Food allergies or in-tolerances are increasingly common with several different foods such as wheat, dairy, eggs, nuts and soy. If you feel that soy may be causing adverse symptoms such as bloating, digestive upsets, headaches, lethargy or skin reactions, an elimination diet should be considered. Elimination diets involve the elimination of foods that are commonly eaten in the diet for a period of two to three weeks followed by the gradual re-introduction of these foods to determine if they are cause of discomforting symptoms. If you are trying a soy elimination diet, be sure to exclude all forms from your diet for the best results.
Soy Elimination Diet Tips
Step 1
Eliminate any and all foods that contain soy or soy ingredients. Read all nutrition labels of products to determine if soy is in them as it is typically found in many processed foods or foods you may not expect to find it. Avoid any products that have soy lecithin added to them as well since this is a by-product of soy oil and may cause irritable symptoms in people. Obvious soy foods to avoid include edamame, soybeans, soybean oil, tofu, tempeh, miso, veggie burgers or other processed vegetarian products such as soy and tofu dogs.
Step 2
Avoid foods or ingredients such as textured vegetable protein , a hydrolyzed vegetable protein, which are soy products often used as an alternative to meat for soups, stews, chilis or burgers.
Step 3
Avoid soy products for approximately 7 to 21 days, or one to three weeks, for the best results. During this time, be aware of any changes in symptoms you may experience such as a decrease in bloating, indigestion, fatigue or headaches.
Step 4
Write a detailed journal of what you eat and how you feel after eating to determine if you experience similar symptoms with other foods or notice a decrease or an increase in typical aggravating symptoms.
Step 5
Add soy foods back into your diet gradually after the elimination period by re-introducing one food at a time a day at a time. Continue to document how you feel after eating and any new or persisting symptoms present. Be aware if any symptoms return, to what degree and with what foods. Speak with a doctor or food allergist about any concerns or consider eliminating these foods completely.
Tips and Warnings
- Do not eliminate several foods from your diet at the same time as eliminating soy as these foods may be a source of your symptoms or discomfort as well. In general, try to eat a healthy diet focusing on the elimination of all soy products.
- Always speak with a physician or health professional prior to initiating a new dietary or health regimen. Seek the help of a medical professional to ensure you are following safe and proper protocol for an elimination diet or if you experience any serious adverse reactions immediately.
References
- Clean, Green, and Lean: Get Rid of the Toxins That Make You Fat; Walter Crinnion; 2010
- Food Allergies For Dummies; Robert A. Wood & Joe Kraynak; 2007
Member Comments