March 22, 2006

Q: Should I Avoid Certain Foods if I have Arthritis?

Q: "I read an article that says... 'If you have arthritis you shouldn't eat the nightshade vegetables'. But I don't know the names of nightshade vegetables and I thought YOU would know."

A:The Berkeley Wellness letter states this is one of the most persistent questions concerning arthritis and diet. The fact is giving up certain foods doesn't alleviate arthritis. It is important that people with arthritis have the same healthy diet as other people...

By the way...nightshade vegetables are zucchini, eggplant, tomato, white onion, white potato, squash, and peppers of all kinds (except for black and white pepper). I also found a cookbook (with no good credentials) that touted the nightshade vegetables and some other restrictions. I contacted the local Arthritis Foundation and told them the likelihood was good that they would be asked this same question in the future. They appreciated the information. No one in their office or their Peoria office had heard of this claim, which is a clue that the claim is not valid.

I repeat....The fact is giving up certain foods doesn't alleviate arthritis. It is important that people with arthritis have the same healthy diet as other people without arthritis.

Posted by Robin Bagwell at 12:42 PM