Experimental Break from Solanaceae, Helicopter Ride, and Almost Break from Books

This Monday, July 13, the boys and I went to Branson to meet my parents and my sister and bil for my dad's 50th birthday anniversary. My mother wanted to do something special this year for him, and going to Branson to spend time together doing things was what she did. We went to Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede, which is the first time I've ever been. I look forward to going again. That was great! There were horses, longhorn cattle, and the cutest little pigs that raced (some dressed in Yankee attire and some in Confederate attire). Will also got to ride in a helicopter with my dad. I'm posting a couple pics of that here.

He had fun doing that. He's wanted to ride a plane so badly. He's inherited my love of flying machines. So, I'm glad he has finally had a ride in something, and I've never myself been for a ride in a helicopter. Trusten really wanted to ride. Poor sweet baby. At least he got to go into the hotel pool with my sister. She and my bil Chris got in the pool with Will, and then Trust got in for a short bit before deciding it was cold, and he and I went to our room and took a WARM bath.

Will finished up Explode the Code books 1 1/2 and 2. We're almost finished with the plant science book. It probably won't be until next Tuesday, though. Going to Branson put us behind schedule. And I've had him do some work in math on subtraction. Now, after we get the science and math subtraction finished, we'll take a break from books. What that means is that I won't have things scheduled for him to do every day, except I'm thinking of reading a Rocket Readers book each day. Now, this will be fun for him, anyway, and we haven't been reading those. So, we'll read the bible and then probably read one of those. Then, we'll all have time freed up to do more outside for a couple months. We'll be doing a plant notebook, collecting leaves and things from various plants in the area--both on our property and likely in Mark Twain National Forest--and I'm thinking of scanning the leaves and printing them and glueing the picture, rather than pressing them all and putting them in the notebook. If I do the latter, I would rather have some sort of notebook with the protective covering for all the leaves. I'm not really sure what I'm doing yet, but I'll get it figured out. Then, we'll identify the plant and determine whether it's good for food and/or drug and write what we need to know on the page with it in the notebook. That is our main summer "school" activity. I also am going to discuss with Nathan a day he can plan to take off in the middle of some week so that we can all go visit the George Washington Carver museum. I'm also going to look into some other activities we can do, mostly for the boys and me. I'm hoping we can ALL do some fishing and some other things on some Sundays. Sometimes Nathan works Sundays, but most of the time he tries to take at least half the day off to get things done around here and have time with us to go do things.

Okay, NOW for the part about Solanaceae. From Wikipedia, s.v. Solanaceae:

"The Solanaceae is a family of flowering plants that contains a number of important agricultural plants as well as many toxic plants. The name of the family comes from the Latin Solanum "the nightshade plant", but the further etymology of that word is unclear. Most likely, the name comes from the perceived resemblance that some of the flowers bear to the sun and its rays, and in fact a species of Solanum (Solanum nigrum) is known as the sunberry. Alternatively, it has been suggested the name originates from the Latin verb solari, meaning "to soothe". This presumably refers to alleged soothing pharmacological properties of some of the psychoactive species of the family.

The family is also informally known as the nightshade family or potato family. The family includes Datura (Jimson weed), mandrake, deadly nightshade (belladonna), capsicum (paprika, chili pepper), potato, tobacco, tomato, eggplant and petunia.

The Solanaceae family is characteristically ethnobotanical, that is, extensively utilized by humans. It is an important source of food, spice and medicine. However, Solanaceae species are often rich in alkaloids whose toxicity to humans and animals ranges from mildly irritating to fatal in small quantities."

Over the last few years, I've learned a growing amount about certain plants in the Solanaceae family. To start with, I'd read that those with rheumatoid arthritis usually benefit from excluding tomatoes and potatoes from their diet, as well as any other nightshade plant. Then, sometime in the latter half of 2003 or early 2004, I developed a tomato allergy. In mid-2003 I'd had a severe anaphylactic reaction to an antibiotic, namely erythromycin. I believe certain allergy problems I've developed since then can be linked to that episode, but I'm not absolutely sure. My allergy to tomato could be due to overeating tomatoes and tomatoe by products. Regardless, after a few years of having reactions, I'm quite positive, without having had an allergy test, that I'm allergic to fresh tomatoes. I started noticing the problems whenever I ate salad, and I didn't know at first whether it was the tomatoes or the salad dressing I was using. Initially, I would experience very painful upper gums around my top incisors. It would really hurt, and I wondered the first several times it happened, whether some acid was hurting me.

