Monday, December 13, 2010

Soy Allergy? Watch Out For Guar Gum and Natural Flavors

I am reminding you all of this fact that guar gum is very closely related to soy. It is a legume so if you or your child has legume allergies (like me to some) you might react to guar gum. I just had a reaction to the Lactaid Eggnog which contains guar gum and I completely forgot to read the label. My fingers are so itchy I want to cut them off. I usually get the eggnog latte at Starbucks with no problem (Of course you have to let them know you are allergic to soy so that they don't use the same containers for mixing) and decided to go to the grocery store and get my own eggnog to make it with instant coffee at home.


Not even 15 minutes later, my fingers are itching profusely and my eczema has flared up. Now to drink something else to try to rid it from my system.

If you or your child are having mysterious reactions, check the label of whatever you or he just ate. You really never know....guar gum and natural flavors are in EVERYTHING.

6 comments:

  1. Sigh. I just bought guar gum to use as an alternative to xanthan gum (derived from corn) for my baking as my son is allergic to corn. To bad he is also allergic to soy. Thanks for the psa!

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  2. Oh no! I'm glad you caught this message in time! Can you use a baking substitute like pre-gel starch? Not sure where to get it there has to be something...maybe even another recipe that does not contain any gums or stabilizers? I'm going to post some recipe resources very soon...

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  3. I am still learning about my allergies. After eating soy, and then consuming some other food or water, I "thought" I felt better. I thought I was wishing it away, but maybe I was getting it out of my system.

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    1. So sorry I saw this now!! Yes, I know how hard it is and its definitely a learning experience. I noticed when I get a reaction, and do a 'cleanse' of sorts (like taking flaxseed oil religiously, supplementing with a good soy-free probiotic and eating lots of fiber or taking psyllium capsules and lots of water) I definitely feel better by the next day (depending on the reaction, of course...this is normally for my milder ones).

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  4. My daughter was just diagnosed with an allergy to peanuts and tree nuts...we have to wait until her appointment in September to find out the results of the rest of her tests (which worries me because she is already miserable), but she gets this same itchy hands/feet reaction and we can't pin point what it's from! This post gives me hope though that we will soon find out and she isn't alone...everyone kept sending us to the dermatologist until I finally pushed for an allergist...and here was are, making progress :)

    Nicole P. Des Moines, IA

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    1. Nicole, I am so sorry I didn't see this until now but you are most definitely not alone. I am so sorry she was diagnosed...I hope this site helps you and I will continue to post as often as I can. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

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