[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
In a message dated 1/1/2006 12:50:58 PM Pacific Standard Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
Wow! I didn't know that. I love potatoes and tomatoes. Are cooked
tomatoes a problem, such as baked or in sauces? Do you have any pointers
to some resources about this? Does staying away from 'taters and 'maters
contribute to reduced swelling in the joints as well?
Shel
=========
I discussed this in the tomato thread.
Eat none at all -- tomatoes, potatoes, etc. -- cooked or uncooked, makes no
difference. Avoid them all. Cheating doesn't work.
The nightshade family contains an alkaloid not found any where else in
nature. And, of course, some nightshades are literally deadly.
It is the theory of the doctor who came up with this about 50 years ago (40
whatever) that the alkaloid interacts negatively with arthritis. I can't truly
remember the scientific details he gives in his book, they are hard to retain
in memory. Now the problem is he has never been able to come up with research
money or interest a research team in actually studying this on a molecular
level. So all we have to go by our people's own experiences.
Since it has worked tremendously for me, I truly expect one day it will be
studied. And at that time it will be hailed as breakthrough in arthritis
research. But, for now, except for those that have actually tried a no nightshade
diet, it is poop-pooped by all and sundry. Pretty much. There are few doctors
interested, but not enough.
For instance, my own doctor would not believe me that I was no longer in pain
because of how I ate. Just eight years ago when I first developed arthritis
in my knees, for two weeks I could barely walk and had to use a cane. For about
two years I took Alleve, one year almost daily, and I worried about my
stomach. Changing some of my work habits improved it, but I would still hurt in the
winter. I mean my doctor should have listened. I know when I am in pain and
when I am not. :-)
Okay, since you are interested here is how I discovered it. Two years ago in
the summer I went on the South Beach diet (lost ten lbs at the time, since put
back on. ;-)) Normally my arthritis hurts minimally in the summer, if at all.
Warm weather does make a difference.
Then my knees started hurting. And kept hurting and kept getting worse. And I
couldn't figure out why, it was summer, after all. So I tried to think of
anything I was doing differently, exercise, eating, sleeping, activities, etc.
The only thing I was doing differently was dieting.
But by dieting I was doing something I don't normally do, I was eating a
salad a day. It was the only MAJOR change in what I was eating. Everything else I
had eaten on a repetitive basis. So I looked into lettuce, nope, no problem.
Well, to make a long story short I googled a lot and found AHA tomatoes are a
problem for some people with arthritis. I found the no nightshade foundation on
the Net. I was eating tomatoes daily when I hadn't been.
I immediately cut out the tomatoes and in two weeks the pain was completely
gone (actually I think it only took a week, but something like that). Salads
are sort of boring without tomatoes, but I substituted radishes and other things.
It was pretty dramatic evidence, for me. I've stuck to the no nightshade diet
pretty much since then. Every now and then I slip and eat a pizza, or french
fries to go with a burger and do I know that I did? Yup. Just about invariably
I hurt the next day. Again, pretty conclusive proof that it works not to eat
them. I mean if I eat them I really DO end up hurting when I wasn't before. I
literally forget sometimes I slipped, it isn't on my mind, but I am reminded
the next day when I hurt. :-)
I am not suggestible and I know when I hurt and when I do not. The effects of
not eating nightshades can be very dramatic for the right people. There is a
very small minority it seems not to help, but most it does.
Dr. Childers also recommends not eating other things as well, but I am not
sure I am in agreement with him about all that. I do know no nightshades works
for me. Tremendously. Some of the other things he has added onto his diet over
the years, and weren't really a part of the original one. He might be right
about that stuff too, but I can only worry about so much.
Right now I have another problem, a foot problem, that is triggering the
arthritis in my knee to hurt, but it that wasn't going on, my pain level, for
winter would be about 3-10% of what it once was. In good weather I have no pain at
all anymore. (I know it's triggering my knee to hurt right now because I am
not aching when I am not walking.)
Here you go...
http://noarthritis.com/
They list all the nightshades there.
Decide for yourself. The only way you will find out for yourself is to try
actually it. I think they recommend a two week trail as a real test. Anyway,
within two weeks you should know. Although it may be a month test, I can't
remember. It does take a while for some stuff to get out of our systems. 3-4 weeks
is probably the best test. And if there is going to be improvement pain-wise it
will be rather dramatic. You'll know.
Sorry for the long post, but maybe someone else will get something out of it
too.
I just wish more people believed it, because more would try it and more would
avoid pain.
Marnie aka Doe
Very interesting, Marnie...
I *knew* this, but had (I guess) ignored it for a long time.
I LOVE tomatoes, tomato juice, hot sauces, hot peppers and V-8...
I do well with potatoes as well, but can readily do without them, if
necessary. Apparently it is!
My osteo-arthritis has flared up in nasty ways recently, an ankle and a
finger becoming exquisitely painful at times...
And now I read your post, and it reminded me, I've almost been on a
nightshade INclusion diet!
Idiot me, I didn't make the connection!
I've started a search for Dr. Childers seminal arthritis book, but in
the meanwhile, will cut out my daily bloody mary's and hot sauce! Sighhhh.
Thanks for the reminder! I hope this is the answer! It would be a good
start on he new year!
keith whaley
