Yeast Allergy | Allergy

Yeast Allergy

by Allergy Guy

Yeast allergy can cause a lack of energy and many other symptoms.  Here are some causes and how to avoid yeast.

There are two causes of yeast allergy symptoms:

  1. An allergy to foods with yeast in them, such as bread, beer and wine.
  2. Candidiasis, a yeast infection in the body.

In the first case, the best way to control the allergy is to avoid eating foods with yeast in them. In the second case, the only way to control the allergy is to eliminate the infection.

Both yeast problems are characterized by feeling slow and fatigued, and may be accompanied by any number of other allergic symptoms that are unique to each individual.

If you find you feel tired after eating bread (but not pasta), or just one beer, you may be allergic to yeast. Cut out all yeast-containing foods for at least a week, and see if you feel better. If you do feel better, but your symptoms return after reintroducing a yeast-containing food, then you can be reasonably sure that yeast is a problem for you. Reduce or eliminate your intake of these foods.

There are two causes of yeast allergy symptoms:

Candidiasis, or a yeast infection, means that you have yeast growing in part of your body. While it is more common in women than in men, don’t be fooled into thinking you can’t possibly have it, just because you are a man. Sure, it is impossible for a man to have a vaginal yeast infection, but men can have yeast infections in other parts of their body.

In the case of a yeast infection, your body becomes tired from fighting the infection. If you are also allergic to yeast, you will also be suffering from yeast allergy symptoms.

Candidiasis may be at least partially responsible for eczema in some cases.

Reducing your sugar intake will help reduce candidiasis in many cases. Refined sugar is especially bad for your health and should be entirely eliminated. Use honey as a sweetener instead, and use it sparingly or not at all.

Kayla has contributed the following comment, which is worth repeating here so you don’t miss it:

Many foods contain yeast that may not label “yeast”, rather “natural flavoring”. Read labels and if it is a food that is meant to have a salty flavor and it contains the “natural flavoring” ingredient, be careful. If you do not have a known yeast allergy that could cause extreme illness of death, I suggest trying the food, and see if there is a reaction. Personally, I do this and my daughter does this to determine if a food is a culprit for giving us digestive troubles and migraines.

 


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{ 54 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Guest November 8, 2009 at 08:26

Yeast allergy

Hi guys

I am still remaining 80% yeast free after eight or so weeks. I find once I stay like this the glands on my neck (under the jaw bone and the bottom of my ears) appear to stay reduced most of the time. I say 80% because yeast is in so many food items and I find it near impossible to remain 100% yeast free. When I go out for a few drinks I do break the rules and drink Bulmers Cider. I know this is FULL of sugar but one has to enjoy life too.

I believe it’s about adapting a new life style. As I sad before the good news is that its good for the weight loss. I’ve loss 23lbs over the past eight weeks and the weight loss is now slowing down.

Denis.

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2 admin November 12, 2009 at 23:27

You’re doing well, yeast is everywhere

Hi Denis,

You’re right, it is impossible to avoid all yeast. I think it’s safe to say that every breath you take as a few yeast cells in it.

I agree with you, do the best you can, and don’t stress about the rest.

Also, if you avoid everything you can, you don’t have to worry as much about what you don’t know about, or what you can’t avoid.

If you want the odd drink without the yeast, distilled alcohol is almost yeast free, and highly distilled alcohol like vodka and gin is as close to yeast free as you’ll find.

Like anything, use in moderation!

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3 Guest November 2, 2009 at 12:37

allergies to beer??

My husband has issues with drinking beer and I am beginning to think it is an allergy. He can have one beer and have very NOTICIBLE symtoms that he has been drinking. His hands do this weird, almost spasmy thing, where he clinches his fists and his fingers do wierd things…almost like he has some type of disability. His voice gets much louder and some issues with his speach are obvious. He gets very combative as well, all this just after 1 beer. Once he has 2, that is it for him, he is a lost cause. All of our friends cannot figure it out, and it is actually quite embarrassing, his behavior. He is 39yrs old, and has been drinking for many years. He does not drink very often anymore as it is a major issue in our marriage, but I would like him to find some resolution, he thinks he can drink just as much as the next guy, but cannot. plain and simple. Is this an allergy or is he just not metabolising the alcohol properly? Or is he just a light weight?????

