When doctors and health experts tell people to refrain from smoking cigarettes and tobacco, it is because they are concerned about one main ingredient responsible for a number of diseases; nicotine. It is a toxic substance that has been labeled harmful to one’s health. However, it is not only found in tobacco products, but also in some foods and drinks that we ingest on a daily basis. Here is a list of everyday foods that have high nicotine content, mostly found in foods from the nightshade or Solanaceae family.

1. Tomato: As hard as it is to believe, tomatoes do contain some amounts of nicotine. It has a net weight of 7.1 to 7.3ng/g. What this translates to is about 7.1 ng of nicotine for each gram a tomato has. However, it is said that the nicotine content reduces when the tomato ripens and it contains a nicotine alkaloid known as tomatine.

2. Potato: This is a vegetable that contains a nicotine alkaloid known as solanine, mostly found in the peel. A potato has an average weight of 15ng/g but goes to about 42.8ng/g if the potato is green or still budding while the ripe ones contain as little as 4.3ng/g net weight. If you get pureed potatoes, then the amount shoots up to about 52ng/g. Such high nicotine content is said to have fatal implications on human health.

3. Eggplant: Also known as aubergines, these contain about 100ng/g of this harmful substance. This may be the highest nicotine reading next to tobacco products. This loosely translates to the fact that about 10 kilograms of eggplants could contain the nicotine content of a cigarette.

4. Teas: As much as tea is one of the healthiest beverages around, it also contains some amount of nicotine. Green and black tea, whether caffeinated or decaf, does contain some nicotine. Black tea, for example, has content of about 100ng/g of nicotine. Instant tea, as compared to natural brewed tea, may have a nicotine reading going up to 285ng/g.

5. Peppers and Capsicums: These food flavorings contain alkaloids known as solanine and solanadine, much like the other nightshade family variations. You will find that peppers contain solanine levels of about 7.7 to 9.2 mg per 100 grams of food serving.

6. Cauliflower: Although it is not part of the nightshade family, it does contain its own share of nicotine. Cauliflower has nicotine standing of about 16.8ng/g.

As surprising as these findings may be, it is important to note that they are still healthy foods. It does not mean that you will start craving for a ‘fix’ like a cigarette or tobacco smoker would. These levels are lower compared to that in tobacco and things like the method of cooking, eating, amounts in your daily diet and how ripe they are may significantly reduce the nicotine content to manageable levels.