A friend of mine once made a claim that “Too many people say they have food ‘allergies’. Only those who have fatal reactions to certain foods should call it an ‘allergy’. Everyone else just has food ‘preferences’.”
I don’t know why he decided that only the most severe kind of reaction to a food (i.e. an anaphylactic one) could be graced with the name “allergy”, but I never really gave it much thought or concern. Until today.
As you know, during my elimination diet, I determined that my soy intake was causing all of my intestinal problems (The constipation, the bloating, the general stomach pains and the sharp shooting cramps). When I stopped eating soy daily, the symptoms reduced significantly.
Still, when I talked about my reaction to soy, I only ever said things like “I don’t like soy. Soy is no good for me. When I eat soy, I can’t poop.” But I never said “I have an allergy to soy”. Until today.
Today I wanted a Booster Juice for lunch. I was all psyched for it – it’s payday, and this was going to be my special, worst-value-for-money-but-who-cares treat to myself. But when I got to the counter, I panicked on which flavour to get, and went with an old standby (one that I know has a reasonable amount of calories). It is called “Sonic Soy”. It contains soy milk AND soy protein booster. Double-whammy.
I drank it, thinking, “Whatever, I haven’t had much soy in ages, this ONE little meal isn’t going to make that much of a difference…” Well, not 20 minutes after consuming the smoothie, I started to have shooting pains in my stomach, and I had to untie the button from my (previously) loose-fitting pants. My stomach swelled 3” (yes, I measured).
The pressure I’m feeling right now, coupled with the knowledge that my bowels will be in turmoil for at least 24 hours makes me ashamed at how stupid it was to order that drink. I know what soy does to me, each and every time I eat it, and yet I still put myself in harm’s way…
I’ve decided that if ANYONE is going to take my condition seriously, I have to take it seriously first. And that means owning up to the fact that I have a bonafide, honest-to-goodness physical ALLERGY to soy. Just because it’s not anaphylactic doesn’t make it any less real. It is “acquired, predictable, and rapid” (definition of an allergy by Wikipedia). I’m also going to take it up a notch and completely eliminate soy from my diet. For example, I still consume soy in the following forms (in order of frequency):
1. Splash of soymilk in my morning coffee
2. Packaged granola bars
3. Earth Balance
4. Tempeh
5. Soya sauce
So the coffee thing is a no brainer. Either I keep a carton of almond milk at work, or I make my own coffee at home (save $$ too!). The granola bars are easy to avoid – I can make my own or just find better snacks (like fruit). The Earth Balance, Tempeh and Soya Sauce simply need to be eliminated altogether. (this makes me especially sad because it means no more Tempeh Sandwiches from Bread and Sons 
)
I’m hoping that a more stringent avoidance of soy will also help in my waist management, and I might drop an inch in my mid-section simply by not having any inflammatory food in there. Works for me – easiest inch I’ll ever lose!
As for Booster Juice, next time I get a craving, I’m going for “Strawberry Storm”. May not be vegan, but I bet it’ll make me feel a whole lot better!!!