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4 admin November 2, 2009 at 16:57

Beer vs. wine vs. spirits

It does sound like an embarrassment, your husband being so sensitive to alcohol, or at least beer.

Beyond cutting back on drinking for your marriage, which is reason enough, I hope he is able to understand this and accept it within himself.

Does this happen only with beer? Is it a problem with wine too? How about mixed drinks?

If all of the above, it’s probably alcohol. If wine and beer, probably yeast, if beer only, then its probably something specific to beer like hops.

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5 R.H. April 12, 2010 at 02:29

Try checking liver function first… he may not be metabolizing his alcohol. I have a problem with this due to some medications I take. I get drunk extremely quickly and remain drunk for up to 8 hours. Drinking often or too much with this problem can be dangerous and can cause alcohol poisoning, but more importantly it may be flagging a liver problem or liver failure for you. Until this has been checked, he shouldn’t drink.

If this is not the issue, checking for a yeast allergy is a good idea. I am also allergic to yeast, but I confine myself (when I do drink) to gin and have no problems with it so far as an allergic reaction goes.

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6 Voyager October 10, 2009 at 20:34

Yeast allergy

I have had this for more than 10 years. I quit drinking for a long time because of it. I too have red blotches on my chest, neck and face after drinking 1-3 beers depending on the beer and get it after half a glass of wine. Wine will also give me a major headache the next morning even after one glass. And I find I also get the stuffy, runny nose as well after drinking wine. I thought maybe it was sulfites but tried sulfite free wine and it gave me a headache immediately. Beer headache after 3 beers. I have found recently that drinking vodka does not give me any symptoms. However I don’t like vodka. Does the vodka not have yeast? I am not a big drinker, but when I do, I space my drinking over several hours and drink responsibly, however I look like a clown and it is embarrasing. Also eating bread, cake, certain potatoe chips give me heart burn. Is this a yeast allergy?

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7 admin October 12, 2009 at 16:44

A few answers

Sounds like you’ve figured out its a yeast allergy. The only thin that mystifies me is the cake. Maybe you are also allergic to $wheat$ and/or $gluten$.

Vodka is highly distilled and is probably completely free of yeast. You might prefer other spirits like gin, rum, whiskey etc. Gin is highly distilled, just like vodka. The other spirits, less so.

Don’t drink it straight (unless you like it that way), learn how to mix (and/or order) some cocktails that you like.

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8 angelfish September 22, 2009 at 13:23

Yeast and shingles

Shingles is only caused by the herpes virus. This virus gives you chicken pox when you first encounter it and lives in your body ever after. When you are run down or below par it can reactivate and that’s when you get shingles. It’s closely related to cold sores as well.
It is infectious to those who have never had chicken pox and can give such people chicken pox. It is not casued by being exposed to chicken pox as an adult (as I was always told when I was a child). I know all this because I have just had shingles myself and very painful it was too. I thought I’d had a nasty insect bite that had got infected.
I also have an intolerance to yeast but I don’t think the two were connected (as commented above), at least causally.
It’s reasonably easy to avoid yeast if you read labels and eat food that you have prepared from scratch yourself. If it’s really bad then you have to avoid any fermented goods like tea or cheese, food with naturally occurring yeats like grapes, plums, dried vine fruits and, perversely, antibitotics if possible.

I find that I can’t resist bread so, from time to time, indulge in a splurge and suffer the consequences. Hope that helps. AF

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9 Guest October 1, 2009 at 15:49

Yeast Free

Thanks for your reply on Yeast and Shingles. Shingles are very painful, mine stayed around the side of my head near my eye fifthteen times. My GP informed me that this amount of Shingles is not the norm, it is normly seen to occur in a person once or even twice or three times, but not fifthteen times. The last time was about a year or so ago. The marks are still their but not as bad.

I am half ways through my third week of being yeast free and I’m finding it hard goig but having good results so far. The glads on my neck (under the jaw bone and the bottom of my ears) appear to be reducing alot and no longer feel as sore. These glands have been giving me trouble for the last two to three years.

