The Nightmareof Nightshades

The Nightmare of Nightshades

What is a nightshade?

Nightshades are a botanical family of plants that are also known as Solanaceae. This is because they contain a chemical known as solanine, which some people are very sensitive to. The list of edible nightshades is pretty short, but the list of toxic ones is extensive, with the most well known one being Belladonna or "deadly nightshade." The fact that some plants containing solanine are so harmful to the body make many people weary of ingesting any of this substance. People with autoimmune disorders, who may already have leaky gut or heightened inflammation in their body, are especially susceptible to reactions from this class of plants. Nightshades have been associated with fibromyalgia, arthritis, migraines and headaches, irritable bowel syndrome or disease, and skin conditions. 

Which edible plants are in the nightshade family?

The most commonly consumed nightshades are white potatoes, peppers of all kinds, eggplant, and tomatoes, but there are also others as listed below.

• Ashwagandha
• Bell peppers 
• Bush tomato
• Cape gooseberry 
• Cocona
• Eggplant
• Garden huckleberry 
• Goji berries 
• Hot peppers (such as chili peppers, jalapenos, habaneros, chili-based spices, red pepper, cayenne)
• Paprika
• Pepinos
• Pimentos
• Potatoes 
• Tamarillos
• Tobacco
• Tomatillos
• Tomatoes

And I shouldn't eat them because of Sola-what?

Solanine. Glycoalkaloids are a natural pesticide produced by plants. Solanine is the one produced by nightshades. It helps protect plants from bacteria, viruses, fungi, and insects by binding to certain structures of a predator's cell membranes and causing them to burst. They can also act as a neurotoxin by disrupting certain enzymes, leading to paralysis, convulsions, respiratory arrest, and death. These symptoms are seen with un-edible nightshades that are very toxic to humans. However, even the edible nightshades can cause some reactions.

Some people say they are good to eat......

In laboratory studies, not human ones, nightshades have shown to possess antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal effects. This is what nature designed them to do after all, kill things. However, they are not very specific in their destruction. While they might help in ridding the body of these bad guys, they normally end up destroying just as many good cells as well. Red blood cells and mitochondrial cells (our energy producers) are especially susceptible to destruction by glycoalkaloids. 

                                                                                              (A cell wall bursting)

Should I be worried about nightshades?

At low doses, humans normally only experience minor symptoms such as diarrhea or constipation, headaches, and some inflammation or swelling. Because these symptoms can come on quickly or take days due to transit time in the intestines, it's hard to associate these symptoms with what you're eating. Many people will have very little reaction to nightshades, and possibly none at all. If you are having any issues though, try taking nightshades out of your diet for two weeks and see if it makes any difference. Just make sure to substitute in good food and not junk to make up for the loss!

yours in health,

dr samantha boldt

Folic Acid Vs Methylfolate

 Folic Acid VS. Folate

       For years, health professionals have been spouting the wonders of folic acid (the synthetic form of B9). Especially the need for it to be taken by all pregnant women. However, folic acid is a completely man-made supplement found nowhere in nature. It can eventually turn into folate (the natural form of vitamin B9) in the body, but it has to go through an extra step first.

      Folate is the natural, dietary form of vitamin B9 and has a slightly different make-up,  Due to this difference, an extra step by the body is required to convert folic acid into folate as shown by step 1. This step is slow and only so much folic acid can be converted at once. (266 micrgorams to be exact.) 

         The rest of the folic acid is released into the bloodstream as unmetabolized folic acid. So what’s the big deal? Does it matter if you have excess folic acid in your blood. The answer is yes. Unmetabolized folic acid has been shown to promote certain cancers and to decrease the amount of natural killer cells in the body, which are cells that help protect against cancers and viruses. They continue to use it in supplements because it is cheaper and easier to produce that way.

       Instead of taking folic acid supplements, try eating it naturally. Folate rich foods include, lentils, romaine lettuce, spinach, broccoli, brussel sprouts, asparagus, and avocados. 

