More on Soy........ the many names it is called.... hiding it from consumers

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Ya, and I swell from soy, and soy is in EVERYTHING !

NOTICE **** some people with a soy allergy get mouth

ulcers......***** and that is their reaction...so....

you just never know ! !

http://hubpages.com/hub/Soy-Allergy-and-Foods-To-Avoid

Soy Reaction or Allergy and Foods To Avoid

Sources of Soy and Label Issues

Soy is one of the top 8 food allergens in the world.

For those of us who are allergic to soy, reactions can range from mild (hives, canker sores, itching) to moderate (abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, wheezing) to severe (dizziness, drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness, anaphylaxis and death).

My soy allergy is considered moderate to severe. I do not have an anaphylactic reaction, however, if I consume soy I can suffer from excruciating abdominal pain, diarrhea, uncontrollable vomiting (that has caused me to be hospitalized), chest pain, drop in blood pressure, rhinitis and itching.

How severe my reaction is, is determined by the type of soy I ingest and the amount.

One of the biggest issues in North America regarding a soy allergy is that soy is added to almost every food product on the market. In other countries in the world the use of soy as an additive and filler is not as widespread.

Why Is Soy Added to So Many Foods in North America?

The US government subsidized soy production. Farmers wishing to make more money switched to growing soy. The more soy that was produced the lower the price became. As the price of soy dropped manufacturers decided it was in their best interest to replace more expensive ingredients with the cheaper soy counterpart. Now almost every manufactured food contains a soy derived ingredient.

Case in point: 98% of bread related products contain soy and many varieties of herbal tea contain soy as a filler.

Case in point: manufacturers now remove expensive peanut oil from peanut butter and replace it with vegetable oil (a cheap blend that contains soy oil). They then sell the peanut oil separately to make more money.

Labeling

This overuse of soy wouldn't be as much of an issue for allergy sufferers if products that contained soy were labeled clearly, but in Canada they are not.

There are supposed to be labeling laws regarding the top 8 food allergens. The truth is though, when it comes to soy, a product must contain a certain amount or a certain type in order for the allergy warning to be listed.

The theory behind this is that a tiny percentage of soy won't cause that much of a problem and so it doesn't need to be labeled clearly. This is ridiculous!

While there are not as many people who go into anaphylactic shock from a soy allergy as there are from a peanut allergy, it still happens and this nonchalant attitude about labeling needs to stop.

Case in point: soy protein is used as a binding agent for natural flavors. On the label manufacturers in Canada simply list 'natural flavor' as an ingredient. In this case they are not required to add the 'contains soy' allergy warning or even list 'soy' in brackets after the ingredient. (As of 2009).

(This nasty little trick got me. I was tired and hungry after a long day and I grabbed a packet of 'all natural fruit gummies' while running errands in order to boost my blood sugar. They were supposed to contain only fruit juices and gelatin, however, at the bottom of the label in small writing was 'natural flavor'. I missed it and spent the evening in the fetal position with excruciating abdominal pain. The diarrhea followed the next day.)

In the USA food labeling laws that came into effect in 2006 mean manufacturers have to follow a stricter protocol for soy labeling than in Canada.

Following is a list of ingredients that are derived from soy:

Akara

Bulking Agent

Boullion

Carob

Edamame

Emulsifiers (if unspecified)

Gum Arabic

Guar Gum

Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein or Hydrolyzed Protein (HVP)

Isoflavones

Isolated Soy Protein

Isolates

Kinako

Kouridofu

Lecithin

Miso

Mono and Diglycerides

Mono Sodium Glutamates (MSG)

Natto

Natural, Organic or Artificial Flavors (if the flavor isn't listed in brackets beside it then it's most likely soy-based)

Olean

Protein

Shoyu Sauce

Soja

Soy (anything with this term included)

Soybeans

Soy Oil (Crisco, Pam Spray etc)

Soy Protein Concentrate

Tamari

Tempeh

Teriyaki

Textured Soy Flour (TSF)

Textured Soy Protein (TSP)

Textured Plant Protein (TVP)

Thickener

Tofu

Tofutti

Unspecified Sprouts

Vegetable Broth

Vegetable Gum

Vegetable Paste

Vegetable Protein

Vegetable Oil

Vegetable Shortening

Vegetable Starch

Vitamin E

Yuba

Instant coffee

Margarine

Canned tuna

Mayonnaise

As you can see the list is extensive!

