Did you know that the foods you eat can either help eliminate inflammation, or cause more of it? That’s right! What you are eating has a lot to do with how you are feeling. I’m not saying you can’t have some of your favorite foods, if they are pictured above, but if you are suffering from arthritis, Osteo- or Rheumatoid, MS or Fibromyalgia, or any other chronic pain caused by inflammation take a look below for foods that specifically CAUSE inflammation.
Pictured above, are the obvious ones:
- Gluten, more specifically wheat
- Casein (a protein in milk)
- Processed meats
- Fried foods
- Fast food
- Processed food
- Soda
- Safflower, sunflower, soy and corn oil
Less obvious, and perhaps surprising:
All nightshade plants which include—
- artichokes
- ashwagandha
- cayenne pepper
- eggplant (aubergine)
- garden huckleberry and blueberries (contain the alkaloids that induce inflammation)
- goji berries
- gooseberries
- ground cherries
- okra
- paprika
- pepino melon
- peppers (all varieties such as bell pepper, wax pepper, green and red peppers, chili peppers, cayenne, paprika, etc.)
- potatoes (all varieties, NOT sweet potatoes or yams)
- sorrel
- the homeopathic “Belladonna”
- tobacco
- tomarillos (a plum-like fruit from Peru)
- tomatoes (all varieties, including tomatillos)
- Soy sauce made in the U.S. is generally made with genetically modified (GMO) soybeans, which are cut with the nightshade plant Petunia
The condiments black/white pepper and peppercorns are not nightshades.
Other ingredients and products to avoid:
- Homeopathic remedies containing Belladonna
- Prescription and over-the-counter medications containing potato starch as a filler (especially prevalent in sleeping and muscle relaxing medications)
- Edible flowers: petunia, chalice vine, day jasmine, angel and devil’s trumpets
- Atropine and Scopolamine, used in sleeping pills
- Topical medications for pain and inflammation containing capsicum (in cayenne pepper)
- Many baking powders contain potato starch
- Don’t lick envelopes, many adhesives contain potato starch (who knew?!)
- Vodka (potatoes used in production)
Read labels carefully because you could be doing everything else right, and still be sabotaged by one small amount of an ingredient. Never buy a food that uses the generic term of seasoning or spices as it is likely to contain nightshades.
Want more info on this topic? Just ask! 🙂
Get your own personalized plan!By Melissa Abramovich, Certified Personal Trainer at Elite Sports Club-River Glen