Can Food Allergies Cause Snoring?

elimination diets estrogen food allergies food intolerances food sensitivities phytoestrogens snoring soy soy-free diet soybean oil Apr 15, 2023

In the United States, millions of people experience unpleasant reactions after eating certain foods.¹ Such reactions are called food allergies, intolerances, and sensitivities. They trigger symptoms involving various parts and systems of the body. Thus, they are tested and managed in different ways.² To find out if food-related reactions can lead to snoring in particular, we'll explore the topics below:

Food allergy vs. food sensitivity vs. food intolerance
Signs and symptoms of adverse reactions to food
Elimination diets: an effective solution to food-related reactions
The variety of reactions caused by soy
The relationship between food and snoring

Let's begin by comparing the three types of food-related reactions.

Food allergy vs. food sensitivity vs. food intolerance

Food allergies happen when the body's immune system reacts to proteins in food. Antibodies (blood proteins) called immunoglobulin E (IgE) bring about most of these reactions. Symptoms appear quickly after food intake. Allergies are usually diagnosed through skin-prick or IgE blood tests.²

In contrast, food sensitivities are linked to another type of antibody, namely immunoglobulin G (IgG). An IgG reaction can be a delayed response, which means that symptoms can take anywhere from a few hours to days to show up. Numerous foods can be eaten within that period though, thus making sensitivities more difficult to identify. IgG blood tests are used to diagnose food sensitivities.³

Unlike allergies and sensitivities, food intolerances are not triggered by the immune system. They are reactions not just to proteins, but also to other food components. Various mechanisms are behind food intolerances. They could be pharmacological — for instance, when caffeine in coffee makes one feel nervous. Alternatively, they could be due to a lack of enzymes, as in the case of lactose intolerance. When symptoms start to appear and how serious they are vary as well. For these reasons, it can get complicated to diagnose and manage food intolerances.⁴

The words "allergies," "sensitivities," and "intolerances" often get used interchangeably because most people are not aware of the differences between them. It is widely known though that allergies can be severe and even deadly. This is why they tend to be taken more seriously. For the same reason, "allergy" is sometimes used as an umbrella term for all three types of food-related reactions.

Signs and symptoms of adverse reactions to food

Allergic reactions are most commonly seen in the skin as redness, swelling, and hives. Respiratory tract symptoms — for example, a runny nose and difficulty in breathing — are typical too. As for symptoms related to the digestive system, they include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. The mildest allergic reaction involves tingling and itching of the mouth and pharynx. On the other hand, anaphylaxis is the most severe reaction. Anaphylaxis makes the immune system release a flood of chemicals. It leads to a sudden drop in blood pressure, narrowed airways, and blocked breathing, which may ultimately cause death. When it comes to allergies, even very small amounts of food can trigger severe symptoms.^2,4

Regarding food sensitivities, symptoms vary widely and depend on the area of the body attacked by antibodies. The usual ones include brain fog, headaches, fatigue, joint pain, eczema, skin irritations, stomach aches, acid reflux, bloating, constipation or diarrhea, and unexplained weight gain or loss. In addition, food sensitivities can result in behavioral problems in children.^5,6 They are especially prevalent among kids diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Lastly, food intolerance symptoms generally involve more than one organ or system. Digestive symptoms, however, are typical. Examples are irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), abdominal pain, bloating, excessive stomach gas, and diarrhea. Also, with food intolerances, the greater the amount of food consumed, the more serious the symptoms are.⁴

Elimination diets: an effective solution to food-related reactions

An elimination diet is an effective way to determine foods that trigger adverse reactions. It requires completely avoiding suspected foods, which are chosen based on dietary history and the results of skin-prick and/or blood tests. Such a diet is usually followed for two to six weeks on average. During this period, changes in symptoms need to be monitored so that the culprit foods can be identified correctly.^2,6

Elimination diets are also used to treat food allergies, sensitivities, and intolerances. In fact, no other treatment for these conditions currently exists. This means that once the offending foods have been identified, they have to be eliminated from one’s diet for good. With an elimination diet that is both properly managed and well balanced, food-induced symptoms can be resolved while still providing adequate nutrition.²

The variety of reactions caused by soy

As discussed earlier, "allergy" is sometimes used to refer to all kinds of negative reactions to food. With this in mind, it's possible to be "allergic" to any food item. However, the ones that most commonly cause allergies are milk, eggs, nuts, shellfish, fish, wheat, sesame seeds, and soy.² Among these allergens, soy is of special interest because the body reacts to it in different possible ways.

First, people can be allergic to soy in the traditional sense — that is, to its protein component. Soy can thus bring about symptoms involving the skin, respiratory system, and/or digestive tract.

Second, soy oil has unsaturated fats, mainly linoleic acid. Research has shown that linoleic acid creates stressful conditions that ultimately damage parts of cells. On top of that, linoleic acid is associated with chronic, low-level inflammation and hardened blood vessels. This means that soy oil increases the risk of heart and blood vessel disease.⁷

Third, soy foods and ingredients contain phytoestrogens.⁸ These chemicals, which can be found naturally in plants, are structurally similar to the human sex hormone estrogen. So, phytoestrogens can mimic how estrogen acts on target organs and increase the body’s estrogen levels.⁹ The problem is, excess estrogen is linked to a greater risk of health issues like cancer, blood clots, and smooth muscle disorders.^10,11,12 Too much estrogen plays a role in snoring too.

The relationship between food and snoring

Estrogen receptors exist in the smooth muscle tissue that make up the human airway. Activation of these receptors results in less entry of calcium ions (Ca²⁺) across the membrane of smooth muscle cells. In effect, reduced levels of Ca²⁺ within cells promote the relaxation of airway smooth muscle and a decrease in its tone. Snoring occurs when air passes through the relaxed airway muscle and makes it vibrate.^13,14

Food allergies do not directly raise estrogen levels. However, the allergen soy happens to be the main dietary source of estrogen.⁸ Because of this, soy consumption is connected to snoring.

Conclusion

As one of the top food allergens, soy triggers numerous harmful reactions. What's more, it is the main food item that leads to excessive estrogen and ultimately, snoring. If you want to avoid both soy-allergy symptoms and snoring, try The Snoring Diet Solution. This proven six-week program will keep your diet soy-free and solve your soy-induced health problems, in as little as two weeks!

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