Soy Allergy

Submitted by: David Cowley

If you are allergic to soy then you suffer from Allergies Type 1, also called Contact Allergies. Scientists have found at least 16 different allergenic proteins in Soy and they are not certain which of the protein is more dangerous than the others for anyone who has a soy allergy. Stuart Berger, MD, in the 1980s labeled soy as one of the seven top allergens known and yet soy remains as one of American’s favorite health food.

The proteins found in soy trigger the immune system to reaction. Antibodies and histamines are releases into the blood stream in an attempt to neutralize the soy protein. These chemicals trigger the allergic symptoms. In sever cases Epinephrine, also call Adrenaline, is administered to control the anaphylaxis reaction.

Scientists do not clearly understand why the immune system of people allergic to soy considers some food proteins as harmful by the body. The immune system can mount a variety of defenses mechanisms against proteins that is considers as harmful or foreign. Symptoms can be very mild to life-threatening depending on the severity of your soy allergies. They usually occur within a few minutes to a few hours after eating or inhaling soy.

Soy belongs to the botanical family legume. Anyone who is allergic to one of the proteins in the legume family is at a greater risk of developing and allergic reaction to other members of the same family. This allergic reaction is called cross reactivity. The legume family consists of Soybeans, Peanuts, green peas, chick peas, lima beans, and lentils.

Studies from all over the world have also linked the likelihood of developing an allergy to soy if a history of allergy to milk has been demonstrated. A study done in Victoria, Australia has show that 47 percent of the children that are allergic to milk also have an allergy to soy.

The allergic effect of soy is affected by the way the soybean is grown, harvested, processed, stored and prepared. Raw soybeans and soy sprouts are the most allergenic. Soybeans that have been subjected to high temperatures loose some of their danger but not all.

Soy is found in thousands of processed foods that we use every day. Soy can be found in bagels, doughnuts, rolls, pizza, hamburger, margarine, cheese, tofu, soy sauce, and teriyaki sauce. If you have even a mild reaction to soy you need to notify you doctor immediately. Food allergies can gradually get worst over time until a sudden onset of a life threaten reaction occurs. The more times you are exposed to the offending allergen the worst the symptom can become.

As you can see avoidance can be very difficult because soy proteins are often hidden in other foods. Read the labels of every food that you bring into your home. Because the manufacturing processes change continuously re-read the labels each time you purchase a product. On January 1, 2006 a new law was passed stating that all labels should be designed in such a way that a 7-year-old child could read and understand the ingredients.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.

About the Author: David Cowley has created numerous articles on allergies. He has also created a Web Site dedicated to allergies and how to treat them. Visit

Allergy Treatment

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