Has anyone done a Nightshade elimination diet?

I think OldMike posted some info about the Nightshade plants and how they have been shown to irritate some people.  I'm wondering if anyone has done an elimination of Nightshades from their diet and had any positive results.

I really enjoy all the nightshades, but particularly tomatoes. 

Tomatoes were my trigger food. First of all the skin is a big irritant, so it should be peeled off. Also, tomatoes have high acid in it, so it is irritating to the inflamed colon. I am a big fan of tomatoes, but I could not eat them till my colon got better. Now I can eat them but still peel the skin off. As for peppers, I think it is the skin that is irritating. So the best way to eat them is to roast them first, peel the skin off and enjoy.
Never had any problems with potatoes, especially baked or boiled. Any kind of the fried food is a problem, does not matter which one.

I began limiting my intake of nightshades about 40 years ago, long before DX with ulcerative colitis. Too many nightshades can mean solanine poisoning. The classic symptoms were an aching back on waking up in the morning but the pain gradually dissipates during the day until you feel perfectly fine by afternoon.

Nightshades can encourage an overdose of solanine, but solanine is also found in chocolate. That's where most of mine came from. The good news is that I can eat limited amounts of nightshade vegetables as well as chocolate with no problems. This is not like gluten sensitivity which has a zero tolerance factor. And if I have an aching back in the morning I just cut back on the potatoes, tomatoes, (but in fact I was probably was eating too much chocolate), and I am fine once again.

Yes, Old Mike is on a no milk/cheese, cooked cheese ok/no niteshade diet right now for say a month or so

as a test.

Also on low meat,especially red meat/eggs.

I am really starting to get used to Rice Chex with water, and fruit.

Yummy.

Cant say I see any difference yet,above and beyond no veggie oil diet.

Eat bread that does not have oil,or only if olive oil.

Other wise cook with Kerry Butter,EVCO.

But doing better overall on no veggie oil diet,plus fish oil,perhaps if we fix the gut from veggie oils,

then other foods might be ok.

Also have added Jarrow 299v probiotic,cant say that does anything yet,except for a lot of gas,not painfull.

Perhals extra gas is good,means they the new bacteria eat.

Much less frequency, some keeper stools,less blood.

Old Mike

Post Edited (Old Mike) : 5/16/2012 3:32:21 PM (GMT-6)

   As much as I LOVe tomatoes, they bother me, too.  I believe the skin, as well as the seeds present issues.  I find the potatoe and low back pain very interesting, BabeintheWoods.  I must try leaving those off to see if that will help my pain.  When retiring, it's left sided but by morning, it has spread to the back, too.  And, like you, the more the morning progresses, the pain lessens.  I will try your suggestion. 

   Is cabbage nightshade as well as cruciferous?  What about onions?   I've recently had to swear off raw cabbage (in slaw) just like I gave up corn, sadly.  I read the posts about cruciferous; however, interestingly enough, broccoli doesn't cause the pain that cabbage does-- probably because I make sure it's cooked very well.  Just wondering if others have issues with corn, tomatoes, onions, or cabbage? I , too, have two rows of tomatoes growing in my garden! What about tomato sauces (spaghetti, etc)?  Any ideas on making those homemade that won't upset the UC?

  On lactose, I read that ice cream doesn't contain the lactose because of the freezing. Do any of you find that to be the case?  Most contain sugar or some form, though, which is out. JUST have a weakness from time to time for ice cream! For me, Milk is a no-no, but cottage cheese doesn't bother me at all.  Someone mentioned the enzymes may differ or the idea that the fermentation may get rid of the lactase.  Any ideas?  I do find almond milk quite appealing, plus the calcium is beneficial.

  I have another question?  When taking supplements (krill, Omegas, CoQ10, vitamins), do any of you find the digestion of these capsules difficult for your stomach?  Is there a source for liquid supplements or would those be depleted before being absorbed?  Just wondering  . . .

Yes, I love the Coconut ice cream - personally my fave out of all the vegan options. However, there are also lactose free ice cream versions. Breyers makes a good vanilla one.