Unfortunately buying fruit (what should be a safe product) is problematic too. Commercial companies apply wax and sometimes soy oil spray directly onto their products. Apples are particularly bad for this. To be safe you must buy certified organic produce or fruit (like bananas) that you can peel.

And soy is not only added to food products but also soaps, cleaning products, medicines (always tell the pharmacist and doctor you have a soy allergy), shampoos, moisturizers, printing ink and other products used on a daily basis.

Always check the label each time you buy something. Companies change their recipes often. Never become complacent about checking the ingredient list!

Also, people with soy allergies can be sensitive or allergic to other legumes as well. Be careful with chick peas, peanuts, lentils, peas, beans and other legumes until you know it is safe to eat them. (I found I have an intolerance to chick peas and must avoid them too.)

A Word About Soy Oil

In articles on respected medical sites, in doctor offices and some health expert forums it is consistently stated that soy oil is safe for people with a soy allergy. They say this because soy oil usually does not contain the soy protein.

THIS INFORMATION IS WRONG AND DANGEROUS!

While it is true that some people with a soy allergy do not react to soy oil, many of us do. My reaction to soy oil is SEVERE. It will cause me to vomit so much that my potassium levels bottom out and I end up in hospital. Other people with anaphylactic reactions to soy have almost died from exposure to soy oil.

I also react to lecithin (made from soy), which is another ingredient claimed to be safe for soy allergy sufferers.

Talk to your Doctor about this issue and be careful with ingesting any soy product.

Eating Out

For anyone with a food allergy eating out can be difficult. Luckily I have noticed a trend in restaurants recently that is making it easier for the soy allergic. A lot of places have switched to using canola oil, olive oil or butter in their kitchens.

ALWAYS ASK WHAT KIND OF OIL IS USED IN THE KITCHEN!

This is important as you may choose a dish that is seemingly soy free and have a reaction because they use generic vegetable oil or Pam spray to cook with.

Always inform your waiter, the manager or the chef about your allergy. If they seem to not understand or take it seriously then find another place to eat. Also make sure to tell them that you can't eat soy or vegetable oil. The general public is not aware that soy is a major ingredient in vegetable oil.

I reside in Vancouver (Canada) and am lucky as most people in the city are health conscious and very aware of allergies. The waiters take the time to find out what dishes are safe and what dishes are not. As such I have a long list of restaurants here that I can safely dine in.

When I travel I have to be more careful.

If you are traveling to a country with a foreign language always carry a translated allergy alert card that you can show to wait staff. If the country you're traveling in has two major languages include both on the card. This should always be a part of your pre-trip planning. By using this strategy I have been able to travel extensively without falling ill.

Airlines and Allergies

The biggest difficulty to travel for people with a soy allergy are the airlines. No airline currently offers soy-free meals. It is one of the top 8 allergens, with many doctors now placing it in the top 4, and yet you cannot order a soy-free meal.

They have dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free, egg-free, meat-free, seafood-free but not soy-free!

This is extremely frustrating. They will cater to vegetarians whose food requirements are voluntary, yet they do not provide an option for people who have an allergy that could be fatal. It doesn't make sense.

A lot of the countries I travel to require me to be on a plane for 14+ hours straight. It is very difficult (especially with new carry-on restrictions) to bring enough food for flights of this duration. The only meal I can feel safe ordering on a plane is the fruit platter. This is not enough food for a long haul flight.

Airlines need to provide a soy-free option!

Soy-Free Products in Canada

While it is frustrating trying to find products that do not contain soy; there are companies who voluntarily list every ingredient and source on the label, including any 'trace amount issues'. To these companies I salute you!

