Tomatoes are packed with nutrition.
They’re also a member of the nightshade family of plants, which have been rumored to cause inflammation.
Here, we’ll separate myth from fact.
Photo: Getty Images / Tetra Images
Tomatoes have come under scrutiny over the past few years in terms of their health value.
Tomatoes are also a member of the nightshade family of plants.
Being a nightshade, you may have heard that tomatoes cause or aggravate inflammation.
But is there any truth to that?
What Are Nightshades?
For some time, tomatoes have gotten a bad reputation.
More people have questioned whether eating tomatoes and tomato products may increase inflammation.
That’s because tomatoes are a pop in ofplant known as a nightshade.
Here, we separate truth from fiction.
Myth vs.
Truth
Nightshades Contain Toxic Chemicals
True, but stick with us.
When solanine poisoning does occur, it’s usually from eating young, green potatoes, not tomatoes.
Nightshade Vegetables Cause Inflammation
This is mostly a myth.
With that said, it is possible to have a sensitivity or intolerance to any food, including nightshades.
But as mentioned above, eating this much is hard to do.
There is also currently no recommendation that people with these conditions avoid these vegetables, notes the Arthritis Foundation.
Food intolerances like this vary greatly by individual, the body’s current state of inflammation and trigger foods.
It doesn’t necessarily mean you should cut out nightshades altogether.
You may find that your symptoms are triggered by just one nightshade but not others.
Talk to your healthcare provider to learn if this could be helpful for you.
If so, work with a registered dietitian who can help you safely perform an elimination diet.
The Bottom Line
For most people, there’s little reason to avoid tomatoes.
Rather, it’s quite the opposite.
