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Things to Remember |
The most important thing to remember with a soy allergy is to be
thorough in label reading, and to ask specific questions.
It does get a little frustrating when it seems like every label you
read contains some type of soy product, but I assure you there are definitely
soy free alternatives out there. As
a general rule of thumb, avoid all pre-made baked goods, all
candies, all FLAVORED and SPECIALTY teas and coffees, all frozen
treats (i.e. ice cream, popsicles), all breaded products, all
soups and broths, all shortenings, all salad dressings, all
mayos (including Miracle Whip types), all whipped toppings, all
coffee creamers, all pre-made frostings, all seasoning
packets/gravy mixes, all puddings, all crackers, all
cereals, all margarines, all cream cheeses, all low fat or
sugar free products, all FLAVORED potato chips, all tortilla
chips, all boxed meals, all chocolate bars and syrups...basically,
if it's a convenience/ready-made/diet food, just say NO.
Living a soy free life normally means taking more time to prepare meals,
so try making planned-overs (making enough of a meal to have leftovers on
purpose). Freeze the planned-overs, and you have your own version of a
TV dinner. Also, if you find
something that is soy free that is a "grab and go" kind of treat, make
it a point to have it on hand in a pinch or for special occasions.
You can also make your own kind of soy free snacks that you can put in
snack size Ziploc bags (i.e. soy free trail mix, homemade cookies, homemade
granola).
Get creative! Think ahead! It will save you time in the long run.
Make it a point to carry your EpiPen and at least one dose
of Benedryl with you at all times. My
allergist recommends that I carry Zantac 150 on me as well (It has an H1
and H2 blocker in it (Ranitidine), and is very helpful in the event of an
allergic reaction. I take it at the
same time as I take the Benedryl via my allergist's instructions.).
If you can use an inhaler and have asthmatic type allergic
reactions, carry that with you as well. Being
prepared for the possibility of an allergic reaction is very
important. Now, I am not saying
to be paranoid about it. I am just
saying, acknowledge that it could happen and have your medicines
with you just in case. You
will feel more at ease knowing that you have them on you, and so will
your friends and family.
Good hand washing can also help keep you allergy free.
I make it a habit to wash my hands every time before I eat,
as well as after I handle anything that may contain soy or
that I do not the contents of.
Make sure your friends and family know of your soy allergy, and make
sure that they know what you take for it. They also should know how to
administer your EpiPen to you. In
a life threatening situation, they do not need to be reading the label on
how to use it. It is just a
precautionary thing that could help save your life.
Do not feel embarrassed to tell them about your allergy.
They may overreact a little to it, and try to over sympathize (i.e. they
might feel guilty for enjoying ice cream in front of you that you cannot eat),
but do not let it bother you. Assure
them that you are ok, and that it is just a change in lifestyle.
Give them some ideas for snacks or meals that are soy free, and see if
they would keep them on hand for you for when you stop by (Offer to buy them
yourself if you feel guilty for asking that of them.).
Remember, however, that people are not perfect and they may
forget that you are allergic to soy (This has happened to me on numerous occasions.). Never assume
that they will have a soy free alternative for you to enjoy when you go to
see them. Always eat a little something ahead and/or take something
you can eat with you just in case.
Another little tip: If you accidentally eat something with soy in it, and you find that you are congested, but otherwise ok, and do not have any Benedryl or other allergy medicine available, try some regular coffee. The caffeine in it helps relieve the congestion some. I do not recommend drinking coffee to help relieve a severe reaction or when allergy medications are available, but in a pinch a cup of coffee may help enough to see you through until you can get the proper medicines. Drink the coffee hot and black or with sugar/sweetener. DO NOT ADD CREAMER or MILK. Dairy or dairy type products tend to increase the amount of mucus your body produces, and they make it harder for your body to break down mucus, therefore compounding your reaction.
List of Soy, Soy Containing
Products, and Possible Sources
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