 If you do want to take a supplement, make sure that supplement says folate, methylfolate, L-methylfolate, or 5-MTHF, (All the same name for natural B9....crazy, I know!) and not folic acid. Your body won’t have to do as much work and you won’t have to risk the unhealthy side effects of unmetabolized folic acid!

yours in health,

dr. samantha boldt

Know Your Plastics!  
(It's all about the numbers)

Whether it's for food storage or to drink out of, it's important to know what the container is made from. So many materials these days are made from plastic, and if you look around your home, I'm sure you will have no problem finding it everywhere. However, the problems start when we begin looking at which chemicals they're leaking into our food, beverages, and other household substances which we then ingest or use on our body. Many plastics contain chemicals that are carcinogenic, disrupt our hormones, and are toxic to the nervous system, and they don't always stay where they're supposed to.

When it comes to plastic safety, it's all about the numbers. There should be a number on the bottom of all plastic containers which denotes what materials were used to make it. Some of these have been shown to be safer than others.

Plastic #1: PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate)

PET is used to make most bottles for water, soft drinks, sports drinks, juices and containers for condiments, dressings, and other food items. The problem with PET is that it has been shown to leak antimony, which is toxic to the human body. However, more common than the antimony problem is the problem with bacterial build-up. Long storage time on the shelf or being stored in warm areas, like garages, leads to excess bacteria in the container which we then consume. This bacteria can wreak havoc on the careful balance of good bacteria we are supposed to have inside our digestive tract.

Plastic #2: HPDE (High Density Polyethylene)

HDPE is often used for milk and juice containers and, sometimes, water bottles. It is also commonly used in bottles for cleaning supplies and hair care. It has been found to leach estrogenic chemicals into whatever substance it is containing. Excess estrogen in the system is rarely a good thing, and disrupts certain functions of the body as well as increasing the risk for certain cancers.

Plastic #3: PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)

PVC is commonly used in deli and meat wrapping, children's toys, tablecloths, and many construction materials. This plastic contains pthalates, which are a group of "gender-bending" chemicals due to their ability to block male hormones. They are known to lower sperm count, cause testicular cancer, and have a feminizing effect on males from estrogen dominance.

Plastic #4: LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene)
LDPE is commonly used for produce, garbage, and bread bags as well as paper containers and cups. Like HDPE, these have also been found to leak estrogenic chemicals.

Plastic #5: Polypropylene (PP)
Polypropylene is used in multiple food packaging containers, especially take out meals and the plastics used in the containers or plates at grocery stores for pre-made food. It has a high heat tolerance, and is unlikely to leach chemicals into food or beverages. As with all plastics, however, there is a possibility and some tests have shown that at certain temperatures, toxic chemicals do leak out.

Plastic #6: Polystyrene (PS)
Polystyrene is also known as Styrofoam, and is used to make cups, bowls, plates, take-out containers and more. It leaks styrene into the food, a known carcinogenic as well as a neurotoxin. The warmer Styrofoam gets, the more styrene leaks out. Using Styrofoam for warm beverages or foods is one of the worst ways for your body to store and transport hot food.

Plastic #7: Other
Plastic #7 is used when the material does not fit into any of the above categories. While it's hard to say exactly what chemicals have been used, there is a good chance that it contains BPA or BPS. Both of these are endocrine disrupters, meaning they interfere with your body's hormones. These hormones are essential for regulating metabolism, temperature, mood, healing, growth and development, as well as sexual function and reproduction. 



Plastics #2, #4, and #5 are the "safest" for human consumption. My recommendation is to avoid all plastics when possible and replace instead with reusable glass water bottles and containers. However, if you are going to use a plastic, these three are your best bet. Also, try to never heat plastic up or put hot foods into plastic containers. The lower the temperature, the less likely the material will leak any harmful chemicals into the food or drink it's containing.



yours in health,
dr. samantha boldt