Because of its nutritional benefit brewer’s yeast in incorporated in various food products. This by-product of beer includes chromium, which can reduce blood glucose levels in diabetic patients.
However, some people who ingest these foods may experience brewer’s allergy symptoms. Many people suffer from brewers yeast allergy due to various reasons.
A hypersensitive person must consult an allergist for diagnosis to reduce these allergy symptoms.
Ingredients in this bitter tasting yeast irritate immune system in hypersensitive people. To combat them, it releases IgE antibodies. A chemical reaction is stimulated when you ingest foods with brewer’s yeast.
Symptoms of Brewer’s Allergy
Acute or mild allergic reaction can be reduced by anti-histamine medicines prescribed by the allergist.
However, you can’t permanently treat allergy. Reaction triggers once again when you ingest the allergen.
Headache, migraine, irritation in eyes, skin rashes, nasal congestion, throat infection, swelling of lips, mouth and tongue, digestive issues include stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea can be experienced.
Respiratory issues like asthma, difficulty in breathing, wheezing, dizziness and sudden drop in blood pressure are very serious. The patient needs immediate medical attention.
The moment you come across any brewers yeast allergy symptoms, immediately consult the doctor, to avoid any future complications.
It’s not contagious and can’t be cured permanently. You can only reduce its symptoms by avoiding foods that include brewer’s yeast.
There is a common misconception among people that brewer’s yeast allergy causes red and blotchy skin that some people get after drinking strong alcoholic drinks. However, these rashes are usually an allergy-like reaction, not a true allergy that is usually related to sulfur dioxide in alcoholic drinks. Sulfur dioxide has the potential to activate allergy-like reactions to other substances that are present in other items such as wheat-containing food. Many people take this as a sign of any allergy; however, a brewer allergy typically does not cause a rash.
How common is yeast allergy?
According to a study, yeast allergy, asthma,and immunology are some of the diseases that people face. When it comes to allergies, only a small portion of allergies is related to food allergies. Moreover, brewers yeast allergy only makes a tiny portion of food allergies.
Some of the sources of yeast allergy are:
- Some baked goods such as croissants, cinnamon, muffins, or biscuits, etc.
- Mushroom
- Olives
- Aged meats
- Vinegar and foods that contain vinegar
- Premade stocks and gravies
- Alcohol
- Cereal products
- Fermented foods
- Dried fruits
- Tofu
- Soy sauce and tamarind
- Buttermilk and yogurt
- Blackberries, strawberries, and blueberries
Whenever a person is having a negative reaction to yeast, he or she needs to determinewhether they are suffering from yeast buildup, a yeast intolerance, or a yeast allergy.
Yeast Buildup
In some scenarios, having plenty of yeast in the body can result in a fungal infection. The increase in fungal infection causes many of the same symptoms as an allergy. However, there is a difference, that the infection can be cured.
Yeast Intolerance
People who suffer from yeast intolerance generally suffer from less severe symptoms than a yeast allergy, with symptoms mainly limited to gastrointestinal symptoms.
Yeast Allergy
A yeast allergy can easily affect the entire human body, leading to various skin reactions, changes in mood, and extensive body pain. The majority of allergic reactions can be life threatening and can cause long-term damage to the body.
Allergic reaction Vegemite, Soy Sauce and Marmite
As mentioned above, foods that include even small percentage of brewer’s yeast they will trigger allergic reaction.
Soy sauce is often included while cooking for its taste and nutrients, but hypersensitive people must stay away from it.
If you avoid the food for a week, the allergic sign end gradually. If it doesn’t end even after preventing allergic foods, this could be candidiasis.
So, to confirm if the symptoms are allergic or just a syndrome person must get diagnosed by practicing allergist.
Allergist will conduct skin-prick test and expose to different allergens. If the report is positive and identifies the availability of IgE antibodies that trigger brewer’s yeast allergy, then medication will be prescribed.
Even the medication alone can’t help you to treat or reduce allergy. You must avoid the food that includes this allergen.
Food that is safe to eat
Food items that you can eat and drink freely are:
- Green vegetables
- Skim milk
- Unprocessed meat and fish
- Fruit smoothies
- Soda bread
- Oats
- Brown rice, corn, barley, and rye
- Squash
- Potatoes
- Beans
To be completely safe, it is recommended to always check the label before buying it.
Any individual can develop a yeast allergy; however, some individuals are more likely to develop than others are. When someone gets a yeast allergy, one of the most common risk factors he or she could face is a weakened immune system. It is also dangerous for those people who have diabetes.
Moreover, someone who has a family history of yeast allergy is also at risk of getting the allergy. In case, you have any type offood allergy, then there is a high chance that you might be allergic to something else that is not related to yeast, yet gives the same symptoms.
Testing for yeast allergies
Nowadays, several tests available can confirm whether you have any kind of allergy to yeast or other foods. These include:
- Skin prick test: one of the common and easiest to know about food allergy is a skin prick test. In this test, a small drop of the suspected allergen is placed on the skin (usually on fingertips) and pushed through the first layer of the skin with a small needle. If the skin shows any kind of side effects then it means that the person is allergic to that particle food item/ingredient.
- Intradermal skin test: the doctor uses a syringe to inject the suspected allergen into the tissue that is beneath the skin. The tissues beneath the skin are known as the dermis.
- Blood or RAST test: this test is done to measure the amount of IgE i.e. immunoglobulin antibody in the blood. A high level of IgEto any possible allergen source is an indication of an allergy.
Even though brewers yeast allergy is not very common, however, some people do experience mild to severe allergic reactions. Whenever you notice a change in your body, immediately consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis.