Soy is one of the healthiest foods. It is consumed very often by vegetarians and vegans. It is rich in vitamins K, E, A, minerals, antioxidants, B vitamins, omega 3 fatty acids, proteins and others.
Nowadays, more and more people are becoming allergic to soy. According to statistics, soy and soy products are one of the eight foods that cause nearly 90% of food allergies.
About 0.4% of infants and children who consumed soy experienced an allergic reaction. Fortunately, most children outgrow this allergy as they age. According to statistics, in about 50% of children, this allergy subsides by the age of seven.
Symptoms of soy allergy
With an allergic reaction to soy the symptoms can be both quite mild and more severe. In most cases, the severity of symptoms depends on the amount of soy products that are consumed. An allergic reaction can sometimes occur even after consuming a small amount of the food.
Mild symptoms of soy allergy are itchy mouth, diarrhea, nausea, rashes, acne or other skin problems, high fever, low blood pressure, runny nose, inflammation of the nasal tissue and others.
More severe symptoms are anaphylaxis, difficulty breathing or trouble swallowing. Fortunately, these symptoms are less common.
Diagnosing Soy Allergy
To confirm or reject the presence of a soy allergy it is necessary to do a skin test. Skin tests are not 100% reliable. In this type of test, a large percentage of people give a false positive result.
Blood tests are even less reliable than the skin test. They are also quite expensive.
The most reliable is the provocation test. At the beginning, a very small amount of soy is consumed, which is gradually increased. The provocation test is done in a hospital or the allergist's office. This type of test is much more reliable than the others.
Can an allergic reaction to soy be avoided
If you have an allergy to soy and soy products, your only option is to not consume them in any form. In case of an allergic reaction, seek medical help.
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