I was told that potatoes have some yeast in them is this correct ??? Also is it ok to have boiled rice or is their yeast in this as well ???

The good news is that its good for the weight loss.

Thanks

Denis

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10 admin October 1, 2009 at 17:52

Yeast in Potatoes?

As far as I know, potatoes are yeast-free PROVIDING you remove any spots that look like they might be going bad.

It might be a good idea to peal them as well, although I’ve not heard that there is yeast on the skin.

Rice is also yeast-free.

One thing to watch out for: too much carbohydrate could promote yeast growth, so don’t pig out on potatoes and rice!

Good luck with your yeast-free diet.

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11 Guest October 6, 2009 at 15:27

Yeast in Potatoes?

Thanks for your reply.

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12 Guest September 14, 2009 at 17:19

Allergy to yeast and Shingles

Over the past number of years i have had Shingles about 15 times and about a year ago i had a food allergy test. The test hi lighted that i had an allergy to yeast.

I was wondering if the Shingles and the allergy to yeast are linked. Or if anyone had the same.

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13 admin September 14, 2009 at 18:52

Immune system

I don’t know if yeast is related to shingles or not – maybe someone will add a comment about that.

A yeast allergy, or any other allergy is connected to the immune system, and so is shingles.

So it could be that by challenging your immune system with an allergen, it is less able to fight off the shingles (herpes zoster) virus.

Let us know if cutting out yeast helps with your shingles over time. Good luck with it.

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14 Guest September 15, 2009 at 13:38

Thanks. I have only started

Thanks. I have only started the yeast free deit. So i guess we’ll see how it goes.

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15 Guest September 13, 2009 at 08:16

Allergy to yeast and Singles

Over the past number of years i have had Singles about 15 times and about a year ago i had a food allergy test. The test hi lighted that i had an allergy to yeast.

I was wondering if the Singles and the allergy to yeast are linked. Or if anyone had the same.

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16 Guest October 21, 2009 at 02:31

yeast allergy shingles ??

OMG ! I have been suffering a shingles type rash for the past 6 months off and on.
All tests came back negative for Shingles, Herpes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc and for everythnig else. By the process of elimination and painful diet exposure, I too think there is a connection.
My food allergy tests did not include yeast but I cut out all leavened bread and the rash goes away. Then I tried bread and BAM .. the burning pain down my arm hits and a day later the rash is back.
Not to celebrate your misery but I am glad to hear of someone having the same issues.

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17 Guest March 29, 2010 at 22:28

advice

Dear
my advice
try to eat plain rice ( 1- boiling rice with salt ) and (2- boiling chicken with salt and onion) if you can buy organic food will be good I hope that will help you
all the best

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18 Guest September 9, 2009 at 23:15

No Yeast Diet

Two years ago, I had to back antibiotics back to back to clear up a sinus infection. While taking the second dose, I developed diarrhea. At that point my Dr. had me take probiotics to help get the good bacteria back. Since then I really haven’t noticed problems except urgency when it comes to a bowel movement. My Dr. has been doing the asca iga blood test. It has been positive for thosetwo years. Now he wants me to go on a yeast free diet. Does this mean the asca iga test should become negative after doing the diet? If so, how long should I wait to be tested? Also, could this blood test indicate an allergy. I have been yeast free for 2 weeks and I feel good,but who wouldn’twhen you are eliminating a lot of junk and eating healthier.

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19 Guest August 29, 2009 at 13:30

bloating after meals

I think bread may be causing bloating after my meals.i feel stuffed and bloated making my breathing uncomfortable?any ideas

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20 admin August 29, 2009 at 13:37

Eliminate bread, see what happens

If you suspect bread, cut it out of your diet, and see if that helps.

Keep in mind that if bread is a problem, then it is most likely caused either by the yeast or the $wheat$/$gluten$.

Read the article about following a $gluten free diet$, and the Foods that Contain Yeast article for more info.

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21 Guest July 17, 2009 at 17:00

Yeast and others

II hhave been having extremely bad pain in what feels like my ovaries but could be my bowel. It seems to be worse after food and when I lie down. It is in the position of my groin, but I am not sure what is causing it.

