Ask The Experts

"Is it true that people with osteoarthritis should avoid
nightshade vegetables, such as peppers, eggplant, tomatoes,
and potatoes?
"No dietary regimen has ever been shown to alleviate or
prevent osteoarthritis-except for a diet that helps you lose
weight, if you are overweight. There are claims about countless
dietary regimens-from avoiding fruits and vegetables in the
nightshade family, meat, dairy products, cooked or processed
foods, or wheat to eating large amounts of garlic, alfalfa, or
molasses. Anecdotal success stories are plentiful."
" The problem is that osteoarthritis on it's own gets better,
then worse, then better again, but can't be cured-only managed.
As such, it naturally inspires home remedies. Anything can seem
like a miracle worker at some point. That's the insidious part
of it-and why arthritis is such a fertile field for marketers.
"Vegetables and fruits in the nightshade family, especially
peppers and tomatoes, are rich in nutrients, fiber, and other
potentially beneficial compounds. Don't give them up."

-UC Berkeley Wellness Letter, January 2011