Which common foods are relatives of the eggplant in the nightshade family?
Answer
Tomatoes and potatoes
Eggplant belongs to the Solanaceae family, commonly referred to as the nightshade family. This classification groups it botanically with several other highly common food items known worldwide. Specifically, tomatoes and potatoes share this botanical lineage with the eggplant. This relationship is significant because it is sometimes cited anecdotally, in discussions regarding inflammatory conditions like arthritis, as a reason why individuals might experience flare-ups after consumption, though controlled evidence for this effect remains lacking for certain compounds like solanine.

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