9. Garden Surprises: Nightshade Vegetables (for some people)
This one’s controversial. Tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, and peppers belong to the nightshade family, and some arthritis sufferers report worsened symptoms after eating them. The Arthritis Foundation states “Some people with arthritis swear that nightshade vegetables like tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, and peppers worsen their symptoms. While there’s limited scientific evidence to support this claim, eliminating nightshades is an option if you think they trigger arthritis pain.” Scientific evidence is mixed, but if you notice a pattern between eating these vegetables and increased pain, you might consider limiting them to see if it helps.