âEvery few months, social media discovers a new food thatâs supposedly trying to ruin the lives of those of us with autoimmune diseases. This time? Apparently, tomatoes have joined the villain club.â
đ Dear Diary,
The other day, I came across a post in a Myasthenia Gravis support group that immediately caught my attention.
It read something like this:
âNightshade vegetables can cause mild MG relapses. Since I stopped eating potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant, my energy levels have increased. Please pass this on.â
Now, when you live with not oneâbut twoâautoimmune diseases, your ears perk up anytime someone claims theyâve found the missing puzzle piece.
Trust meâŠ
If someone told me giving up ketchup would eliminate my fatigue, Iâd at least pause long enough to mourn my French fries before Googling it. đ
Living with MuSK-positive Myasthenia Gravis and Crohnâs Disease means Iâm always looking for safe, evidence-based ways to feel better. Like many people living with chronic illness, I understand the hope that comes with reading a post that says, âI found what works!â
One personâs experience deserves to be heard, but it isnât the same as scientific evidence. Both have valueâthey simply answer different questions. Personal stories help us ask better questions. Research helps us find more reliable answers.
So before I started clearing tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, and eggplant out of my kitchen, I asked myself one simple questionâŠ
What does the science actually say?
đ± Where Did This Idea Come From?
The belief that nightshade vegetables are harmful to people with autoimmune diseases didnât appear out of nowhere.
It actually stems from several scientific theories that have gradually evolved into internet âfacts.â
Some of those theories have legitimate scientific foundations.
Others have been stretched far beyond what current research supports.
Letâs separate the science from the social media.
đ„ Theory #1: Solanine Causes Inflammation
One of the biggest concerns centers around solanine, a naturally occurring compound found in certain nightshade vegetables.
Plants produce solanine as a natural defense against insects and disease.
At very high levels, solanine can absolutely be toxic.
Thatâs why youâve probably heard not to eat green or heavily sprouted potatoes.
But hereâs the part thatâs often left out of viral postsâŠ
The amount of solanine found in normal servings of ripe potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplant is far below toxic levels.
Researchers have not found convincing evidence that the amounts typically consumed in food trigger autoimmune flares or Myasthenia Gravis relapses.
So yesâŠ
Solanine is real.
But so is something called dose.
As with many things in medicine, the amount matters.
đż Theory #2: Nightshades Damage the Gut
This is probably the most interesting area of ongoing research.
Scientists are studying whether plant compounds called glycoalkaloids might affect the lining of the intestines and intestinal permeabilityâoften referred to online as âleaky gut.â
As someone living with Crohnâs Disease, this definitely caught my attention.
Researchers are actively exploring whether these compounds could play a role in gastrointestinal diseases.
Butâand this is a very important butâthey have not proven that eating tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, or eggplant causes Crohnâs flares or worsens inflammatory bowel disease.
Some people with Crohnâs tolerate these foods perfectly.
Others donât.
Thatâs because Crohnâs is incredibly individual.
A food that sends one personâs digestive system into full protest mode may be completely harmless to someone else.
đ„ Theory #3: Nightshades Increase Inflammation
IronicallyâŠ
Research often suggests the opposite.
Nightshade vegetables are rich in nutrients like:
- đ„ Vitamin C
- đ Lycopene
- đ« Carotenoids
- đ Polyphenols
Many of these compounds have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
So while the internet frequently labels nightshades as inflammatoryâŠ
The vegetables themselves contain many nutrients that scientists generally consider beneficial.
𩮠Theory #4: They Make Arthritis Worse
This may be where the myth really gained momentum.
Years ago, people living with arthritis began sharing personal stories about feeling worse after eating tomatoes.
Those stories spread quickly.
Books were written.
Websites repeated them.
Eventually, avoiding nightshades became common advice in some circles.
When researchers actually studied the question, however, they couldnât find enough evidence to recommend that everyone with arthritis eliminate nightshades.
Does that mean no one is sensitive?
Not at all.
