What Causes Eggplant Allergies?

Eggplant belongs to a family of plants known as nightshades. People may be more likely to develop an eggplant allergy if they are also allergic to other nightshades, including tomatoes, potatoes, or peppers. Eggplant also contains a chemical called salicylate, which is an ingredient in aspirin.

Is it common to be allergic to eggplant?

An eggplant allergy is rare, but it’s possible. Eggplant is a member of the nightshade family. Though it’s widely regarded as a vegetable, eggplant is actually a fruit. It’s commonly used as a meat substitute in vegetarian dishes, such as eggplant burgers.

Why do I feel itchy after eating eggplant?

Turns out, it is not uncommon to experience an itchy mouth and throat after eating eggplant. This could be attributed to the fact that the vegetable has a high concentration of histamine and serotonin.

Does eggplant have histamine?

​ Eggplant is naturally high in histamine. Every person has unique dietary triggers. Your reaction to eggplant may be different than someone else’s.

What are the symptoms of nightshade intolerance?

A nightshade intolerance or sensitivity means the foods are not digested properly, which can cause a range of symptoms, including digestive issues.
Nightshade allergy symptoms

• hives and skin rashes.
• itchiness.
• nausea.
• vomiting.
• excessive mucus production.
• achy muscles and joints.
• inflammation.

What is a nightshade allergy?

Summary. A nightshade allergy is an immune response to the compound in nightshade plants called alkaloids. Types of nightshade plants include potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, red pepper flakes, eggplant, and paprika. Symptoms of a nightshade allergy include congestion, skin rash, itching, redness, and digestive problems.

Why is eggplant not good for you?

Eggplants are part of the nightshade family. Nightshades contain alkaloids, including solanine, which can be toxic. Solanine protects these plants while they are still developing. Eating the leaves or tubers of these plants can lead to symptoms such as burning in the throat, nausea and vomiting, and heart arrhythmias.

What are salicylates found in?

Broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber, mushrooms, radishes, spinach, and zucchini all contain high amounts of salicylates. Vegetables from the nightshade family, like eggplant and peppers, also contain salicylates. Tomatoes are very high in salicylates.

What is histamine allergy?

Histamine – a chemical found in some of the body’s cells – causes many of the symptoms of allergies, such as a runny nose or sneezing. When a person is allergic to a particular substance, such as a food or dust, the immune system mistakenly believes that this usually harmless substance is actually harmful to the body.

What does high histamine feel like?

You can get a runny or stuffy nose. And you’ll sneeze. The mucus can also bother your throat and make you cough. Histamines can make your eyes and nose itch.

How do I stop histamine reaction?

Antihistamines block histamine activity, seeking to stop the allergic reaction. Many allergy medications on the shelves of your local drugstore work as antihistamines. But there are also certain foods and plant extracts that may similarly block the effects of histamine.

How can I flush histamine out of my body?

It is now possible to use wine purifiers to take out the histamine and sulfites that cause these unwanted reactions. The best way to clear histamine from the body is to start an elimination diet that involves only eating and drinking substances that contain low amounts of histamine.

How do you get rid of nightshade allergies?

Replace bell peppers with celery, radishes, or Swiss chard. Replace potatoes with sweet potatoes, yams, or cauliflower. Replace eggplants, with portabella or shitake mushrooms. Replace cayenne and red pepper with cumin, white, and black pepper.

Is Avocado a nightshade vegetable?

In the end, if you feel you might have some sort of autoimmune disease or that you’re suffering from a leaky gut, you should try cutting out the foods on the nightshade vegetables list. There are several great replacements for these foods, like avocado, Brussels sprouts, and Jerusalem artichokes.

Is coffee a nightshade?

The coffee bean comes from the Coffea plant (source). This plant is not a member of the Solanaceae family, so it is not a nightshade.

How does the body get rid of solanine?

Some solanine can be removed by boiling but not by baking. The major effect of α-solanine and α-chaconine is the reversible inhibition of cholinesterase. Cardiotoxic and teratogenic effects have also been reported.

Why am I all of a sudden allergic to tomatoes?

She says those seemingly sudden allergies could be caused by environmental or hormonal factors, or caused by something called Pollen Food Syndrome, which occurs when the immune system gets confused and thinks proteins in fresh foods and vegetables look like pollen from trees and grasses.

Are blueberries a nightshade?

Blueberries are not technically a nightshade plant. But, like nightshades, they contain some solanine. Blueberries have been called a “superfood” because they contain antioxidant compounds.

Is eggplant inflammatory?

There’s no scientific evidence to date showing nightshade vegetables cause inflammation. Even so, that doesn’t mean anecdotal evidence is wrong. Food allergies and intolerances are on the rise worldwide. To know for certain how nightshades impact you, try an elimination diet.

How do you remove solanine from eggplant?

SALTING: Slice the eggplant, then sprinkle salt (coarse salt is best because less is absorbed) onto one side. Leave it for 30 minutes, to allow the solanine (a chemical found in the flesh) to leach out, and brush off with a damp cloth.

Is eggplant skin toxic?

It’s important to note that even if the skin is chewy and unpalatable in some circumstances, it’s still safely edible. That can’t be said of the whole eggplant. The leaves of the eggplant are toxic and should never be eaten.