you have a question – Is Tomato a Nightshade Vegetable, then we have the answer for you!
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What are Nightshade Vegetables?
Tomatoes, Potatoes, Peppers, Tomatillos, and Eggplants are nightshade vegetables. They belong to the Solanaceae family, which includes over 2000 types of plants. This genus also comprises inedible plants such as belladonna and tobacco.
Nightshades contain a small number of alkaloids, which are found in plants. Some alkaloids positively affect human health, while others strike negatively, as chemicals in tobacco can cause cancer.
People suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases or arthritis should not consume tomatoes in larger quantities to avoid alleviating or speeding up the effects.
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Is Tomato a Nightshade Vegetable?
The answer to the above question is. Yes, tomato is a nightshade vegetable. Technically a fruit, tomatoes are a rich source of lycopene, an antioxidant with anti-cancer properties.
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Health Benefits of Nightshade Tomatoes
Tomatoes are high in antioxidants that help the body protect against free radicals. They serve a major role in reducing the risk of cancer and heart disease.
Nightshade tomatoes are also rich in anti-inflammatory phytonutrients and contain carotenoids, Vitamin C, and tons of vitamins and minerals like vitamins A, B, E, K, magnesium, potassium, and folate.
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Is Nightshade Tomato Bad for Your Health?
People suffering from bowel diseases should avoid eating them too much as they can cause nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramps, burning of the throat, vomiting, itching, dizziness, headache, and inflammation of the joints.
Tomatoes contain more alkaloids in their stems which are often discarded, and fully grown nightshade tomatoes contain very little alkaloids as their level keeps decreasing as they mature. Avoid unripe/green tomatoes, and you will automatically avoid ingesting too many alkaloids.
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