Often, soy allergy starts when one is an infant. Most parents realize their kids have soy allergy when they try feeding them soy-based infant formula. Many children outgrow the allergy, but this can also continue into adulthood, and one must find ways to manage it. Soybeans are in the legume family, including lentils, peas, kidney beans, and peanuts.
When soybeans are whole and immature, they’re known as edamame. Even though the most common form of soy we know is tofu, soy is found in many other unsuspecting foods. This makes it one of the hardest products for an allergic person to avoid.
A soy allergy happens when the body’s immune system mistakes the harmless proteins present in soy for invaders. It then forms antibodies to fight them. So, the next time you consume anything with the protein soy, your body releases histamines to protect the body. When histamines flood the body’s immune system, they cause an allergic reaction.
Soy is among the top 9 allergens responsible for about 90% of food allergy reactions. Soy allergy begins very early, before the age of 3. Fortunately for most kids, it also clears up by age 10.
What is a soy allergy?
A soy allergy is an allergic reaction that occurs when your immune system sees the proteins in soy as “invaders.” your body releases antibodies like histamines to fight off the soy proteins as if they were bacteria or a virus. Soy allergy symptoms can range from severe to mild, which varies from one person to the next.
The first time you consume soy, your body creates an immunoglobulin E (IgE) after your first exposure to soy. This IgE that your immune system makes targets specific types of antigens. So whenever you ingest soy proteins again, an allergic reaction will occur. Soy allergy symptoms appear almost immediately after consuming soy products.
In many cases, soy allergy symptoms range from mild to moderate. However, in rare cases, these symptoms can be severe, causing anaphylaxis. When anaphylaxis is untreated, it can lead to death.
Soy allergy symptoms
Even though soy allergy symptoms are uncomfortable, they’re not life-threatening, or you will notice these symptoms develop within a few minutes to a few hours of ingesting soy proteins. Common soy allergy symptoms may include:
- Skin issues like eczema and hives
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Indigestion
- Tightness in the throat
- Diarrhea
- Runny nose and wheezing
- Skin redness
In rare cases, anaphylaxis may occur following consumption of soy proteins. The symptoms to look for include the following:
- Dizziness or loss of consciousness
- Drop in blood pressure
- Difficulty breathing or swollen throat
- Rapid pulse
Soy allergy diagnosis
The best way to know if you have soy allergy is by taking an Allergy Test. This test will check your body for common food allergies and intolerances. When you get the results, you’ll be aware of your food allergies, and you can then manage your diet accordingly to prevent future symptoms.
When you find out you have soy allergy, you can be cautious when shopping so you can steer clear of foods with soy protein as an ingredient. Since soy is present in many unsuspecting foods, you’ll need to know how it’s labelled and the different forms of soy.
Foods to avoid with soy allergy
Soy can be created in various ways, and you must know these to distinguish the differences and avoid these multiple types of soy.
Soy milk
Many children have soy allergies. In fact, estimates show that about 15% of children with cow’s milk allergy are also commonly allergic to soy milk. Often, when you find out your child has a cow’s milk allergy, the most frequent alternative is soy-based milk formula. However, this can be problematic if they’re allergic to this, too.
If your infant has soy allergy, you can find a hypoallergenic formula or use extensively hydrolyzed formulas. Often, proteins in these are broken down so that they’re unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. The proteins in elemental formulas are in their simplest forms and are unlikely to cause an allergic reaction.
Soy lecithin
This is a non-toxic food additive used in foods that need a natural emulsifier. Lecithin is used to control sugar crystalization in chocolates and improve the shelf-life of some products. Lecithin is also commonly used in fast foods to prevent splattering when deep frying certain foods.
Some people with soy allergy can tolerate soy lecithin. However, please consult with a professional before trying it out, depending on the severity of your allergy symptoms. Soy lecithin has a lesser chance of causing allergic reactions because it contains insufficient levels of soy protein responsible for an allergic reaction.
Soy sauce
Soy sauce not only contains soy protein but also wheat. So, this can make it difficult to know whether soy sauce allergy is due to wheat or soy. If you can’t consume soy sauce because of wheat proteins, you can substitute it with tamari sauce, as it doesn’t contain wheat.
Soybean oil
Most people with soy allergy can safely consume soybean oil as it typically doesn’t contain soy proteins, and therefore, one can consume it safely. However, before doing so, discuss with your doctor, especially if you have severe symptoms.
Other forms of soy include:
- Tofu
- Tempeh
- Soy flour
- Soy fibre
- Soy nuts
- Soy protein
Treating soy allergy
There is no definitive way to treat soy allergies completely. However, you can avoid any form of soy protein, and you’ll be safe. Of course, knowing what contains soy and what does not will be hard. However, you’ll slowly learn what to avoid and feel better when you don’t suffer from symptoms.
However, upon accidental consumption of soy proteins, you can take over-the-counter pills like antihistamines if you have mild to moderate symptoms. However, if you have severe symptoms like anaphylaxis, it is advisable to use EpiPen which administers adrenaline so the symptoms stop. If one doesn’t have this, they must be rushed to emergency care.
Your doctor will recommend an EpiPen if you have severe allergy symptoms. You must always keep this and check if it’s expired to refill it as quickly as possible. Every time you have anaphylaxis, you’ll visit the emergency room afterwards for observation because symptoms tend to come back after a few hours.
Final thoughts
If your child has a soy allergy, they’ll eventually outgrow it at around the age of 10, but this isn’t assured for all kids. An allergy like this can cause specific symptoms that are bodywide and uncomfortable. Learning to check out for these signs can help you know you have a food allergy. Additionally, an Allergy Test will help you narrow the food allergies to what’s causing you problems.
