All You Need to Know About Soy Allergy

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All you need to know about Soy Allergy

 

Many people are allergic to soy, which is a product of soybean from the legume family.

Soy is a common ingredient often added for flavoring to different foods. Being allergic to soy means that your body reacts to the soy protein and your immune system mistakes it for a harmful substance.

Our immune system produces ‘histamines’ to fend off the supposed allergens. The release of histamines in the body is an inflammatory response, also known as ‘allergic reaction’.

Typically, soy allergy commences during infancy, but goes away as a person approaches adulthood; yet, many people remain allergic to soy throughout their lifetime.

Avoiding soy based foods can be difficult, as they are more commonplace than expected. For instance, soy is often present in bakery goods, baby milk formulas, dairy products, cereals, chocolate, sauces/condiments, and processed meat foods.

Most people who are allergic to soy do not suffer any severe symptoms if they consume soy based foods; for this reason, many individuals do not even realize that they are allergic to it.

The nature and strength of the immune system varies from person to person, which is why every person allergic to soy does not experience the same effects. Some people may feel slightly uncomfortable from mild inching or tingling around the mouth. For others, the consequences could be frightening and even life threatening.

Symptoms Of Soy Allergy

Depending on your body’s tolerance levels, symptoms of an allergic reaction to soy may appear after few minutes or take a couple of hours. Minor to mild symptoms of an allergic reaction to soy include:

  • Itchy skin
  • Skin hives
  • Redness of skin
  • Swelling around the mouth
  • Tingling in the mouth
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Abdominal pain
  • Wheezing/coughing
  • Diarrhea

 

Other Serious Symptoms

 

Severe allergic reactions to soy are rare, but they do happen and can be fatal. The allergen can cause death if the victim does not receive immediate medical attention. 

A critical immune response to soy is called ‘anaphylaxis’, which is usually experienced by individuals who suffer from multiple food allergies or breathing problems like asthma. The following signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction need to be taken seriously:

  • Dizziness, Lightheadedness
  • Shock, confusion
  • Blackout, Loss of consciousness
  • Skin turning pale or blue
  • Swelling and tightness of the throat
  • Shortness of breath
  • Low pulse/drastic drop in blood pressure
  • Elevated heart rate

Soy allergy is a complicated medical condition, thus diagnosing it may not be that simple. Soy does not affect every allergic person in the same way; allergic reactions can target the skin, cardiovascular system, respiratory tract, and/or gastrointestinal organs.

The doctor is likely to ask you a lot of questions about your dietary habits and conduct a number of tests before confirming the allergy. The best way to prevent an allergic reaction is to avoid eating foods that contain soy.

You should always study the ingredients on food labels before purchasing them; anything with soy, soya, or soya bean will put you in the danger.

Foods that do not list soy as an ingredient, but include ‘artificial flavoring’, ‘MSG (monosodium glutamate), HVP (hydrolyzed vegetable protein), or Glycine max also contain soy protein.

If the food packaging says ‘no soy’ and yet triggers a severe allergic reaction, you may file a personal injury lawsuit against the manufacturer in a product liability case. Your healthcare specialist may prescribe you antihistamine drugs for using in case you accidently consume a soy based food.

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