Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAre Peanuts Nuts?Potential Legume AllergiesLupin May Cause a ReactionSoy AllergiesSoy Formula and Peanut Allergies
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Are Peanuts Nuts?
Potential Legume Allergies
Lupin May Cause a Reaction
Soy Allergies
Soy Formula and Peanut Allergies
If you’re allergic to peanuts, which are a legume, you probably don’t need to avoid most otherlegumessuch as soybeans, peas, and beans.
However, your allergist may advise you differently depending on your individual test results and family medical history. In addition, there’s one legume—lupin—that you most likely should avoid, since there’s a higher likelihood of a reaction to lupin in people who are allergic to peanuts.
Walnuts, pecans, cashews, hazelnuts, and almonds all grow on trees and are classified astree nuts. Many people believe that peanuts are also a nut—after all, they have the word “nut” in their name. However, that’s not correct.
Peanuts are in fact a member of a plant family calledlegumes.In general, legume pods can contain edible seeds. Other members of the legume family include peas, beans, and soybeans.
Though peanuts and tree nuts have many botanical differences, they are often grouped together because of their similar nutrition profiles and dietary uses. While some people can be allergic to both peanuts and tree nuts due to shared proteins,the majority of people who have a peanut allergy do not need to avoid tree nuts.
Whilepeanut allergyandtree nut allergyare two different allergies, some people are allergic to both. This is due to a phenomenon known ascross-reactivity.
Even though peanuts are more closely related botanically to legumes than they are to tree nuts, people who have peanut allergies are at a higher than normal risk of tree nut allergy.An allergist can help determine whether you need to avoid any tree nuts and if so, which specific tree nuts you should avoid.
What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Macadamia Nuts Regularly
There is some cross-reactivity between peanuts and other legumes, although the majority of people who have a peanut allergy can eat most other legumes.
If you have a peanut allergy, your allergist may have you take a skin prick test to see how your body reacts when exposed to allergen proteins that are found in other legumes. Often, the test will yield a positive result for legumes that you have never had any trouble eating before.
In one study, 35% of people who had a peanut allergy tested positive for allergies to other legumes. However, just 5% of people had allergic symptoms upon exposure to those legumes.As a next step, your allergist may conduct an oral food challenge to narrow down which legumes, if any, you should avoid eating.
Peanut Allergies, Soybeans, and Legumes
One type of legume, lupin, may pose higher risks than other legumes for those who have peanut allergy. Lupin (also known as lupine) is a legume that’s common in Europe, where it’s used as flour in baked goods.
Lupin is becoming more common in the U.S., where lupin flour is used occasionally in gluten-free pasta and baked goods.
Other products that may contain lupin are:
Studies have shown that up to half of people with peanut allergies can be sensitized to lupin (have a positive allergy test to lupin), but not all of these people will react to it.Therefore, you should talk to your healthcare provider before trying lupin and watch for it on food labels. You may also see it labeled as lupin flour, lupinus, lupine, lupini, or lupine beans.
When to Call a Healthcare ProviderSymptoms ofanaphylaxiscan begin within seconds to minutes of eating a food. Breathing difficulties, trouble swallowing or speaking, swelling of the tongue, a tight chest, and dizziness are all symptoms of anaphylaxis and should be treated as a medical emergency.
When to Call a Healthcare Provider
Symptoms ofanaphylaxiscan begin within seconds to minutes of eating a food. Breathing difficulties, trouble swallowing or speaking, swelling of the tongue, a tight chest, and dizziness are all symptoms of anaphylaxis and should be treated as a medical emergency.
The allergen triggers in soy and peanuts are not related, and having an allergy to soy does not increase your risk of having a peanut allergy or a tree nut allergy.
It’s common for people who have a peanut allergy to test positive for soy allergy as well, but this does indicate that they will necessarily have allergic symptoms when exposed to soy.
In 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) released dietary recommendations for infants and children under the age of 2. According to the guidelines, there is no evidence to suggest that the introduction of potentially allergenic foods should be delayed. For infants with severe eczema, egg allergy, or both, feeding age-appropriate peanut-containing products as early as 4-6 months of life can reduce the risk of developing peanut allergy.
A Word From Verywell
While most infants and children with peanut allergy can tolerate soy, some may also be allergic to soy or other legumes. If it is not clear which foods need to be avoided, an allergist can offer guidance based on clinical history and test results.
