Night shade(neurotoxins) and vegetables with
oxalic acid
There are some “popular vegetables” that should be minimized or
even avoided in some cases, or healing process from Macrobiotic
point of view.
1 Vegetables containing neurotoxins ---so called "nightshades"
vegetables
e.g.
Potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants etc
2 Vegetables high in oxalic acid---oxalic acid vegetables
e.g.
Spinach, rhubarb, chard, beet greens, asparagus, etc
Nightshade Vegetables
Nightshade vegetables contains certain amount of neurotoxins
such as solanine, atrospine, nicotine, tomatine etc, which inhibit
or disturb neurotransmission.
These neurotoxins accumulate in the body overtime if you
consume these foods regularly.
And it can cause inflammation and have negative impact on nerve-
muscle functions,digestive function, endocrine system and entire
body.
Although these neurotoxins in nightshade vegetables are
relatively low, people with sensitivity can develop some health
problems.
Possible short-term effect of nightshade poisoning includes
Sleepiness
Fatigue, weakness
Digestive disturbance (gas, diarrhea, cramps)
Dizziness
Headaches/migraine
Allergies, skin problems
PMS
Vision problems
etc
Long-term effect includes
Arthritis
Joint problems
I.B.S
Birth defect
Endocrine system dysfunction (esp. thyroid)
Heart/coronary problems
Osteoporosis
Some types of cancers
etc
**And most of them are originally from tropical climate(south
America), so they are considered “too yin” and not suitable for
people living in temperate climates to eat regularly, especially in
winter (out of season, anyway)
Vegetables with oxalic acid
Oxalic acid can inhibit absorption of calcium, iron and other
minerals.
For healing and better health
Consuming small amount occasionally (when in season) should
not be a problem for many people, but better avoid over- or
regular- eating, especially young children, the elderly, and
pregnant women.
If you have already developed some symptoms or health
conditions mentioned above, it may be better to avoid completely.
Tips to reduce the toxic effect of nightshade vegetables
1 Potatoes should not be green, bruised or rotten, and carefully
peeled.
2 Solanine content is remarkably reduced when they are vine
ripen. (most of the commercial tomatoes are harvested when not
ripe yet artificially ripen. Get the fresh ones at farmers market
when in season)
Cooking may reduce the amount of toxic substances slightly,
especially oxalic acids, but if you are sensitive to those, better
avoid completely and see how it feels.
In fact, some clinical studies show that people with arthritis
improved the condition dramatically with a diet free of these
nigthshade foods.
Also, if you eat them, eat cooked ones with sea salt, miso or soy
sauce (all add yang quality to them) for example, instead of eating
raw.
oxalic acid
There are some “popular vegetables” that should be minimized or
even avoided in some cases, or healing process from Macrobiotic
point of view.
1 Vegetables containing neurotoxins ---so called "nightshades"
vegetables
e.g.
Potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants etc
2 Vegetables high in oxalic acid---oxalic acid vegetables
e.g.
Spinach, rhubarb, chard, beet greens, asparagus, etc
Nightshade Vegetables
Nightshade vegetables contains certain amount of neurotoxins
such as solanine, atrospine, nicotine, tomatine etc, which inhibit
or disturb neurotransmission.
These neurotoxins accumulate in the body overtime if you
consume these foods regularly.
And it can cause inflammation and have negative impact on nerve-
muscle functions,digestive function, endocrine system and entire
body.
Although these neurotoxins in nightshade vegetables are
relatively low, people with sensitivity can develop some health
problems.
Possible short-term effect of nightshade poisoning includes
Sleepiness
Fatigue, weakness
Digestive disturbance (gas, diarrhea, cramps)
Dizziness
Headaches/migraine
Allergies, skin problems
PMS
Vision problems
etc
Long-term effect includes
Arthritis
Joint problems
I.B.S
Birth defect
Endocrine system dysfunction (esp. thyroid)
Heart/coronary problems
Osteoporosis
Some types of cancers
etc
**And most of them are originally from tropical climate(south
America), so they are considered “too yin” and not suitable for
people living in temperate climates to eat regularly, especially in
winter (out of season, anyway)
Vegetables with oxalic acid
Oxalic acid can inhibit absorption of calcium, iron and other
minerals.
For healing and better health
Consuming small amount occasionally (when in season) should
not be a problem for many people, but better avoid over- or
regular- eating, especially young children, the elderly, and
pregnant women.
If you have already developed some symptoms or health
conditions mentioned above, it may be better to avoid completely.
Tips to reduce the toxic effect of nightshade vegetables
1 Potatoes should not be green, bruised or rotten, and carefully
peeled.
2 Solanine content is remarkably reduced when they are vine
ripen. (most of the commercial tomatoes are harvested when not
ripe yet artificially ripen. Get the fresh ones at farmers market
when in season)
Cooking may reduce the amount of toxic substances slightly,
especially oxalic acids, but if you are sensitive to those, better
avoid completely and see how it feels.
In fact, some clinical studies show that people with arthritis
improved the condition dramatically with a diet free of these
nigthshade foods.
Also, if you eat them, eat cooked ones with sea salt, miso or soy
sauce (all add yang quality to them) for example, instead of eating
raw.
Whole Life with Jin
