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Foods that contain yeast are very popular in the western world, this is a problem if you suffer from a yeast allergy. In this article we look at what a yeast allergy actually is, as well as its symptoms.

Obviously if you are one of the unfortunate people who suffers from this type of allergy, you cannot eat or drink anything that contains yeast or yeast derivatives. The problem is avoiding foods that contain this substance is very difficult because it is an ingredient in so many foods, particularly baked foods such as bread. It’s not only foods that contain yeast, all alcoholic drinks have this as an ingredient, so they must be avoided, or replaced with non-alcoholic alternatives.

So what are the symptoms? The symptoms of yeast allergy are the same as those that occur as a result of most food allergies, they include: hives, irritability, head aches, muscle aches, fatigue, swelling of the mouth, throat and tongue, amongst several other symptoms.

Yeast allergy symptoms can vary, some people may suffer mild symptoms, whilst others suffer more severe ones. In rare cases these symptoms can actually be life threatening. If you know that you suffer from an allergic reaction to yeast it is advisable that you avoid food and drinks that contain it. The symptoms of food allergies tend to get worse if you continue to eat foods that you are allergic to.

If you think you may suffer from a yeast allergy, or any food allergy for that matter you should seek medical advice, this will reduce the chances of you suffering from another allergic reaction.

Your doctor will carry out tests on you to determine what food is responsible for your allergic reaction, there are three main tests that a doctor may carry out, these include, a blood tests, a scratch test or finding the food you are allergic to by process of elimination.

Blood Test: During a blood test a doctor will take samples of your blood and put samples of suspected allergy foods in them, he will then see the reaction that occurs. If the chemicals that are released by the blood are those that occur during an allergic reaction, than it means you are allergic to the food that is being tested.

Scratch Test: This test is not the most accurate test in the world, but it can be useful, it involves a fine scratch being made on your skin, a small sample of the suspected food is put near the scratch, if the skin around the scratch swells up it means you are allergic to the food.

Process of Elimination: This simply involves eliminating foods from the diet in order to discover which food is responsible for your allergic reaction.

Once the food allergy that you have has been discovered the doctor can recommend the best treatment methods, which normally involves avoiding the food completely and finding alternatives to foods that contain yeast, in the case of yeast allergy.

This article looked at yeast allergy, its symptoms, and diagnosis.

By: Samuel Alby

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