Soya Lecithin

[mushroom]

Okay, I know this isn't gluten, but since I have had to go soy-free also, every time I see the word soy in any shape or form I run a country mile. Of course, this has included soya lecithin, but I have been getting inklings in some posts that this can perhaps be differentiated from actual soy products. Is this so or is it just as deadly for those of us who are sensitive?

This is a very important issue to me (a chocaholic) since it makes the difference between eating chocolate and not eating any chocolate except Lindt 70% dark, which is okay but very limiting. Like no choc. chip cookies, etc.

What's the story?

[AndreaB]

Probably the only thing you can do is try some chocolate with lecithin in it. My family was intolerant to soy but do fine with lecithin now. We were totally soy free for over a year though. We will eat stuff with soyoil (like mayo) when we eat at other people's houses since we don't want to put them through any more of a headache than gluten free. We are violently intolerant though and the long break may have allowed us some minor indulgences.

[Juliebove]

If you have a soy allergy, you might be able to eat soy lecithin or soybean oil. Or you might not. Or you could simply buy soy free chocolates. Here are two places where you can get them.

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

You do have to make sure that the product you buy is also gluten-free because they do sell some gluten containing items.

[mushroom]

Thank you both for your responses. I think I am too "fresh" to attempt the soy lecithin yet--maybe a little further down the road since I am not ready for the itching yet. Julie, the soyfreesales site does offer some soy- and gluten-free choc. chips. I will order some when in U.S. and then I can make cookies!

[toneb66]

Hi, 

I am new here and was searching the forums for anything to do with soy lecithin.

I'm gluten intolerant and have been gluten free now for 2 years. Throughout that time I have felt quite ill on quite a few occasions - aches in my neck/shoulders, arms and legs and just a general feeling of lethargy - the kind of feeling that you get when you have the flu. I'd always put this down to the fact that I'd maybe been glutened but I could never work out what was causing it. 

Last week I was reading that this may be being caused by soy lecithins, which are found in many products. I decided to try eliminating any foods containing them - I was surprised how many things do! 

All week I have felt fine.....until this afternoon. I ate a bowl of Whole Earth Cornflakes not realising that they contain soy lecithins and I feel awful once more. I am now in no doubt that this is the cause of the aches and pains. I'm just wondering if anyone has experienced similar?

 

[toneb66]

An update on this. Yesterday I popped a square of chocolate into my mouth and before I had even swallowed it I realised that it contained soy lecithin. I didn't actually swallow any but last night I felt horrible again....aches in my arms, legs and neck. I am convinced it's the lecithin - I do seem ok when I eat soy though although I try to avoid that if I can.