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22 Guest June 23, 2009 at 11:15

Yeast Allergy Diet vs. Yeast Infection Diet

I’ve recently gone to an allergist to get a food allergy test and one of the items that I’m allergic to is yeast. I’ve been asked to go on an elimiation diet, but I’m having a difficult time trying to figure out what I can and cannot eat. I’ve found a lot of information on yeast-free diets for yeast infection, but would it be the same diet for a yeast allergy?

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23 admin June 23, 2009 at 14:36

Same diet

Good question!

Here is an answer for you: yeast allergy diet vs. yeast infection diet.

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24 Guest April 15, 2009 at 14:18

Re: Chronic stomach pain

I used to get painfull stomach cramps when I ate yeast.
I found I got the pains when i ate bread products. I thought at first it may have been a wheat alergy. I tested it by drinking a beer and that set it off. And I can it pasta with no proble either. Since I stopped having yeast I have no more cramps (except for the rare times that I find a product that has yeast in it, like gravy or crackers.. weird why they contain yeast).

Are stomach pains or cramps a normal symptom?

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25 admin April 15, 2009 at 15:13

Normal Symptoms

The strange thing about allergies, specifically food intolerances, is that there is not really a normal set of symptoms.

The fact is that you experience these symptoms, and that you have found the connection between cause and effect.

Congratulations!

I am glad you have discovered that yeast is the problem and that you know how to avoid it.

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26 Adrienne February 8, 2009 at 12:03

Chronic Stomach Pain

I have had chronic stomach pain for 10 years. I’ve been tested for gluten and lactose all test were negative. My doctors seems to think that I have IBS. When I take IBS meds they only help a little bit. When I don’t eat carbs I feel better. Is there a test for yeast allergy and would I get pain from a yeast allergy?

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27 admin February 9, 2009 at 12:46

Allergy tests are not 100% accurate

Do not rely 100% on tests. Use them only as a guide.

I suggest you cut out gluten and lactose for sure. Eliminate even traces of these foods for at least a month and see what happens.

If you improve, your own test will indicate that you have a problem with one or both of these foods.

You can try the same with yeast as well.

See Self-Testing for Allergies and Top 20 Food Allergies with Delayed Reactions for more details.

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28 Claire October 27, 2009 at 09:00

CHRONIC STOMACH PAIN

I have always suffered with reoccurring water and kidney infections since I was a child and the doctors said that I was just unlucky and would always suffer with them.

After I stopped smoking 4 years ago I started with bad stomach problems, constant illness and pains in my legs, which stopped me walking properly. I was treated by my doctor for water infections, kidney stones, IBS but nothing worked so after 2 years of various antibiotics I was referred to the hospital for further tests, camera’s etc but everything came back negative.

While under the hospital having tests I decided to keep a food diary and every time I got a symptom it was documented against what had been eaten. Under the endoscopy department I was put on a liquid diet for 3 days before reintroducing solid food. My consultant suggested that I overdose my system with different food types for 2 weeks at a time and see if symptoms increased. I eventually found that I am allergic to tomatos and Kiwi fruit. I have cut both from my diet and no longer have any trouble with my stomach or water/kidney infections.

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29 admin October 27, 2009 at 23:37

Thanks for the story

Thanks for the story Claire.

Glad it had a happy ending!

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30 kate January 19, 2009 at 03:18

??? yeast intolerance

Had this for years. Just starting to work it out. Get racing heart i can feel and tendancy to want to cough and wheez at same time, seems to happen after bread. Any ideas?

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31 admin January 19, 2009 at 08:29

Allergy self-testing resource

Hi Kate,

I suggest you read Self-Testing for Food Allergies. It explains exactly what I would suggest – if you feel your symptoms are minor.

If you feel that eating bread affects you so much that it’s scary, then visit an allergist instead.

Hope that helps.

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32 kristie January 9, 2009 at 01:47

hives after drinking beer

I have been drinking beer since i was about 17. Now I see that when I do drink a beer my neck and chest break out in hives. that is the only place I break out. Everyone notices and they just laugh knowning it happens alot. So I wonder what is in the beer that is doing that. How can I find out? I love drinking beer. So any suggestions would be great. I don’t want to be like hey doctor umm tell me this..I would like to say test me for this so I can be sure what it is…

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33 admin January 9, 2009 at 10:39

Try different types of beer

If you discovered that you were allergic to hops for example, what would you do? You can’t make beer without hops!

