What Soy Allergies And How You Can Deal With It

Among the many food types that cause all allergies, over ninety percent is caused by just eight possible sources of allergens. Among these is Soy, also known in the UK and other countries as Soya.

Like any other allergy, contact with this food protein type will result in the immune system falsely recognizing the protein as a threat, and will activate its systems in an attempt to combat it.

These ordeals are often painful, and it’s no joke when an allergic reaction occurs. Millions suffer from the same condition, and because of this there have been exclusion diets built up so that those allergic to Soy can avoid any and all food products containing the offending material.

How The Body Reacts

The bodily reaction of those allergic to soy may go from mild to wild, depending on their individual case. At the extreme end of soy allergy reactions, and all other allergies for that matter are anaphylactic reactions, resulting in difficulty breathing, shock, and low blood pressure, all quite able to be life-threatening in a matter of minutes.

A common way to combat this extreme body reaction is to inject epinephrine and an antihistamine into the body to stabilize all systems. A medical professional should also watch over victims of allergic reactions during this time just to make sure the reaction doesn’t turn fatal.

Common Soy Sources In Food

It’s quite scary to think about when you have Soy allergies, but most of the major fast-food chains use soy protein when making bread products like hamburger buns. Canned goods might also contain the same ingredients, so check before you buy the canned product.

Asian-cuisine restaurants will also usually have soy in their basic ingredients, so even before ordering, you’ll have to ask if any soy is present in their offerings so you can see which ones you should avoid.

Even food additives are not exempt from soy ingredients, as some chicken broth products may contain elements of soy. Flavoring, including buillon cubes, might also contain soy, so when you’re shopping around, it’s a good idea to take a look at the ingredients to check for soy.

How Much Soy Is Present Before The Body Reacts

Soy is typically more benign than most other forms of food allergies. In fact, dosages for soy to elicit reaction from the body’s immune system are much higher than it would be for other types of food allergens, which often require just a few mg to get an adverse reaction from the body.

That is good for those allergic to soy, meaning that if quantities in their food products containing soy are miniscule in proportion to the whole product, then they might not have to worry about eating it at all.

Having an allergic reaction to soy need not be such a pain in the neck. Consult with your physician to see what he or she can recommend to you when it comes to diet modification, treatment, or immunotherapy to make sure that you won’t have unpleasant reactions when you accidentally consume soy products. It all depends on the individual case so you should have your doctor come up with a treatment tailored for your case, making your life easier than having to watch out for soy all the time in everything you eat.