I posted last week about my blood pressure problem, and in response to the advice I got, I upped my intake of fish oil capsules to 4 a day (I'm working on getting it up to 8 a day). It seems to be helping; someone commented to me yesterday how much more "leveled out" and less stressed I seem. So I'm pleased that my blood pressure is responding; we'll see what my doctor says next week. And I seem to be tolerating the increased dosage without any gastrointestinal problems. HOWEVER (and this is a big however), I seem to have developed a food allergy, and as far as I can tell, it's to soy. Part of the reason I love the Zone so much is that I love tofu! I always have. I'd rather have baked tofu as my protein at meals than chicken or fish. About three weeks ago I noticed that my neck, chest, and arms were itching. It got steadily worse. I thought it was an allergy to the soap I was using so I switched to a hypoallergenic one. It didn't make a difference. Then I noticed that the itching was worse right after I ate, so I thought maybe it was caused by a food, but which one?. I got a big clue the day I washed my face with a cleanser that has soy in it (one I have used for years), and when I looked up at the mirror, my face was bright red and itching. I stopped eating anything with soy in it and the itching went away. However, last night I had some chili with kidney beans in it, and within an hour the itching was back. Does an allergy to soy make me allergic to all other beans? Is there anything I can do to minimize this allergy? Will the fish oil help? I am so discouraged by this . . . I thought I had finally found a food plan I can enjoy, but if I have to give up soy (and tofu and lentils) I don't know what I'll do. I've just traded one problem for another.

[quote:59be87b1d6="jknitter"]I posted last week about my blood pressure problem, and in response to the advice I got, I upped my intake of fish oil capsules to 4 a day (I'm working on getting it up to 8 a day). It seems to be helping; someone commented to me yesterday how much more "leveled out" and less stressed I seem. So I'm pleased that my blood pressure is responding; we'll see what my doctor says next week. [/quote:59be87b1d6] Hi, Glad you're feeling good with supplemental fish oil. Have you taken your blood pressure? Looking less stressed is not an indication of lowered blood pressure. High blood pressure doesn't have visible symptoms. Sue

[quote:237d5d9f45]Glad you're feeling good with supplemental fish oil. Have you taken your blood pressure? Looking less stressed is not an indication of lowered blood pressure. High blood pressure doesn't have visible symptoms. [/quote:237d5d9f45] I'll be seeing my doctor on Monday and will have her check my blood presure then. At the moment I am more concerned about this food allergy I seem to have developed. Has anyone else encountered something like what I described? And does the fish oil help?

I'm no doctor, but I have read that soy lecithins have been known to cause rashes. Also, have read something about egg white lecithins also causing rashes. Could have been more lecithins in that chili from something else, and soy lecithins are also additives to alot of products. Maybe you should cut down on the amount of soy until the rashes go away. Could be you are just getting too much of it in your diet. How does that saying go about too much of a good thing? By all means, ask the doc about it as well.