Comments on: Why I Avoid Soy http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/why-i-avoid-soy/ About finding balance in your life, connecting with who you are, and creating a lifestyle where you wake up each morning eagerly anticipating the day ahead. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:29:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Green http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/why-i-avoid-soy/#comment-86470 Green http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/why-i-avoid-soy/#comment-86470 I was diagnosed with a soy allergy about a year ago. For me, it was never a situation including anaphylactic shock or upper respiratory issues (though I do have wicked seasonal allergies at times). Let me clarify that, yes, I did have a classic allergy test. It wasn't a sensitivity test. My soy allergy manifests in extreme digestive discomfort, acid reflux, swelling of the intestines and bladder, nausea, painful cramps, and dizziness. I have no had reactions (or only minor reactions) to highly refined soy bean oil (an oil that is without protein to react to allergically), soy fed meat, soy covered fruit, or small amounts of soy lecithin. I am about to discover for certain if I have a reaction soy fed meat today, Thanksgiving. I am carrying with me protection against reactions in the form of Dexilant. I remember those first two weeks when I was strictly off any possible carriers of soy it was like an epiphany! My stomach, which had been permanently bloated, was now squishy and my body was healthier than it had ever been before. Though my allergy is not life-threatening it is life affecting. And with my family history of breast cancer in play as well, I stay away not only for my current health but for my future health. I was diagnosed with a soy allergy about a year ago. For me, it was never a situation including anaphylactic shock or upper respiratory issues (though I do have wicked seasonal allergies at times).

Let me clarify that, yes, I did have a classic allergy test. It wasn’t a sensitivity test.

My soy allergy manifests in extreme digestive discomfort, acid reflux, swelling of the intestines and bladder, nausea, painful cramps, and dizziness.

I have no had reactions (or only minor reactions) to highly refined soy bean oil (an oil that is without protein to react to allergically), soy fed meat, soy covered fruit, or small amounts of soy lecithin. I am about to discover for certain if I have a reaction soy fed meat today, Thanksgiving. I am carrying with me protection against reactions in the form of Dexilant.

I remember those first two weeks when I was strictly off any possible carriers of soy it was like an epiphany! My stomach, which had been permanently bloated, was now squishy and my body was healthier than it had ever been before.

Though my allergy is not life-threatening it is life affecting. And with my family history of breast cancer in play as well, I stay away not only for my current health but for my future health.

]]> By: Anna http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/why-i-avoid-soy/#comment-58592 Anna http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/why-i-avoid-soy/#comment-58592 I have found myself in a situation where I must avoid soy also. I am not allergic but was diagnosed with estrogen receptor positive breast cancer in March of 2011. As a result, my oncologist advised me to avoid soy and products made with it. I didn't realized how hard this would become until I started reading labels! Prior to this my diet had been good, I avoided high fructose corn syrup, trans fats, most preservatives. I tried to feed my family and myself a minimum of processed food. My local "regular" grocery does not stock even one jar of mayo with no soy (Wholefood only has one, at least they do have one though!). Have yet to find one loaf of whole wheat bread at Costco with no soy (again, Wholefoods is my answer there). I have even had a hard time finding multi vitamins without soy! Thankfully we do not eat out very often because I am sure soy is hidden everywhere in restaurant food. Thanks for the tips on avoiding soy, I truly appreciate it! I have found myself in a situation where I must avoid soy also. I am not allergic but was diagnosed with estrogen receptor positive breast cancer in March of 2011. As a result, my oncologist advised me to avoid soy and products made with it. I didn’t realized how hard this would become until I started reading labels! Prior to this my diet had been good, I avoided high fructose corn syrup, trans fats, most preservatives. I tried to feed my family and myself a minimum of processed food. My local “regular” grocery does not stock even one jar of mayo with no soy (Wholefood only has one, at least they do have one though!). Have yet to find one loaf of whole wheat bread at Costco with no soy (again, Wholefoods is my answer there). I have even had a hard time finding multi vitamins without soy! Thankfully we do not eat out very often because I am sure soy is hidden everywhere in restaurant food. Thanks for the tips on avoiding soy, I truly appreciate it!

]]> By: L http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/why-i-avoid-soy/#comment-54761 L http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/why-i-avoid-soy/#comment-54761 When I eat out I have to watch for anything that might have soy in it. Soy causes me to have extreme gastroenteritis. For years doctors did not know what was wrong and treated me for everything from a virus to nerve problems. About 4 years ago we found that every time I had something with soy in it I would have an attack. After 47 years of suffering, I gladly read every label to keep from have this happen again. As the years have progressed more and more products have been added to the soy list. Even most brands of peanut butter are made with soy because the peanut oil sells for more than the soy oil. When I eat out I have to watch for anything that might have soy in it. Soy causes me to have extreme gastroenteritis. For years doctors did not know what was wrong and treated me for everything from a virus to nerve problems. About 4 years ago we found that every time I had something with soy in it I would have an attack. After 47 years of suffering, I gladly read every label to keep from have this happen again. As the years have progressed more and more products have been added to the soy list. Even most brands of peanut butter are made with soy because the peanut oil sells for more than the soy oil.