In time, I no longer had the gum pain attacks, but rather I would experience slight tracheal closing, itchy feeling in lungs, and a running nose. Then, in 2005, I had some more severe reactions, while I was pregnant. One time I called my husband to let him know that I "might" be in danger of anaphylactic shock, and I started taking liquid vitamin C every few minutes. I was having moderate tracheal closing, moderate breathing difficulty due to the tracheal constriction and itchy and constricted feeling in my lungs, moderate-to-severe itching, especially on the soles of my feet, severe running nose, etc. After lots of vitamin C and a cold shower, I eventually became all right. It was during that time that I often fixed homemade pizza for my then-2-yo-son and myself for lunch. I did everything from scratch, including the sauce. I never cooked my sauce for too long (I'd also leave the skin in usually). My sauce is the ONLY sauce I've ever had reactions to. And I had probably 3 or 4 reactions to my sauce in all. I believe this severe reaction I had in mid-2005 was from a batch of my sauce, if I remember correctly. Now, I'd been monitoring the tomatoes I was eating. I only ate organic ones, at least to MY KNOWLEDGE, whenever I ate them at home. I started thinking it was due to hydroponic tomatoes, b/c I noticed some of the "organic" tomatoes I was buying were labeled "hydroponic." (As a side note, I'm ANTI-hydroponic plants and will NOT knowingly eat, smoke, or otherwise ingest anything grown hydroponically, that is to say in water treated with nutrients, rather than in soil.) I'd already determined that it wasn't pesticides, because I was having the reactions with organic tomatoes, as well as conventionally-grown tomatoes. So, I made sure I was not buying anything hydroponic. I also paid attention to the origin of the tomatoes, whether they were grown locally, across the nation, in Mexico, or in the EU. I considered that perhaps the tomatoes I was buying were being cross-contaminated with GM crops. (Actually, I think Nathan suggested this to me.) I was not having a reaction every single time I ate tomatoes. And a couple different times I took short breaks (a few weeks) from eating tomatoes and then would start back, and it seemed like breaks helped. But, long-term, the tomato allergy problem only became worse.

I finally concluded early this year--2009--that it must be an enzyme or something in tomatoes to which I'm having the allergic reactions, that is destroyed by heat. I've never (yet, anyway) had reactions to thoroughly cooked tomatoes. I've only had reactions to my own spaghetti sauce, which I've rarely cooked for over an hour. Since I've eaten cooked tomatoes with their skin still attached, I'm thinking it is not something solely in the skin (remember, my sauce had skin in it, too), but I think it's just something in the tomato that is destroyed under extreme and/or prolonged heat.

For four or five months now, I have not eaten fresh tomatoes. One time a couple months ago, my parents stayed with us, and I was cooking dinner. My mother offered to help, and I let her cut up things for the salad. Well, I keep everything separate and let everyone assemble their own salads, and that is especially so now that I won't eat tomato. Well, I had just finished telling her about my not eating tomatoes, but without thinking [out of habit], she mixed everything together into a bowl. She apologized afterward, and I told her it was no big deal, that I'd just pick around it and not get any of the tomatoes out for myself. Well, apparently just the smallest amount of juice is enough to cause me to have a reaction, because shortly after finishing my dinner I had slight symptoms--running nose, slight lung-itchiness/heaviness, slight wheezing while I breathed. I took some vitamin C, drank plenty of water, and soon I was okay. It wasn't that bad. But, now I'm very careful to never even allow any fresh tomato juice touch my food in any way.