In British Columbia here are some companies that make finding soy-free products easier:

Capers Community Market (lists all ingredients in their home-baked products)

A great source for bread, cookies, pies, chips, soft drink and all the treats that make life worth living.

www.capersmarkets.com

Uprising Breads Bakery

They use only basic ingredients, list all ingredients and use mostly canola oil in their products. They produce all varieties of bread, hamburger buns, raisin bread and other products.

www.uprisingbreads.com

Spectrum

Makers of the only soy-free mayonnaise on the market. They provide a wide variety of products and list detailed ingredients and allergy information.

www.spectrumorganics.com

Remember to always check the label or ask if food contains soy before eating. If you have severe contact allergies be especially careful about cross contamination and always carry your Epi-pen.

Happy soy free living!

No soy for me! Thanks Dede!

Important info on soy and why to avoid...thanks so much Dede!

I'm glad you posted this, as my husband and I had tried some Vanilla Chai By Bolthouse Farms, and it was really good, but based on soy! No more for me!!

Patty

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> http://www.drlam.com/opinion/soy_thyroid.asp

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> Soy and Thyroid

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> Lam, MD, MPH

> www.DrLam.com

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> There is ample evidence that isoflavones contain in soy products, including genistein, are toxins. Isoflavones are inhibitors of thyroid peroxidase that makes T3 and T4.

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> Unfermented soy products such as to tofu and infant soy formula contain:

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> ?Allergens

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> ?Enzyme inhibitors

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> ?Hormone modifiers

> ?Mineral blockers

> ?Iodine blockers that interfere with thyroid function

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> Since the late 1950's researchers have identified that the soy is a phytoestrogen. Soy's estrogenic effect is 1/500 the potency of that estrogen naturally circulating in our body. Soy acts as an competitive inhibitor of estrogen at the cellular estrogen receptor site, reducing the effect of estrogen in our body. At the same time, over consumption of soy can overwhelm many of the body's cell and may overload them

> Infants fed long term soy formula during childhood are particularly vulnerable to developing autoimmune thyroid disease when exposed to high exposure of isoflavones over the years. In fact, studies have found that the frequency of feedings with soy-based milk formulas in early life was noticeably higher in children with autoimmune thyroid disease later in life. The incidence of thyroid disease were almost triple in those soy formula-fed children compared to their siblings and healthy unrelated children.

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> How much is too much? This varies depending age. According to the Soy Online Service, infant should not take in any soy. For adults, just 30 mg of soy isoflavones per day is the amount found to have a negative impact on thyroid function. This amount of soy isoflavones is found in just 5-8 ounces of soy milk, or 1.5 ounces of miso. Interestingly, while miso have the phto-estrogenic effect, it does not have the enzyme inhibitory effect because it is fermented. Other fermented soy product include soy sauce or tempeh.

> The current promotion of soy as a health food will likely result in an increase in thyroid disorders and possibly raise the risk of thyroid cancer in decades to come. Remember that it takes an average of 20 years before chronic insult to the body surfaces as a disease state.

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> The Europeans are far ahead of Americans when it comes to soy. In July of 1996, the British Department of Health issued a warning that the phyto-estrogens found in soy-based infant formulas could adversely affect infant health. Soy formula should only be given to babies on the advice of a health professional after careful consideration. The US is far behind in such public health warnings.

> # Dr. Lam Author ofBeating Cancer with Natural Medicine # How to Stay Young and Live Longer Tools Health Centers Anti-Aging Adrenal Health Allergy Auto-Immune Blood Type Diet Bone and joint Brain Health Cancer Detoxification Diet Diabetes Drugs and Medications Eye Health Exercise Food Gastrointestinal Heart health Hormonal Health Metabolic Health Men's Health Mental Health Miscellaneous Pain Control Skin Health Supplements Weight Management Women’s Health Supplements and Refrigeration Lam, MD, MPH www.DrLam.com The following should be refrigerated (but not in the freezer): * Fish oil liquid and capsule * Flaxseed oil * Essential fatty acid supplements such as borage oil and evening primrose oil * CoQ10 * Probiotics

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> Message from Dr. Lam

> I hope you have enjoyed reading this article. If you have areas you don’t understand, or if you have a specific health concern, feel free to write to me by clicking here.

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> When the power of love

> overcomes the love of power

> the world will know peace.

> ~ Jimi Hendrix

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