More food porn...and notes about food and autoimmune disease.

I keep forgetting to take a picture of my lunch lately--I get distracted and end up eating it too quickly to realize that my camera is sitting right there for a reason...
So again. I only have snacks and dinner to show you:


Snack: Red Clover Tea with sunflower seeds and an apple.


Dinner: Grilled steak (4oz), sauteed brussels sprouts with olive oil and walnuts, steamed broccoli, romaine salad with avocado, tomato and a few bay shrimp, dressed in olive oil and lemon.


I had a pear for dessert:


So, I have been reading up on the foods that affect autoimmune diseases. I know that I should avoid grains and legumes because of the effects of lectins. I know that I should avoid potatoes and green tomatoes because of their saponin content, dairy, because it is implicated in autoimmune disease based on the current research, and chili peppers because they are high in capsaicin. I take this to mean that I can eat red tomatoes, eggplant, and sweet peppers in moderation because they are not big sources of any of the compounds I should be avoiding. However, I keep running across articles that suggest I should be avoiding all nightshades if I have an autoimmune disease. My question is why? Am I supposed to be avoiding other compounds that i don't knkow about? Is it just easier to say "avoid nightshades" rather than to explain which nightshades and why? As I continue to research this, I will post what I find. Right now, I am going to continue with the tomato. I can rationalize pretty much anything when it comes to food... :)