Since stepping whole heartedly into The Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) way of eating, one of the foods I've said goodbye to (hopefully just for now) is the humble white potato.

Why?

The humble white potato is part of what is called the nightshade vegetable family - a family of plants that have certain characteristics in common. Did you know tobacco is a nightshade? Under the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) - they’re listed as problematic due to their lectin, saponin and/or capsaicin content (see more info here). Yes, it’s true that lectins can be found in all plants, and yes it is also true that not all lectins are harmful, however the lectins which are avoided within the AIP diet are the ones with the potential ability to increase intestinal permeability - leaky gut (see more info on that here).

Under the Autoimmune Protocol - for those of us suffering the effects of food sensitivities, autoimmune disease and/or leaky gut syndrome, there is a potential chance that these nightshade vegetables could also be contributing to our ill health. Yes, there is no doubt that they are a wonderful healthy vegetable full of nutrients, and for most people they're not an issue, however the AIP believe they can act as a trigger causing immune reactions just like wheat and dairy can. Some of the specific signs of nightshade intolerance include joint pain, acid reflux and heartburn, digestive issues as well as reddening of the skin.

A comprehensive list of the nightshade family of vegetables, thanks to The Paleo Mom, include:

Ashwagandha
Capsicum/Bell peppers
Bush tomato
Cape gooseberry
Cocoa
Eggplant
Garden huckleberry (not to be confused with regular huckleberries)
Goji berries
Hot peppers (chili, jalapenos, habaneros, chili-based spices, red pepper, cayenne)
Kutjera
Naranjillas
Paprika
Pepinos
Pimentos
Potatoes (but not sweet potatoes)
Tamarillos
Tomatillos
Tomatoes

Saying goodbye to potatoes was both a hard and an easy thing to do. Hard because I'm a big potato lover - mashed, roasted or chipped! Easy because I only ate them every so often.

So for those "every so often" moments, I've been enjoying these AIP friendly, white potato alternatives:

2 AIP potato alternatives

Why?