Soybean intolerance!

Today we are going to delve into all thing’s soy, as it is a very common food intolerance. First let’s take a look at what soy is, and then the important differences between a soy allergy and a soy intolerance! Though the symptoms can cross over, the two are quite different. Then we will go into how you can test for soy intolerance, what foods to avoid if you are intolerant to soy, and some tips on healing from food intolerance.

Soybean Intolerance

What is soy?

The soybean is actually a member of the legume family, making it a relative to peanuts, lentils, peas, and other types of beans. Fun fact: It is rare for someone with a peanut allergy to react to soy, however people with true soy allergy also often react to peanuts!

It is the protein in the soybean that causes an allergic reaction, and also digestive issues when it comes to soy intolerance.

Let’s get into the differences between a soy allergy and a soy intolerance.

The difference between soy allergy and soy intolerance

As we have covered in many previous articles, there is a big difference between a true allergy and an intolerance. In the case of a true soy allergy, the body’s immune system reacts instantly to the proteins in soy, causing a release of histamine. This histamine then goes on to cause swelling, itching, wheezing, shortness of breath and tightness in the chest, nausea or vomiting, colic in babies, cramping and loose stools. It can also cause a fatal anaphylactic reaction!

Soy Allergy Symptoms

In contrast, a soy intolerance has a delayed reaction. This reaction can occur hours to days after ingesting soy! The symptoms are also generally a lot broader than allergy symptoms. Here are some of the more common symptoms of soy intolerance:

Headaches
Fatigue
Stomach aches and cramps
Diarrhea or constipation
Nausea
Brain fog or dizziness
Anxiety or depression
Low mood, grumpy

It is often hard to pinpoint if soy is the issue because the reactions can be so delayed and varied. Read on to find out how you can diagnose soy intolerance.

How can I test for soy intolerance?

Sudden Soy Allergy

There are several methods of diagnosing food intolerances.

We have previously discussed elimination diets, and this is a good option to try. It can, however, be a lengthy process and may not give you definitive results if not adhered to strictly.

Your doctor may also be able to organize a skin prick test for you. This can be painful and invasive and is done more so for suspected allergies as opposed to intolerances.
Our best recommendation is to click HERE and order yourself a food intolerance test. All you need to do is send us a few strands of your hair, and we will test them against 700+ items to ascertain which ones your body may be intolerant too, including SOY. You can expect your test results within 3 days of us receiving your hair sample.

If your results come back as intolerant to soy, keep reading.

Foods to avoid for the soy intolerant.

Soy is found in so many packaged products today, even in some that do not contain the word ‘soy’ in the ingredients list. Many proteins powders also contain soy. Here is a list of foods to avoid:

Soybeans
Tofu
Tempeh – this is fermented soybeans
Soy-based dairy alternatives (soy cheese, soy ice cream, soy milk etc)
Soy sauce, Tamari and lots of other Asian food sauces and mixes – always check!
Soy protein, soy protein isolate
Soy lecithin
Soybean oil
Hydrolysed Soy Protein
Soy Flour
Textured Vegetable Protein – called TVP mince

Soy Bean Allergy

Foods that may contain soy without directly saying so include:

Natural flavours
Thickening agents
Stabilizers
Lecithin
Xanthan gum and guar gum
Vegetable oil or vegetable shortening
Vegetable cellulose
Vegetable starch
Broth
Hydrolysed Plant Protein or Hydrolysed Vegetable Protein

If you are unsure on any of these foods, it is always recommended to check directly with the manufacturer!

What else can I do if I have a soy intolerance?

When first diagnosed with a soy intolerance, the two big area’s that you want to address are:

Your gut health
Your diet

Allergy to Soy Symptoms

Firstly, make sure that you remove ALL sources of soy. As mentioned in this article, often times soy can be in products without the actual word ‘soy’ on the ingredient list. If you are at all unsure, please check directly with the manufacturer of the product. Removing the culprit is essential for the initial healing phase, so check all potential sources of soy.

Where your gut health is concerned, it is important to work with a Naturopath or holistic nutritionist who will create a gut healing plan just for you. You can expect that it may contain things like pre and probiotics, gut healing nutrients and herbs, stress management, sleep hygiene and other dietary and lifestyle changes as necessary. All of these factors work together to help heal your gut from the inside out.

Though we do not always know why someone develops a food intolerance and someone else doesn’t, we do know that creating the healthiest digestive tract possible will eliminate painful symptoms, increase energy and boost your overall health and wellness. It also greatly reduces your risk of developing any further food intolerances in the future.

Soybean Oil Allergy

Signs of Soy Intolerance

In conclusion

Today’s article has looked at soybean intolerance and how it works. We’ve learnt that soybeans are part of the legume family, related to peanuts, lentils, and beans. Some of the main symptoms of soybean intolerance include bloating, cramping, diarrhea, headaches, and brain fog. Like all intolerances, it can have varied symptoms in all body systems, which is what makes it hard to pinpoint.

We also take a look at all of the foods that soy can be found in, and what else you can do if you are found to have a soy intolerance. In order to get a diagnosis, we recommend our food intolerance hair test. It is completely non-invasive and quick, giving life changing results to many of our very happy customers. We would love for you to be our next satisfied client and help to turn your health around for the better!

Soybean intolerance!

Soybean intolerance!