When will I ever learn?
White potatoes cause inflammation and when I eat them, I am guaranteed a night full of pain. I write that more for me than for anyone out there who may be reading this, because I know this and yet I indulged. A gathering of four close friends, a menu which I did not determine... so what's the harm in enjoying some tasty mashed potatoes? Apparently, A LOT. I spent the night in fibromyalgia-like pain, my entire body aching. As I lay there, trying to sleep, that inner voice taunted me..."You know better!" A back surgery in 2003 led to my developing osteoarthritis. That I cannot undo, but I can certainly act (and EAT) responsibly. No matter how tasty the potatoes were, they were not worth the anguish of the resulting pain. A nutrition article from about.com states the following: Another possible source of irritation comes from the nightshade family of plants, which includes potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplant. These vegetables contain a chemical alkaloid called solanine, which can trigger pain in some people. While there aren't any formal research findings that back the claim about nightshade plants, some people do believe they get relief from the symptoms of pain and inflammation when they eliminate them. Interested in reading more? Check out the full article here: http://nutrition.about.com/od/dietsformedicaldisorders/a/antiinflamfood.htm