I have continued to eat tomato sauce, cooked tomatoes, etc. But, I've done research here and there over the past two years on tobacco. I believe I've concluded that tobacco is better not touched at all for any reason. There are some things it has been helpful for, but for those few things, there are better and safer options. It is also a most detrimental incense and very abused. Throughout our history, I have only found evidence of heathen peoples using this particular incense for religious, recreational, and medicinal purposes. I have not found any evidence that God's people used this plant for these reasons, until the last few hundred years in New Israel, here in the U.S., and it was introduced by the native Indian-Americans, whom of course were heathen peoples.

Then, I've seen research over the past few years on potatoes. Among natural health teachers, there is a great divide, with some of them very much against potatoes and some of them very much for them. You have the anti-potato group teaching that potatoes are too starchy--that they have too many carbohydrates--and that they have toxins and are especially dangerous when they are have green coloring (this is very true). You have the pro-potato group raving about the abundance of nutrients, including high vitamin C content. I've always stood on middle ground.

I read some about belladonna around three years ago. It was an ingredient in a homeopathic medicinal concoction I bought for my son, who was having bedwetting issues. After reading about it, I decided to discontinue the use of the tablets. I also learned that it's the substance used to dilate one's eyes. I plan to have my eyes dilated at my next eye exam. My optometrists have always pushed to have it done each year, since I have high degree myopia (and thus am at higher risk than the general population of having retinal detachment and other problems), and that helps them to see more of what is going on. I absolutely HATE it, though, and I've managed to refuse it year after year. I think I've had it done twice, only once since married adulthood. But, since I am high risk, I agreed with my optometrist this year that I'd have it done next year. But, I still plan to not have it done every year. That's a very crazy substance. (And for anyone wondering, I really don't know whether they use the real deal belladonna or whether they use some synthesized copy of its active ingredient.) Belladonna means "beatiful woman" in Italian. Women apparently used to use the stuff to deliberately dilate their pupils for cosmetic purposes!

Now, what do all these plants have in common, and why are we apt to become addicted to them? I'll paste a section from http://www.craigsams.com/pages/tobac.html but recommend any interested reader to visit the link and read the entire page:

So what is solanine, the active alkaloid in nightshades? What are its effects? Solanine acts as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor.

WHAT ARE ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE INHIBITORS?

• The chemical that transmits nerve impulses from one nerve ending to the next is acetylcholine - once it has transmitted a nerve impulse it has done its job and is no longer needed so it is broken down by an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase and recycled.
• Solanine (or tomatine from tomatoes) slows the production of this acetylcholinesterase, so acetylcholine isn't broken down as fast as it's being produced.
• Acetylcholine builds up causing a 'traffic jam' of stimulation at the receptor nerve endings.
• The nerve endings become overstimulated
• This overstimulation can lead to muscle weakness, muscle twitching, hypertension, increased intestinal contractions and increased secretions of tear, sweat, saliva, gastric and intestinal glands.
• All nightshade foods contain solanine, a strong acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. This is what makes excessive consumption of nightshade foods unsuitable for many people.

Certain pesticides, particularly organophosphate and carbamates, work as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, achieving the same effect as solanine.

For a diet that seeks to maintain a strong and healthy nervous and neuromuscular system there is considerable evidence that the safest approach is to avoid nightshade vegetables and to eat food that is grown without the use of carbamate or organophosphate pesticides, i.e. organic food. Before the discovery of chemical pesticides, nicotine was a widely used insecticide. It kills insects in the same way, but chemical sprays are cheaper and longer-lasting. Until they were replaced by hormones and antibiotics, organophosphate pesticides were also used by livestock farmers as growth-promoters - the mechanism whereby they cause muscle weakness and increase secretions of digestive fluids also causes animals to exercise less and eat more, thereby fattening them up more quickly.

WHY DO PEOPLE LOVE NIGHTSHADES?

