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What are the symptoms of an allergic reaction to soy? How long does an allergic reaction to soy last? Is this an allergic reaction or an intolerance?
There are so many questions and confusion about food allergy reactions. Lots of people just think of anaphylactic reactions to peanuts or shellfish. They don’t even realize what an allergic reaction really is, how prevalent food allergies/sensitivities are, or what to watch out for.
I’m part of some different groups on Facebook, and its really interesting to see the different questions and answers that pop up. People have so many different questions and experiences.
Everyone is different! We all know this, but it’s especially important to note with allergic reactions. Everyone reacts differently to different allergens and sometimes even reacts differently each time their exposed!
Lets talk for a minute about allergic reactions to soy vs food intolerances or sensitivities.
Allergic Reaction Defined
The American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology defines an allergic reaction as:
An allergic reaction occurs when the immune system overreacts to a harmless substance known as an allergen.
The immune system protects the body from infections, viruses and diseases. In some people, substances such as pollen, certain foods, latex, mold, pet dander, dust mites or insect stings are allergens that trigger the production of antibodies called Immunoglobulin E (IgE). These antibodies travel to cells that release chemicals, causing symptoms most often in the nose, lungs, throat, sinuses, ears, lining of the stomach or on the skin.
The first time a person with an allergy is exposed to the allergen, it may not cause a reaction. However, the person is then sensitized to the allergen can and even minor future exposures to this allergen produce an allergic reaction.
The key part here is the IgE response. The body producing antibodies in response to an allergen trigger which thereby causes symptoms.
Medical News Today has a great definition of food intolerance or sensitivity:
Food intolerance, also known as non-IgE mediated food hypersensitivity or non-allergic food hypersensitivity, refers to difficulty in digesting certain foods. It is important to note that food intolerance is different from food allergy.
Food allergies trigger the immune system, while food intolerance does not. Some people suffer digestive problems after eating certain foods, even though their immune system has not reacted – there is no histamine response.
Allergy vs Intolerance bottomline
A true allergy triggers an immune response, but an intolerance does not.
Okay, so what does this mean for us? Not a whole lot, I’m afraid.
Either way, we are going to feel crappy when exposed to our trigger. For a true allergy, exposure to a food allergen could result in a severe reaction at any time, with even a small exposure. By severe reaction, I mean Anaphylactic reaction. I think all food allergy suffers, and their loved ones, fear a true Anaphylactic reaction. Luckily, I have not had an anaphylactic reaction to any of my allergies, but I do carry an Epi-pen with me at all times. Unfortunately, since my reactions trigger oral symptoms and asthma, the likelihood of a true anaphylactic reaction is higher for me.
A food intolerance, also carries its own fun and games, but isn’t likely to result in Anaphylaxis. But, that’s not to say a food intolerance is a walk in the park either. 🙁
For more information check out this post, “How to Research Allergens”.
Allergic Reaction to Soy ~ Symptoms
Symptoms can vary wildly for each person and for each allergy. For this post, let’s focus on allergic reactions to soy.
Some of the most common symptoms of soy allergies or intolerances according to this article by the Mayo Clinic are:
- Tingling in the mouth
- Hives; itching; or itchy, scaly skin (eczema)
- Swelling of lips, face, tongue and throat, or other body parts
- Wheezing, runny nose or breathing difficulty
- Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
- Skin redness (flushing)
and
A severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) is rare with a soy allergy. It’s more likely to occur in people who also have asthma or who are allergic to other foods besides soy, such as peanuts.
Anaphylaxis causes more-extreme signs and symptoms including:
- Difficulty breathing, caused by throat swelling
- Shock, with a severe drop in blood pressure
- Rapid pulse
- Dizziness, lightheadedness or loss of consciousness
My allergic reactions to soy
As I mentioned above, everyone’s symptoms can be a bit different and can vary in severity. For the most part, my reactions are:
- Tingling/Itchy mouth, tongue, throat
- Weird cough
- Tightness in the chest
- Wheezing or asthma related symptoms
- Itchy ears (down in the ear canal where you can’t itch)
- Nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing like crazy
- Itchy skin (without rash-just itch all over for an hour or two. Especially neck and face)
- Headaches and/or migraines
- Itchy, watery, blurry, eyes
- Anxiety
- Feeling like I can’t yawn~its like I try to yawn and get to the end and can’t quite finish. Which then increases anxiety, makes me want to yawn more. This becomes a viscous cycle if I don’t mentally master it. I use breathing techniques to keep this one under control when it kicks in.
