Soyless, or soy-free diets, are usually implemented due to an allergy to soy. According to the Mayo Clinic, the allergy is most often found in infants and children, but is becoming more common in adults. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, soy is one of eight common foods that "account for 90 percent of food allergies" and must be identified in the ingredient list on the product label.
History
According to Theodore Hymowitz, author of, "Soybeans: The Success Story," the soybean had a humble beginning only to become one of the largest grain crops in the world. According to the historical article, soybeans are thought to have originated in China between 1700-1100 B.C. But, it was not until 1765 that they were introduced to the U.S. By 1941, soybeans accounted for more acreage than any other crop, reports Hymowitz.
Soy Significance
Soy and soy products are made from soybeans. According to the American Soybean Association's 2010 statistics, "Soybeans provided 69 percent of the edible consumption of fats and oils in the United States." Soybean oil, soy flour and soy proteins are the primary use of soybeans in our food supply. As these are used inside food products, label reading is an important part of following a soyless diet.
Identification
Sometimes it will be obvious when a product contains soy or a soy derivative, as it will have "soy" in the ingredient list. However, some soy components that are used in foods are not as obvious. Provided by Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford, avoid products with the any of the following ingredients: hydrolyzed plant, soy and vegetable protein; natural flavoring; vegetable broth, gum and starch; tofu; tempeh; textured vegetable protein; miso; shoyu sauce; edamame and natto.
Considerations
According to Healthcare of Atlanta, two exceptions to the rule is soy lecithin, a fatty substance from the soybean, and soy oil. If you see that a product contains these soy ingredients, it is likely safe to eat. Most children do not have a reaction to soy lecithin or oil, states CHOA. However, they recommend discussing with your doctor before consuming as part of a soyless diet.
Benefits
If you or your child has an allergy to soy, following a soyless diet is vital and will prevent allergic reactions. Outside of following a soyless diet due to allergy, there is no conclusive, scientific evidence to support any benefit from following a soyless diet. In fact, there is far more research supporting benefits of soy in the diet, such as decreased risk of coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, breast cancer, and osteoporosis, states the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
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