If you are lucky, you may find you are reacting to certain beer additives. It could be that other brands of beer (especially micro-breweries) do not contain such ingredients.

If you are unlucky, you could be reacting to hops or yeast.

So far though, you know beer is causing you a problem, so other than trying different brands, you will have to decide if you want to drink beer and suffer the symptoms, or find something else to drink instead.

Hope that helps.

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34 Guest June 29, 2009 at 21:10

Not all beer contain hops

The Scottish brewed a beer with Heather when Hops were hard to get a hold of (I don’t remember if England was trying to tax them or what). You can usually find it at a local bottleworks or large grocery store with a good beer selection. I believe it was called “Heather Ale” And then of course you can always brew your own. It is very easy and you control what goes into your brew.

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35 admin June 30, 2009 at 08:59

Heather Ale

Thanks for the info about hops-free beer!

A quick Google search revealed Heather Ale Inc. Sounds like really good beer!

Note they seem to have changed their name to williams bros brew, no longer sure about it being hops-free.

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36 Guest September 16, 2009 at 04:17

You are allergic to yeast

Hello,
You are allergic to yeast. I have the same problem. The hives were getting really bad on exercising too so I went to the Dr who sent me to an immunologist and I am allergic to yeast. I used to sit and itch all over after drinking beer. Unfortuneately it means now you have to stop drinking and cut all yeast out of your diet. I feel so much better now though. Good luck.

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37 Anonymous December 19, 2008 at 15:22

Yeast intolerance

If you have an IgG intolerance (not IgE allergy) to bakers and brewers yeast (not yeast infection) should you only stay away from bread and beer or other drinks with yeast? I am wondering about autolized yeast extract? What kind of yeast is this? Is this something to avoid also. I am finding it in a lot of ingredients – I am avoiding it for now but not sure if I should.

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38 Amy S. October 5, 2008 at 03:04

I can’t figure it out

Everytime I drink more than one beer, my chest becomes very tight and I have diffuculty breathing……I can’t figure out what is causing it.I thought maybe I was allergic to yeast but as far as breads go I am fine. Has anyone heard of this before? As far as liquor goes I do fine with it and my breathing is not affected. I think I do have a low case of asthma, it is very irregular though, but the fact that beer is one thing that always triggers it makes me wonder. Hopefully someone has heard of this before. Thanks 🙂

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39 Anonymous October 28, 2008 at 15:11

Just because you don’t react

Just because you don’t react to carbs doesn’t mean you’re not allergic to yeast. Again, if you have a yeast allergy it’s not instant or life threatening. My symptoms started small and grew increasingly worst until one day I decided there was something majorly wrong but didn’t know what because it had been going on for so long. I had no recent dietary changes, etc. Only piece of advise I can give you is go to a holistic doctor and get an IgG test. This is an allergy test for “intollerances” and not the type of allergy that will send you to the ER.

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40 richard kemp July 28, 2010 at 11:15

i have a similar problem. i have been drinking for bout fifteen years and for the las two years i get tired end weak and feel like i can barley even stand up and walk after three or four beer. i don’t feel drunk at all just real tired all of a sudden. and i never had these problems before.what do you think ? my grandmother has coeliac disease and i wonder if i have devoloped it and the yeast is bothering me .

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41 Allergy Guy July 28, 2010 at 22:13

If you’re grandmother is coeliac, you have a higher-than-average chance of being celiac (higher than the usual 1% of the population).

Most beer has gluten.

You might want to get tested. Often the symptoms are not the “classic” celiac symptoms.

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42 Travis November 1, 2008 at 22:33

Has this always happened, or

Has this always happened, or did it just start one day? I have the very same problem, & it never bothered me until about 4 years ago. Beer is the only thing I’ve found that triggers it – liquor (rum, vodka, etc) does not. I have tried several different brands of beer (AB, Sam Adams, Miller, even small brewery beers that my neighbor buys) & they all do the same thing. Glad to know I’m not the only one out there this is happening to… just wish I could make it stop. I kinda miss the convenience of beer. Any ideas? Thx!

