People who suffer from this type of allergy are said to suffer from contact allergies, these are known as allergies type1 , seafood also comes under this group. Research has uncovered the fact that there are 16 proteins in soy that have the ability to cause an allergic reaction, however scientists are still not sure which of these proteins are more allergenic than the other. Although it is common for someone to suffer from a soy allergy, this has done nothing to tarnish its status as a very popular health food.
So how does soy cause an allergic reaction? This is how the allergic reaction occurs, when soy is consumed the proteins within it set off an allergic reaction in the immune system. This happens because the immune system sees these proteins as harmful and it attacks them by using antibodies and histamines, it is these chemicals that are released by the body that cause the symptoms of a soy allergy.
The reason why the immune system sees soy as harmful in someone who is allergic to soy is not known, however o going research is being carried in order to establish the reason. The symptoms that occur as a result of a soy allergy can range from minor to life threatening, depending on how badly an individual reacts to his or her soy allergy. The rate at which these symptoms occur can be within minutes of consuming soy, although in many cases it can take a few hours to occur.
If you are allergic to soy, it is highly likely that you are allergic to the following foods, chick peas, green peas, lima beans, lentils and peanuts. This is because soy is from the same botanical family as these foods. The botanical name for this group of foods is legumes. When you are allergic to more than one food in the same group it is known as cross reactivity.
Research suggests that if you have a soy allergy, then you are highly likely to have a milk allergy. In fact the chances of you having both allergies are nearly 50%. Soy milk is used as an alternative to milk for those with a milk allergy, however if you suffer from soy allergy you will need to find another alternative.
The strength of the allergen in soy depends on how it is grown harvested and processed. It has been noted that raw soy beans are the most allergenic, whilst those that have been exposed to high temperatures during processing are not as allergenic, however they can still cause an allergic reaction.
Avoiding soy can be difficult for someone with an allergy because soy derivatives are found in thousands of popular processed foods. These include hamburgers, pizza, doughnuts, cheese and bagels to name but a few popular foods that contain this ingredient.
It is important that you speak to a doctor if you suffer from food allergies. Your doctor may recommend that you stay away from soy completely if you are affected by soy allergy. The reasoning behind this is that allergies can potentially get worse over time, to the point where an allergic reaction can be fatal. The more you come into contact with the allergen the worse the symptoms become.
For more information on allergies head over to http://www.allergyrelieffacts.com, where you can also find out about natural allergy treatments and natural allergy remedies.
Source: www.articlecity.com