Eggplants are part of a group of vegetables called nightshades, that contain something called alkaloids and calcitriol in them, along with lectins which affect digestive function in some people. So should people with gut issues eat them?
To give you a super quick overview,
- Nightshades are part of the Solanaceae (Solanum dulcamara) plant family, and have about 100 different genera and well over 2,000 different species
- Nightshades include commonly eaten vegetables like tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes, capsicum, pimentos, cayenne peppers and tomatillos
- Alkaloids are the organic compounds in nightshades which have physiological reactions on humans
- Lectins are naturally occurring proteins that are found in most plants, and serve a protective function for plants as they grow
- When eaten, lectins bind to the sugar molecules that cover the surface of the cells in a human.
And some of us can eat these without an issue, and some of us have a more sensitive gut and they cause gut issues like leaky gut and auto-immune flare ups.
If you watched my video on my Facebook Page and are doing my 7 Day Challenge and you’re monitoring how you feel after eating certain meals, this is a good group of foods to experiment with, to see if you feel tired, really cranky or hangry after you eat them – along with the more obvious symptoms of bloating, joint pain or digestive upsets.
This is part of what we do in the coaching process, in addressing contributing factors to gut symptoms before addressing the other part of the gut brain connection, in identifying the hidden metal triggers to stress keeping you stuck with your gut symptoms.
What’s your next step?
If you want to learn about the foods to eat and avoid come to my free Gut Brain Masterclass this Monday night. You’ll learn the two hidden things you need to also master to truly get rid of your gut issues for GOOD. We’ll also cover lectins, gluten and dairy and best practice for getting rid of your gut symptoms. Spots are limited, so if you’re ready to take back control, register at bit.ly/gutbrainmasterclass
About Anna Block, Author and Wellness Coach:
Anna is a Health and Wellness Coach who’s mission is to support and empower women who are stressed, overwhelmed and fatigued to start taking control.
Specialising in Women’s Gut Health, Anna works with smart, driven women to help them find relief from their health symptoms, along with the energy, confidence, clarity and self-efficacy to take back control of their wellbeing in parallel to their busy lives.