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43 admin November 2, 2008 at 09:42

Wish it would go away

I don’t know of a way to make it go away, except cutting out all beer for an extended period (at least several months) and then trying a little bit to see if you have lost your sensitivity.

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44 Guest February 23, 2009 at 21:28

I can’t figure it out

I have a friend who is allergic to alcohol and only alcohol. She will actually go into anaphlactic shock if she drinks any alcohol at all. It sounds like that is what you are describing. It isn’t because of the yeast that is in it — it’s because of the alcohol itself.

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45 Brian October 1, 2008 at 10:48

Yeast allergy

Yeast cells should be $kill$ed during baking (or pasteurization for beverages), I’m a little surprised it is still possible to have a reaction. Would the reaction be more pronounced if the patient consumed live yeast? Live yeast can be found in unpasteurized beer or wine.

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46 admin October 1, 2008 at 15:53

live vs. cooked yeast

Allergic reactions are generally to proteins, so cooking, while it may $kill$ the yeast, will not necessarily get rid of the protein.

With a yeast infection, the yeast is a pathogen, and $kill$ing it gets rid of the problem.

With an allergy, the problem is a reaction to certain substances. Its the same thing with pollen (which is not itself alive) or dust.

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47 Anonymous September 1, 2008 at 15:27

yeast allergy?

I am thinking my daughter may have a yeast allergy/reaction. we have been logging her food, and the only common denominator seems to be bread/and or baked goods. the reaction she has is swollen and numb lips, ofter about 2 hours after she has eaten it. she is also tired, and i thought this was somewhat normal for a teenager. any thoughts?

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48 admin September 2, 2008 at 19:33

allergy symptoms vary – the log sounds useful

It sounds like you’ve gone about things the right way, logging all her food.

If you think yeast is the culprit, the next step is to eliminate all yeast from her diet and see if she remains symptom-free.

Sugar drives yeast so it is a good idea for her to avoid sugar as well. Sugar tastes nice, but once you get used to reduced sugar, you find that food tastes even better with little or no sugar.

I hope that helps.

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49 Guest February 8, 2010 at 23:46

check for gluten

check for gluten intolerance. Its so important to rule this out and especially while she is young!

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50 Petra July 27, 2011 at 13:56

I realize you posted your comment in 2008- so hopefully you have all the answers by now:)

But just in case…. I did get a bit alarmed, when I read about your daughters reaction – swollen and numb lips – as this can become serious. It could lead an anaphylactic shock, which can be fatal. Unfortunately, more often one is exposed to the allergen, worse it gets.

I don’t want to scare you – just had to learn the hard way myself. I managed my allergies for 11 years until one day I went into an anapylactic shock within 2-3 minutes and woke up 3 days later from a coma in the hospital. I almost didn’t make it.

Turn out that I have a deadly seafood allergy …even so I enjoyed seafood many times before and tolerated it well.

The only think that was different this time was the numbness and swelling of the lips and moments later I couldn’t breathe.

So if you haven’t already, you might want to find out for sure… is it the wheat, gluten, or the yeast…

All the best and hopefully your daughter will outgrow her allergies or just has to deal with minor once.

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51 Suzanne July 9, 2008 at 05:25

Thanks for this article – I was searching for allergies related to eczema when I came across it. I didn’t realise that Candidiasis could be responsible for eczema, so this has opened my eyes to yet another possibility.

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52 Ruth April 21, 2007 at 09:24

Candidiasis is an infection,

Candidiasis is an infection, and is NOT an allergy.

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53 admin April 21, 2007 at 12:17

Thanks for clarifying

Hi Ruth,

Yes, you are right, Candidiasis is an infection. Thanks for clarifying that.

The thing is that you can not only have the infection, but be allergic to your infection too!

I have gone over the article, and I do see why you made your comment. I have adjusted the wording and I hope this clarifies the article and makes it sufficiently accurate.

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54 sc December 16, 2010 at 05:19

thats what is says

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