What is it that makes tobacco so addictive? Why is it that sometimes only chips will do, or we are gagging for a pizza? Solanine, by inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine, stimulates increased activity of the acetylcholine receptors in the brain and this leads to increased flow of adrenaline. This increases the heart rate, blood pressure and leads to increased blood glucose levels. This mild increase in energy level is achieved, along with a reduced nervous sensitivity; producing a combination of calmness and stimulation. This provides short term relief in the face of the stresses and pressures of modern life. In the longer term it puts a strain on the nervous system as the receptors are being overstimulated.

WHY DON'T WE EAT TOBACCO?

The leaves of all nightshades contain high levels of nicotine. One could, at a pinch, smoke potato or tomato leaves. A potent insecticide can be made with tomato leaves. The levels of nicotine in the leaves of nightshade plants are much higher than in nightshade fruits or tubers. 8-10 cigarettes, if eaten, would be enough to kill a person. First time smokers experience dreadful nausea but gradually develop a resistance to the effects of nicotine and this is how addiction develops – more and more is needed to satisfy the craving.

WHY ARE NIGHTSHADES LEGAL?

If the nightshade foods were to be introduced to the Western diet today, under current Novel Foods regulations they would have to be tested for safety. It is unlikely that they would be permitted to enter the food supply, solely because of their solanine and nicotine content. However, like cigarettes, they slipped into our diet despite some voices in opposition and have assumed a major role in our nutrition and health, a role that, in a free society, should be accepted. However, moderation in all things is a worthy principle and it could be argued that, in our diet we have perhaps gone too far down the road of nightshade acceptance.
Nomato products enable all consumers, not just those with particular problems with tomatoes, an opportunity to enjoy foods like ketchup, pasta sauce, tomato soup, vegetarian chilli and baked beans without exposing themselves to solanine alkaloids or trace levels of nicotine found in tomatoes and other nightshades.

I've done more research and have found plenty of interesting things, but this is enough info to include here.

Lasagna, pizza, and spaghetti have long, long been my favorite foods. But, now it is time for me to take a break. I'll also be taking a break from potatoes and peppers. Tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers are the only things from this family that I really ever eat or use in any way. But, if you think about it, it's not an easy thing to avoid these foods from our modern diet! But, I'm determined, and when I'm determined to do something, I do it. I do still have some tomato sauces and peppers in the house, and we may consume these things before I commit to the break, because it will be easier if I don't have the temptations in my cabinets and refrigerator. But, I'm thinking I won't have a hard time either way, because I've already cut back and have avoided eating these things, so they're just sitting there.

Anyway, my plan is to go without these completely for at least two or three months (which means I'll mostly not be preparing these things for others in the household, either), and Nathan said he's agreeable. He currently is using tobacco (has again for a little over a year), both as incense (smoking cigarettes) and as dip, but he does not smoke around any of us, and Arkansas, where I do most of our business, has made it illegal to smoke tobacco in public places. So, I don't have to worry about being around that, either.

I'll post on here when I start this, and then when I end it, I will introduce back one food at a time and take note of any detrimental effects (I'll also note whether I experienced any noticeable improvements in my health during the abstinence period). If I DO experience any detrimental effects upon re-introduction, I will abolish that food from my diet. If I do NOT, then I will continue my life with those foods included BUT with good moderation. Fresh tomatoes will NOT be re-introduced into my diet, but I will continue to prepare them for Nathan and William (Trusten doesn't like them), if they so desire. I've already made the choice to permanently abolish fresh tomatos from my diet.

I now believe it may be an alkaloid in tomatoes that is causing the allergic reaction. The alkaloid mentioned above--tomatine--may or may not be destroyed by heat. I have not found anything regarding this, but I do know that some glycoalkaloids in existence are destroyed by heat.

One study published:

"In the mean time, tomato belongs to the family of Solanaceae known to produce toxic glycoalkaloids. The major glycoalkaloid in tomato, a-tomatine, is embryotoxic and has been shown to cause rapid death of mice" ( T.J. Fu, NCFST/FDA,"Effects of Processing Conditions on Natural Toxins Formation in Plant Cell and Tissue Cultur," available at http://www.ncfst.iit.edu/platforms/rpbioa.html).

Well, that's it for now! :-)