What do you think about NIGHT SHADE Vegetables???

what about meat??? Inflammation??

Has to do with pH. Anything that causes acid in the body can cause inflammation. Nightshades are mentioned a lot, which are potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. Meat causes acid. Believe it or not, lemons are the opposite, as are most vegetables. White sugar and white flour products cause acid. I did study this once, probably have the book somewhere, but should be fairly common online if you type in the right words????? Reames testing is based on pH. I really enjoyed studying it but never did anything with it....then....FORGOT everything I read.

That's interesting. I hadn't heard of the connection between acid and inflammation, but it makes sense. If that's the case, then meat and dairy would be out because they are acid forming foods. However, I was just digging through my PhMiracle cookbooks and noticed recipes that contain tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers, so possibly, since apparently these are not acid-forming foods, there are other aspects besides acid that could cause an inflammation response to food. I haven't looked up the anti-inflammation diet yet. It will be interesting to see how it aligns with what we've come across already.

Rose

Yes, if you're checking your pH you can figure out how much acid-forming food will work for you in the current situation. I tend to be very acidic; I think it is because I am full of toxins. Balancing acid-food consumption (meats and many grains primarily) with lots of alkaline forming foods is a key to how much you can eat. What do you think, Caldonia, about the sugar in fruits? I've understood from my reading and experience, that sugar is a food for pathogens and therefore fruits should be limited to lemons, limes, some low-sugar berries.

Rose

Here's a good acid/alkaline chart with a clear explanation of how to figure out what's good.

http://www.trans4mind.com/nutrition/pH.html

Notice it says "To restore health, the diet should consist of 80% alkaline forming foods and 20% acid forming foods."

Gah! I need to try harder!!

thank you all for the great information!

I've been a vegetarian several times in my life and agree that it is important to follow a healthy diet designed for people who are not eating meat. Now I just limit it, and aim to get most of my animal protein from clean fish. I am excited about Razzle's post that maybe I can eat peppers again...will have to look into that. Has anyone read the recent book "The Lyme Disease Diet?"

Rose

It was recommended to my son that he stay away from the nightshades when he was so sick with lyme disease. Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo writes that these nightshade vegetables contain dangerous lectins that can affect many people. Many of our family members are very susceptible to the lectins in regular wheat and when we eat very much of this food it causes severe back pain and arthritis. Potatoes also have the same effect. Meat also causes inflammation.

I avoid nightshades, as well as gluten and dairy(except for Kefir...gotta get those probiotics!) I am also a vegetarian/vegan.

I certianly respect ALL people's food choices, and would never suggest that a person eat one way or another...especially with this disease, it seems that everything is very individualized.

That being said...something I think people are confused about is the protien *piece*...What we NEED in our diets are amino acids. Amino acids are the 'buiding blocks' per se. Yes, you need to eat protien to get amino acids but your body has to get the aminos OUT of the protiens you ingest. If you choose to eat foods that have readily available aminos, your body has to work MUCH less to get the aminos we so desperately need.

Also, the RDA for protien that is decided by the gov't who runs the meat industry is FAR higher than what one actually needs to be healthy.

For me personally, I have tried to go back to an animal based protien source during my healing and I did NOT feel better. Not to mention the fact that unless you are eating certified, organic raised and fed animal products you are ingesting antibiotics/hormones/GMO in the feeds...Many here, mysef included, are already spending a crazy amts. of money on meds and supplements, it is hard to them spend another ton of money on food too...

Eating lots of leafy greens(preferably raw, but any way you get them is good) will give you a readily available supply of amino acids. And, it is cheaper than meat. Perhaps increasing ones greens consumption would be another way to 'suppement'...

I personally like to drink my greens :) I make smoothies with fruit, then throw in a big ol' handful of spinach, kale or swiss chard. There are days when I cannot eat, that I will drink these smoothies and still get nutrition to keep me going/take my pills/etc.

Just a friendly PSA :)