- Extreme fatigue
- Brain Fog
- Extremely emotional – Like CRAZY girl emotional!
Duration of Allergic Reactions to soy
When I first was diagnosed with a soy allergy, I thought reactions only lasted for about a day, maybe two for the residual symptoms to subside. What I have now realized, after tracking both my diet, triggers, and different symptoms, is that my reactions actually last at least 3-5 days. A reaction to soy is much more severe (and longer lasting) than one of my many food intolerances.
I have also found that while stress doesn’t “cause” a reaction, if I am stressed and around a trigger, I am much more apt to react and to react much more severely than when I am not stressed. The emotional reactions (anxiety, moodiness, crazy mood swings) and brain fog are also more pronounced if I am already in a heightened stress state.
Many other suffers of allergic reactions to soy report similar duration. Some folks report reactions lasting as long as two weeks!
Common Symptoms of allergic reactions to soy as reported by other soy allergy sufferers:
As I mentioned before, I’m on some Facebook groups where we talk about our allergies. One of the really cool things about these groups is getting to hear other peoples experiences, what’s worked (and not) for them, stuff to watch out for, etc. Note, the following informational and anecdotal. I am just sharing what I have experienced myself or other folks have reported about their allergic reactions to soy.
The following symptoms are all reported with regularity:
- Digestive issues-nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea
- Emotional issues
- Anxiety or panicky feelings
- Depression
- Irritability or “Soy Rage”-many parents with children allergic report “soy rage”. The gist is that a normally mild mannered, sweet child, becomes a total monster when exposed to soy.
- Impending sense of Doom
- Brain fog, forgetfulness
- Learning difficulties, delayed speech and behavioral issues in children
- Sore joints
- Fatigue
- Skin Issues- Eczema, dermatitis, hives, pimples, redness/flushing, swelling, burning and/or itching all over without rash. Feel like something crawling over skin. Also some reports of blistering around the face/mouth in children with soy allergy. Excessive dryness.
- Mouth reactions-swelling, tingling, itching mouth, tongue, lips, or throat, raspy voice, lump in throat
- Coughing
- Sinus issues-post nasal drip, runny nose, sneezing, stuffiness, pressure, pain
- Headaches/migraines
- Dark circles around/under the eyes
- Eyes-itchy, swollen, tender, watery, bleary
- Hot flashes (non-menopausal)
- Breathing issues-shortness of breath, Asthma exacerbation, overwhelming urge to yawn but can’t “complete” yawn
- Ears-itchy, itch down in the ear canal, clogged feeling
Means of exposure to soy
There are many ways to be exposed that can trigger an allergic reaction to soy.
Ingestion:
Soy can be ingested, inhaled, or can be absorbed transdermally. A lot of folks only think of food or eating Tofu, Edamame, or Soy Sauce. Unfortunately, SOY IS EVERYWHERE in the United States! Most folks have no idea that they are consuming soy on a daily basis. For more info, check out this post on other names for soy and common hiding places.
Inhalation:
Obviously, the first place to start when removing soy from your life is in your diet, but secondary exposure from inhaling soy (air fresheners, candles, etc) can be problematic as well. I did some research into commercially available air fresheners and among all the other toxic ingredients the majority of the major manufacturers (including natural/crunchy companies) all contained some form of soy!!!
Candles are another huge issue for triggering an allergic reaction to soy. Sophie from realfoodiefamily.com did a fabulous post about soy free candles. You can check it out here.
Transdermally:
You’ve probably heard that your skin is your biggest organ. Our skin has the amazing ability to absorb substances directly through our skin as well as expel or detox other nasties. As awesome as this is, that means we need to be very careful with what we use on our skin, including household cleaners, laundry detergent, etc. Most conventional cleaning products (including healthier companies) contain soy. 🙁
Are you having an Allergic Reaction to soy?
As you can see, there are a lot of symptoms that can be attributed to a soy allergy or other food allergies. If you are experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms, I strongly suggest you talk to your medical professional. An experienced Naturopath or Functional Medicine Doctor can work with you to identify your triggers and help you on the road to recovery.
Do you have a soy allergy and suffer from the same symptoms? Do you experience different symptoms from allergic reactions to soy?
I hope this post has been helpful. I love to hear other peoples experiences. Please share your story in the comments below.
~Naturally yours~
Liz
HI Liz!
I definitely have the “Extremely emotional – Like CRAZY girl emotional!” reaction to soy. Even a small amount can send me into a crying fit.
Started when my OBGYM put me on a soy-based estrogen for menopause. YIKES! Tried again a year later with her encouragement and happened again. Now, small amounts of soy lecithin effect me, and it is hard to find foods without it in it.
Hi Myra! Sorry I’m so late in responding to your comment. I’m sorry to hear you get the emotional reactions too, but its nice to know I’m not the only one. LOL! I totally agree its so difficult to find foods without soy. I hope that you are having luck finding favorite alternatives. Its not fun but at least we are getting healthier without all this soy. Best wishes to you!
Liz
Hello,
I found this article very useful. Currently, I am suffering from allergies & I don’t know what they are. I thought it was seasonal allergies, but it is the middle of the winter & pollen doesn’t seem to make sense. I have been diffusing essential oils to help with headaches etc. I stopped eating any soy while pregnant with my daughter & as soon as I gave birth I started eating tofu again (few times a week!). I know that you can gain new allergies after having a baby and I am starting to think soy might be my problem! I have been getting super emotional and bad tempered. I also have these bags under my eyes now even when I get enough sleep as well as a constant post nasal drip and swollen gland in my neck 🙁 . Allergy medicine like Allegra really seems to help my symptoms. I want to get to the root of the problem. I appreciate all this info & I hope I get to the bottom of this soon! I had no idea candles can have soy and I looked at the candle I have burning in my kitchen and it’s made with SOY! Ugh!
Hi Laura,
I’m so happy to help. I hope you figure out the root cause of your symptoms. A food/mood/symptom journal can really help you to pinpoint your triggers.
Good luck and congrats on the new baby!
Liz
I’ve been trying to figure out why I occasionally have maddening itching all over my body and what feels like inside my body without any sort of rash. I noticed I tried a new type of gluten free crackers and they have soy in them! My body is becoming more and more bothered by certain foods. I am gluten, dairy and sugar free already. I may need to take out soy now. I usually eat natural food anyway, but just really wanted some crackers so bad. How long will it take to clear this soy from my system? No antihistamine is helping with this. Thank you!
Hi Kristy!
Sorry for the delay in responding.
I totally understand. Reaction time frames really depends on the person. For me, my reactions last several days up to about 5. But the symptoms are strongest the first and second day. By day three everything is taming down. It really depends on each individual though.
Some things that may help: drink lots of water, Epsom salt baths, try to use different techniques for calming like yoga, meditation, and gentle walks. I would avoid strenuous activity or getting too warm as (at least for me) it can make the reaction worse. Some people have success with Activated Charcoal if taken right away but be mindful that charcoal will interfere with medication absorption.
I hope you figure this out. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Best wishes for healing~
Liz
Thank you Liz for your article. I woke up yesterday morning with swollen eyes and a rash on face and neck. Now I woke up just the same today. Bummer! I was hoping it would be gone a day later. I tried to drink Perrier yesterday. Despite being on Benedryl I started coughing and couldnt stop. I drank regular water and it calmed it down. I found that so surprising. There is sodium in Perrier but would that have caused it? I am staying with no salt, blend food for a few days. Hopefully that will help.
Hi Ursula,
Sorry for my delay in responding. I hope you are feeling better.
