Contents:
- Medical Video: Food Allergy - What You Need To Know
- Peanut allergy, is it also soy allergy?
- Can you drink soy milk if you are allergic to peanuts?
- Consulting a doctor is the best solution
Medical Video: Food Allergy - What You Need To Know
Peanuts are one type of food that can make a few people experience an allergic reaction. Usually, people who have peanut allergies will easily experience itchy, swollen, rash, to stomach aches after eating nuts - even if only a little. In fact, soybeans and processed milk are high sources of protein that are good for health. So, can peanut allergy sufferers consume soy milk? Here's the explanation.
Peanut allergy, is it also soy allergy?
Basically, peanuts come from a family of legumes that are equivalent to peas, soybeans, and other types of beans. That's why, many people think if you have a peanut allergy, then you will also experience the same allergic reaction if you try to eat soybeans.
What's more, protein allergens stored in each bean tend to be the same so it might cause an allergic reaction if you try to eat soybeans. However, is that right?
The answer is not always. If you have a peanut allergy, that doesn't mean you will definitely experience soybean allergies; vice versa.
Even though they are from the same family, allergic reactions to peanuts with soybeans can be different, as quoted from Verywell. This was confirmed by a statement from the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI) that the types of allergens in peanuts and soybeans turned out to be different and unrelated. So, maybe someone else has an allergy after eating peanuts, while you are still fine after eating soybeans.
Another case if you experience shrimp allergies, then you will usually experience the same allergic reaction after eating shellfish, crabs or lobster. Unlike beans, protein allergens found in other types of seafood tend to be the same and provide the same allergic response. This phenomenon is known as cross reactivity (cross-reactivity).
Can you drink soy milk if you are allergic to peanuts?
Simply put, people with peanut allergies may consume soybeans and their processed products such as soy milk. This also applies to children.
Based on a study conducted by Gideon Lack and his team in 2003, children with a history of peanut allergy did not show excessive allergic reactions after being given soy-based formula or pure soy milk. Symptoms of itchy skin, rashes, and redness on a child's skin do appear, but the body can still tolerate this allergic reaction. Instead, they experience an allergic reaction that is quite severe up to seven times after being given peanut oil.
However, other studies published in the Journal of Clinical Allergy Immunology actually reveal the opposite. Parents are even encouraged to stop giving soy-based formula to their children. Because the content of soybeans in milk can increase the risk of peanut allergy in children whose digestive systems are sensitive.
So in short, an allergic reaction to soybeans can be different for everyone. This goes back to the condition of each person's immune system. You may feel fine after drinking soy milk, while other people experience an allergic reaction that is quite disturbing.
Consulting a doctor is the best solution
Before trying to drink soy milk, you should first consult a doctor to prevent allergic reactions that may appear. The doctor will do a number of examinations, ranging from blood tests, skin sensitivity tests, to food tests to determine whether you also experience soybean allergies or not. This procedure also applies to your child who has allergies to peanuts.
Basically, children can only be given exclusive breastfeeding until they are six months old, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. If there are certain conditions that make exclusive breastfeeding not optimal, whether it's due to little breast milk or children allergic to ASI, then actually soy milk is not the main solution.
Especially if your child has certain food allergies, then you should ask your doctor about the right milk substitute for your child. Usually, doctors will recommend hypoallergenic formula milk to meet the nutritional needs of your child.