]]> By: C.D. http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/why-i-avoid-soy/#comment-33710 C.D. http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/why-i-avoid-soy/#comment-33710 I have been vegetarian for 25 years and this was wonderful until soy was touted as a good protien. I too fell for the hype by manufacturers that vegetarians should eat soy to get proper protien. WRONG! After drinking a second soy chai, I felt so sleepy I could barely manage to get home from a coffeehouse. Not only that I was falling asleep everywhere and thought it was old age. Then I went to the doctor and he found blood in my stool and elevated blood pressure. I had always had low. Then I remembered that I was concerned about my hair falling out. Also my brain seemed to be scrambled and like the rest I thought it was old age. Then one day surfing the net I found a blog with younger people with my same symptoms and they were all allergic to soy. I went to my pantry and threw away tofu, soy flour, soy milk and everything I found to have soy in it. A few days later my hair stopped falling out, my blood pressure returned to normal and I no longer fell aspleep everywere. Best of all after another stool test, the blood had completely gone. That was several years ago and now I am dealing with soy in everything and it is getting tougher and tougher to find things without soy in it. If I eat just vegetables and fruits, I am okay. I have been vegetarian for 25 years and this was wonderful until soy was touted as a good protien. I too fell for the hype by manufacturers that vegetarians should eat soy to get proper protien. WRONG! After drinking a second soy chai, I felt so sleepy I could barely manage to get home from a coffeehouse. Not only that I was falling asleep everywhere and thought it was old age. Then I went to the doctor and he found blood in my stool and elevated blood pressure. I had always had low. Then I remembered that I was concerned about my hair falling out. Also my brain seemed to be scrambled and like the rest I thought it was old age. Then one day surfing the net I found a blog with younger people with my same symptoms and they were all allergic to soy. I went to my pantry and threw away tofu, soy flour, soy milk and everything I found to have soy in it. A few days later my hair stopped falling out, my blood pressure returned to normal and I no longer fell aspleep everywere. Best of all after another stool test, the blood had completely gone. That was several years ago and now I am dealing with soy in everything and it is getting tougher and tougher to find things without soy in it. If I eat just vegetables and fruits, I am okay.

]]> By: Sherry L. http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/why-i-avoid-soy/#comment-29449 Sherry L. http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/why-i-avoid-soy/#comment-29449 I am allergic to soy and found out quite by accident also. My child at the time could not consume milk so we used soy...I kept seeing all this HEALTH stuff about it so I put about a TBS in a cup (it does stink and I didn't think I could stomach it)...I took a little sip and immediately my lips, mouth and throat were itching...I had already learned what this meant because I have Oral Allergy to raw fruits and veggies sometimes (which we now think is the stuff they put on them). I called a Poison Control and a nurse friend and learned what was happening...BOTH said, how close are you to ER and is someone there to drive you, that was scary...I opted to take double doses of Benadryl and slept for quite some time. Poison Control called me back to check on me and told me the next time I could have a MORE severe attack. Once I eliminated soy (as much as I could so quickly) I noticed that a ton of other problems I had disappear...esp my constant grogginess when I would sit still (driving esp). I am still learning and reading 10 years later, which is how I found this site :D I am allergic to soy and found out quite by accident also. My child at the time could not consume milk so we used soy…I kept seeing all this HEALTH stuff about it so I put about a TBS in a cup (it does stink and I didn’t think I could stomach it)…I took a little sip and immediately my lips, mouth and throat were itching…I had already learned what this meant because I have Oral Allergy to raw fruits and veggies sometimes (which we now think is the stuff they put on them).

I called a Poison Control and a nurse friend and learned what was happening…BOTH said, how close are you to ER and is someone there to drive you, that was scary…I opted to take double doses of Benadryl and slept for quite some time. Poison Control called me back to check on me and told me the next time I could have a MORE severe attack.

Once I eliminated soy (as much as I could so quickly) I noticed that a ton of other problems I had disappear…esp my constant grogginess when I would sit still (driving esp).

I am still learning and reading 10 years later, which is how I found this site :D

]]> By: RB http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/why-i-avoid-soy/#comment-26981 RB http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/why-i-avoid-soy/#comment-26981 I recently ate some talapia, it was frozen, and the first time I ate it I felt funny, and my throat felt weird. I thought it was the bread crumbs that I put on it, well I had it again last night with no bread crumbs.... my throat felt like it was closing in, I took some benedryl, and felt a little better.... I went on the website of the fish product, and they were fed "all natural grains and soy...." I guess I now have to be careful of what the things I eat, have eaten.... I recently ate some talapia, it was frozen, and the first time I ate it I felt funny, and my throat felt weird. I thought it was the bread crumbs that I put on it, well I had it again last night with no bread crumbs…. my throat felt like it was closing in, I took some benedryl, and felt a little better…. I went on the website of the fish product, and they were fed “all natural grains and soy….” I guess I now have to be careful of what the things I eat, have eaten….

