So, you have just received your test results from Allergy Test Australia and you have discovered that you have a soy intolerance.
Soy Intolerance affects many people, and most of those people don’t even know what it is! Soy is made from soybeans. Like most beans, soy can cause abdominal gas. Soy oil and ground soybean powder are added to many other foods such as soy milk and tofu, soy has become a non-animal health food for many people. Many people digest it with no problems, but a lot of people have trouble digesting it.
Symptoms of Soy Intolerance
Symptoms of a Soy Intolerance include:
- Gas
- Stomach bloating
- Abdominal pain and cramps
- Diarrhoea
- Nausea
Some people with a soy intolerance can tolerate a small amount, you may be able to get away with a small amount of soy in salad dressing for example. Other people must cut out soy all together to get relief from soy intolerance symptoms.
Soy is in all kind of foods either as soybean oil, as a meat filler, as a meat substitute (like tofu). Soy can be found in many other foods! Follow the link below which provides you with an extensive list of foods that contains Soy.
https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/consumer/foodallergies/allergies/Pages/Soy-.aspx
As most breads are made with a starter containing soy. This can make avoiding soy very difficult to do. Options for soy free breads are:
- Homemade bread made from flours that are tolerated (not soy flour)
- Many flat breads, such as pita, Lebanese bread, Indian bread, wraps and mountain bread
- Some sour dough breads
- Some soy free brands (check with your supplier – supermarket, bakery or greengrocer)
- Crumpets
Label Reading
In Australia, all packaged foods must include a food label with an ingredients list. By law, all potential food allergens (peanuts, tree nuts, seafood, fish, milk, eggs, soybeans and wheat) must be clearly identified, no matter how small the amount.
If an ingredient includes soy, this should be listed on the ingredients list. For example, if a product contains hydrolysed vegetable protein, it should be listed as ‘hydrolysed vegetable protein (soy)’ or ‘hydrolysed soy protein’.
When purchasing packaged items, carefully check the food label and ingredient list for soy products. Check these each time the product is purchased, as ingredients and processing techniques may change.
We hope that you feel ready to start making informative diet choices and start leading a healthier lifestyle.
Hooroo from all of us at Allergy Test Australia!