I’m really not sure about the Perrier. I haven’t had any since before my soy allergy. Was it just plain Perrier or one of the flavored varieties? I would be concerned about the Natural Flavors in the the flavored varieties.
My suggestion would be to email the company, explain which variety you tried and ask them specifically if their product contains any soy.
I’d love to hear their answer.
Best wishes~
Liz
Hi, I have a soy allergy, with in the last three months, it just came on randomly. I got “soyed” this morning. I itch like crazy and antihistamines Do NOTHING except make me sleep. My doctor does not me that I have this allergy. It didn’t show up on a skin test a year ago. I itch on my face, in my nose, ears, tingling almost within 3 minutes of eating something with soy. I also itch in my private area like a crazy person which is embarrassing. Anyway, do you have any suggestions how to help get rid of the itching faster? My itching usually 2-3 days. I’m so mad. Thank you.
Hi Kristy,
Sorry for the delay in responding. Ugh! Sorry to hear you were “soyed”.
I’m guessing you’re already past the worst of it for now but for the future, here are some things that have helped me in the past. Of course, consult a medical professional if you are experiencing signs of anaphylaxis. I am not a doctor. These are just some things that have been helpful for me.
~Drink lots of water
~Epsom Salt or Magnesium baths
~Essential oils-I use a blend of oils that I put together that works for me. Some idea’s are lavender, mints, eucalyptus, peppermint, lemon, etc. Note: I only use essential oils topically. These are mostly for relaxation as well as freeing breathing as my soy reaction is more respiratory, sinus, and precipitates asthma.
~Breathing exercises, meditation, light yoga etc to help with relaxation. I have found that helping to calm my mind, helps my body calm from the reactions and helps me to better handle it.
~Activated Charcoal-I have not used this method! Many people report that if you take activated charcoal right away, after ingestion, it can help the reaction pass better and more quickly through your system. But Activated Charcoal also interferes with the absorbtion of medication, minerals, etc so you have to be conscientious about using it. Also, most activated charcoal is made from coconut so if you have a coconut issue (I do!) then you need to source to find a coconut free option. This is why I haven’t tried it. Since I cook all of my own food from scratch, fortunately, I haven’t had a need to try it.
I hope this helps.
Liz
I’m in my mid-sixties and suddenly developed soy and canola allergies last year – especially soy. The main irritant was Fiber One cereal, which contains guar gum. Pretty much all cereals are bad with the exception of the Mom’s Best brand. Even organic oatmeal that’s made in a facility that contains soy caused a reaction for me. Almost all frozen meals contain soybean oil and even the organic brands will contain canola oil. I also just read that ground coffee can contain soy as a filler. (I now buy whole beans and grind my own coffee at home). My most recent soy attack was from CereVe lotion, which I’ve used for years.. It contains Xanthan Gum. I stopped itching the minute I stopped using that stuff!!
Its so crazy how many people are developing food allergies later in life!
I too was so surprised when I really started paying attention to all our regular products contain soy now days. It makes me so mad!
Keep at it Sara. You’ll find products that work for you as you go along. It does get easier!
Best wishes~
Liz
Soy is in the Glycerin of a lot of moisturizer’s and soaps as well as in Vitamins and Supplements. I know when I have used it because within a few days my skin starts crawling all over and itching.
Just came across this site. I’ve been allergic to soy my entire life but in the last year (just turned 30) it’s gotten much worse to the point I didn’t know what to eat anymore. I’ve experienced almost all of the symptoms that you mentioned and thought they were caused by something else.
I recently got put on a beta blocker for tachycardia but now I’m wondering if it’s from my soy allergy. Also anytime I eat something with soy in it, I have insomnia that lasts the entire night. Sometimes I will get a dry cough at night and a humidifier has not helped with that…. I am constantly itchy which aggravates the eczema I’ve had my entire life and experience a flushed face, neck and and chest on a daily basis now.
This is all from food that may contain soy or soybean oil or soy lethicin, I’m not sure. I do know that if I drink soy milk or soy eggnog, I will go into anaphylactic shock… so it’s interesting the different degrees my soy allergy has.
You are right, everything seems to have soy in it these days.