Foods that Contain Nicotine
Eggplant
The food that is richest in nicotine concentration is eggplant. Eggplant contains a nicotine concentration of 100 ng/g. This vegetable is also a very good dietary source of fiber, vitamin B1, vitamin B6 and potassium. According to “The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods” by Michael T. Murray, the health benefits of eggplant consumption are directly linked to the presence of a strong antioxidant called nasunin. Nasunin protects the body against free radical damage, helps rid the body of excess iron and helps lower cholesterol levels.
Green Tomatoes
Green tomatoes also contain dietary nicotine. The nicotine content of green tomatoes is 42.8 ng/g. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, green tomatoes are also a good dietary source of potassium, phosphorus, vitamin C, folate and calcium. We haven’t read anything about red tomatoes containing nicotine.
Cauliflower
Cauliflower is another food source of nicotine. The nicotine concentration contained in cauliflower is 16.8 ng/g. According to MyHealthyFoods.com, cauliflower is also an excellent dietary source of vitamin K, vitamin C, folate and fiber. Regular consumption of cauliflower will promote some health benefits such as protection against some forms of cancer, detoxification in the body and protection against rheumatoid arthritis.
Potatoes
Another food that could expose you to nicotine is potatoes. Potatoes contain a nicotine concentration of 7.1 ng/g. According to Ayushveda.com, potatoes are also a very good dietary source of vitamin B6, vitamin A and potassium. The combination of these nutrients make the consumption of baked or boiled potatoes effective prevention against cardiovascular disease. According to the website, people who consume baked or boiled potatoes have a lower risk of heart attack and frequently have lower blood pressure than people who do not consume potatoes.
Nicotine in Food Studies
None the studies that we researched extrapolated data to see how much of the ingested nicotine reaches the bloodstream or its equivalent to the nicotine consumption in cigarettes. However, we can safely say that consuming nicotine in food is probably a safer way than inhaling it in a cloud of smoke. As a side note, green peppers and black tea contain no nicotine.