It simply means there isnât enough evidence to make a universal recommendation.
đ Theory #5: The Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) Diet
Many people point to the Autoimmune Protocol Diet as proof that nightshades are harmful.
But thatâs not actually how AIP works.
The elimination phase temporarily removes many foodsâincluding dairy, grains, legumes, eggs, nuts, seeds, and nightshades.
The purpose isnât to declare these foods âbad.â
The purpose is to identify your personal triggers before gradually adding foods back into your diet.
Nightshades arenât singled out because science has proven theyâre dangerous.
Theyâre simply one piece of a much larger elimination process.
đ What About Myasthenia Gravis?
This was the question I cared about most.
Can nightshade vegetables trigger MG relapses?
Based on the current evidenceâŠ
There are no clinical studies demonstrating that tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, or eggplant cause Myasthenia Gravis relapses.
No major Myasthenia Gravis organization recommends avoiding nightshade vegetables.
The triggers we know have much stronger evidence include:
- Infections
- Heat
- Emotional and physical stress
- Poor sleep
- Overexertion
- Certain medications
As someone with MuSK-positive MG, those are the things I personally pay the closest attention to because we know they can have a real impact.
đœïž So⊠Should You Stop Eating Nightshades?
Maybe.
Maybe not.
If youâve consistently noticed that tomatoes upset your stomachâŠ
Or peppers seem to aggravate your Crohnâs symptomsâŠ
Thatâs worth discussing with your healthcare team.
Our bodies donât all read the same instruction manual.
But eliminating an entire group of nutrient-rich vegetables because of a Facebook post probably isnât the best place to start.
One of the most valuable tools you can have is a food and symptom journal.
It wonât tell you what affects everyone else.
It wonât tell you what affects everyone with MG or Crohnâs.
But it can help you discover what affects you.
And sometimes, thatâs the most valuable information of all.
đ Final Thoughts
One of the biggest lessons Iâve learned since collecting autoimmune diseases like theyâre PokĂ©mon cards is thisâŠ
What works beautifully for one person may do absolutely nothing for someone else.
Science gives us guidance.
Our healthcare teams provide expertise.
Our bodies provide feedback.
The real goal is learning how to listen to all three.
As I sit here writing this diary entry, âSignsâ by BeyoncĂ© featuring Missy Elliott keeps playing in my head.
Not because itâs about nightshade vegetablesâthank goodnessâbut because the title reminds me to pay attention to the signs. Living with chronic illness means becoming fluent in your bodyâs language while also recognizing that not every symptom has the same cause. Sometimes the biggest challenge isnât noticing a symptomâitâs figuring out whatâs actually behind it.
Apparently, even my playlist believes in evidence-based medicine. đ
Curiosity is healthy.
Asking questions is healthy.
Doing your own research using credible sources is healthy.
Having honest conversations with your healthcare team is healthy.
And learning from one another is healthy, too.
But personal experience should start the conversationânot end it.
Before we eliminate foods, change medications, or panic over something we read online, itâs worth asking one simple questionâŠ
What does the evidence actually say?
SometimesâŠ
Thatâs the healthiest habit of all.
Donât let fear dictate whatâs on your plate.
Let evidence, conversations with your healthcare team, and your own bodyâs experience guide your choices.
Because living with autoimmune disease is challenging enough without turning every tomato into a suspect.
đŹ Letâs Continue the Conversation
Have you noticed certain foods affecting your Myasthenia Gravis or Crohnâs Disease?
Iâd genuinely love to hear about your experiences in the comments.
Our individual stories arenât scientific proof, but they can spark thoughtful conversations, inspire future research, and remind us that every autoimmune journey is unique.
After all, todayâs research questions often begin with yesterdayâs patient experiences.
We just have to be careful not to confuse the two.
With hope, honesty, and humor,
Kia Lorice
Founder âą Author âą Advocate âą Future Wellness Coach
đ The Dual Diagnosis Diaries
đ www.thedualdiagnosisdiaries.com
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