]]> By: Briana W. http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/why-i-avoid-soy/#comment-20721 Briana W. http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/why-i-avoid-soy/#comment-20721 I am so relieved to find this site. I am 35 and it took my allergist over a year and a half to figure out that I am also highly allergic to soy and shellfish. Avoiding shellfish is a breeze, however soy is a nightmare. EVERYTHING contains soy and after 5 trips to the ER with "hyperventilation syndrome" as my diagnosis (brilliant ER doctors), undiagnosed asthma and POTS syndrome, I have now figured it out and I am MAD. I am so relieved to find this site. I am 35 and it took my allergist over a year and a half to figure out that I am also highly allergic to soy and shellfish. Avoiding shellfish is a breeze, however soy is a nightmare. EVERYTHING contains soy and after 5 trips to the ER with “hyperventilation syndrome” as my diagnosis (brilliant ER doctors), undiagnosed asthma and POTS syndrome, I have now figured it out and I am MAD.

]]> By: Shirley http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/why-i-avoid-soy/#comment-18465 Shirley http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/why-i-avoid-soy/#comment-18465 Lisa, thanks for sharing your story. Hopefully in time more and more people will realize just how serious a soy allergy can be, and those of us with this allergy won't have to work so hard just to find food we can safely eat. I am especially concerned about the foods that contain soy but do not have soy listed on their labels. The food manufacturers definitely would not incorrectly label something that contained even a trace of peanuts... I wonder why they feel they can do that with soy. Lisa, thanks for sharing your story. Hopefully in time more and more people will realize just how serious a soy allergy can be, and those of us with this allergy won’t have to work so hard just to find food we can safely eat. I am especially concerned about the foods that contain soy but do not have soy listed on their labels. The food manufacturers definitely would not incorrectly label something that contained even a trace of peanuts… I wonder why they feel they can do that with soy.

]]> By: Lisa http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/why-i-avoid-soy/#comment-18459 Lisa http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/why-i-avoid-soy/#comment-18459 I have been a vegetarian for 20+ years and ate a lot of soy. During a 6 month period, I was under a lot of stress and actually upped my soy intake thinking i was eating healthier and would feel better. I developed severe hives and ended up in the ER twice with my face swelled like a balloon. My lips and hands would swell and 2 allergists could not figure out why. I was put on steroids and suffered months of misery. My doctor then suspected it could be soy and as soon as I gave it up, I got better! It is very very hard to be completely soy free as it is in so many products. I mistakenly injested a small amount of it and had another attack, but have had none sense then. People do not realize how serious this allergy can be. You can die from it. I have to carry an epi pen with me incase I injest some by accident and go into anaphylactic shock! Thank you for your informative article! Soy is not something to be taken lightly by anyone! I have been a vegetarian for 20+ years and ate a lot of soy.
During a 6 month period, I was under a lot of stress and actually upped my soy intake thinking i was eating healthier and would feel better.
I developed severe hives and ended up in the ER twice with my face swelled like a balloon. My lips and hands would swell and 2 allergists could not figure out why. I was put on steroids and suffered months of misery.

My doctor then suspected it could be soy and as soon as I gave it up, I got better! It is very very hard to be completely soy free as it is in so many products.
I mistakenly injested a small amount of it and had another attack, but have had none sense then.

People do not realize how serious this allergy can be. You can die from it. I have to carry an epi pen with me incase I injest some by accident and go into anaphylactic shock!

Thank you for your informative article! Soy is not something to be taken lightly by anyone!

]]> By: Joyce http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/why-i-avoid-soy/#comment-9255 Joyce http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/why-i-avoid-soy/#comment-9255 I've recently found that I have a soy sensitivity and now have to read every ingredient on the food labels. In the summer of 2007 I thought I would do something good for my body and change to soy milk and replace some of my protein with soy products. I turned out to be a living He.. for me. I love wraps but now make my own whole wheat tortilias, pitas, english muffins, and bread along with using soy-free tuna (yes, look at your label) and mayo. I don't eat any samples handed out in stores unless I read the label. I'm still trying to find vitamins that do not use soy. If anyone knows of a soy-free campaign, let me know...I'm there. I’ve recently found that I have a soy sensitivity and now have to read every ingredient on the food labels. In the summer of 2007 I thought I would do something good for my body and change to soy milk and replace some of my protein with soy products. I turned out to be a living He.. for me. I love wraps but now make my own whole wheat tortilias, pitas, english muffins, and bread along with using soy-free tuna (yes, look at your label) and mayo. I don’t eat any samples handed out in stores unless I read the label. I’m still trying to find vitamins that do not use soy. If anyone knows of a soy-free campaign, let me know…I’m there.

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