In this episode of The PKD Dietitian Podcast, Diana Bruen answers a listener's question about the safety of eating nightshades like eggplant and red peppers for those with polycystic kidney disease (PKD). She breaks down what nightshades are, why some people avoid them, and what the research really says. Forget the conflicting advice online—Diana shares the evidence-based truth about how nightshades impact your kidney health and whether they belong in a PKD-friendly diet.

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REFERENCES

• Is There Such a Thing as “Anti-Nutrients”? A Narrative Review of Perceived Problematic Plant Compounds https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7600777/
• 130 years of Plant Lectin Research https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7455784/
• Red kidney bean poisoning in the UK: an analysis of 50 suspected incidents between 1976 and 1989 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2271815/
• Structure-function and application of plant lectins in disease biology and immunity https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31542433/
• Nightshade Vegetables: A Dietary Trigger for Worsening Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome? https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37202602/
• The Harvard Nutrition Source https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/anti-nutrients/lectins/
• Natural toxins in food https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/natural-toxins-in-food
• Natural Toxins in Food https://www.fda.gov/food/chemical-contaminants-pesticides/natural-toxins-food

DISCLAIMER

The PKD Dietitian Podcast is for educational purposes only. Information presented should not be used in place of advice from a medical professional. Always consult your healthcare provider with any medical questions or concerns.