One of the most dramatic changes in one's arthritic pain, the joint pain and stiffness, can often be dramatically reduced in some people by simply eliminating a group of foods in one's diet. 

These foods are classified as nightshades and there are ninety-two different varieties.

The most common nightshades are: Tomatoes, Potatoes, Eggplant, Chile Peppers, Bell Peppers, and Tobacco.

But many spices and flavorings belong to the nightshade family and are added into processed and pre-packaged foods. Even some soda drinks, Dr.Pepper being one, is classified by some as a nightshade product.

Nightshades contain solanine, a compound that inhibits cholinesterase in the body. Cholinesterase is an enzyme found in the brain that is needed for normal muscle movement and flexibility.

Dr. Norman Childers of Rutgers University was the first person to notice a relationship between nightshade intake and body symptoms. Dr.Childers, who lived to be one hundred years old (1910-2011), noticed when he was in his fifties that his knees would pain him after he consumed tomatoes.

Dr. Childers then observed that cattle, after grazing on nightshade weeds, incurred an inflammatory response to the point that the cattle could not stand and would kneel in the pasture due to the pain from inflammation.

 Dr. Childers eventually linked nightshade intake in humans to arthritic pain, arthritic deformity, digestive disorders, nerve pain, and central nervous system disorders.

Although the solanine in nightshades is not toxic to everyone, Dr.Childers estimated in his research that between seventy-four and ninety percent of people with arthritric pain stiffness had a sensitivity to nightshades.

It is worth a try to eliminate nightshades for ninety days to see if this is the cause of one'e extreme discomfort.

There are also homeopathic remedies that have been found to be helpful for some people when they have a difficult time with total elimination of the nightshades from their diet.

Sources:

A Word About The Nightshades. Arthritis Nightshade Research Foundation.31January2012 <http://noarthritis.com/nightshades/htm.>

Nightshade Vegetables. 31January2012. <www.getting started with healthy eating.com/nightshade vegetables//htm.>

The Hidden Cause of Inflammation. 31January2012. <www.leakygut.co.uk>