In general, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies at high risk for developing food allergies be exclusively breast-fed for at least four months. Breastfeeding beyond three to four months protects from wheezing for up to two years and any longer duration of breastfeeding protects against asthma even beyond age five years.If that’s not possible, pediatricians recommend using partially or extensively hydrolyzed formula.
The Difference Between Blood Tests and Skin Tests for Allergies
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Geiselhart S, Hoffmann-Sommergruber K, Bublin M.Tree nut allergens.Molecular Immunology. 2018 Aug;100:71-81. doi:10.1016/j.molimm.2018.03.011Chan ES, Greenhawt MJ, Fleischer DM, Caubet J-C.Managing cross-reactivity in those with peanut allergy.The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. 2019 Feb;7(2):381-386. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2018.11.012Klemans RJB, Knol EF, Michelsen-Huisman A, et al.Components in soy allergy diagnostics: Gly m 2S albumin has the best diagnostic value in adults.Allergy. 2013 Nov;68(11):1396-1402. doi:10.1111/all.12259Bublin M, Breiteneder H.Cross-reactivity of peanut allergens.Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2014 Feb;14(4):426. doi:10.1007/s11882-014-0426-8Bähr M, Fechner A, Kaatz M, Jahreis G.Skin prick test reactivity to lupin in comparison to peanut, pea, and soybean in atopic and non‐atopic German subjects: A preliminary cross‐sectional study.Immunity, Inflammation and Disease. 2014 Jun;2(2):114-120. doi:10.1002/iid3.24Kattan JD, Cocco RR, Järvinen KM.Milk and soy allergy.Pediatric Clinics of North America. 2011 Apr;58(2):407-426. doi:10.1016/j.pcl.2011.02.005American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Soy allergy.United States Department of Agriculture and Health and Human Services.Dietary guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025.American Academy of Pediatrics.Dietary interventions to prevent atopic disease: Updated recommendations.Additional ReadingFleischer DM, Spergel JM, Assaad AH, Pongracic JA.Primary prevention of allergic disease through nutritional interventions.The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology in Practice. 2013 Jan;1(1):29-36. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2012.09.003
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Geiselhart S, Hoffmann-Sommergruber K, Bublin M.Tree nut allergens.Molecular Immunology. 2018 Aug;100:71-81. doi:10.1016/j.molimm.2018.03.011Chan ES, Greenhawt MJ, Fleischer DM, Caubet J-C.Managing cross-reactivity in those with peanut allergy.The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. 2019 Feb;7(2):381-386. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2018.11.012Klemans RJB, Knol EF, Michelsen-Huisman A, et al.Components in soy allergy diagnostics: Gly m 2S albumin has the best diagnostic value in adults.Allergy. 2013 Nov;68(11):1396-1402. doi:10.1111/all.12259Bublin M, Breiteneder H.Cross-reactivity of peanut allergens.Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2014 Feb;14(4):426. doi:10.1007/s11882-014-0426-8Bähr M, Fechner A, Kaatz M, Jahreis G.Skin prick test reactivity to lupin in comparison to peanut, pea, and soybean in atopic and non‐atopic German subjects: A preliminary cross‐sectional study.Immunity, Inflammation and Disease. 2014 Jun;2(2):114-120. doi:10.1002/iid3.24Kattan JD, Cocco RR, Järvinen KM.Milk and soy allergy.Pediatric Clinics of North America. 2011 Apr;58(2):407-426. doi:10.1016/j.pcl.2011.02.005American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Soy allergy.United States Department of Agriculture and Health and Human Services.Dietary guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025.American Academy of Pediatrics.Dietary interventions to prevent atopic disease: Updated recommendations.Additional ReadingFleischer DM, Spergel JM, Assaad AH, Pongracic JA.Primary prevention of allergic disease through nutritional interventions.The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology in Practice. 2013 Jan;1(1):29-36. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2012.09.003
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Geiselhart S, Hoffmann-Sommergruber K, Bublin M.Tree nut allergens.Molecular Immunology. 2018 Aug;100:71-81. doi:10.1016/j.molimm.2018.03.011Chan ES, Greenhawt MJ, Fleischer DM, Caubet J-C.Managing cross-reactivity in those with peanut allergy.The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. 2019 Feb;7(2):381-386. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2018.11.012Klemans RJB, Knol EF, Michelsen-Huisman A, et al.Components in soy allergy diagnostics: Gly m 2S albumin has the best diagnostic value in adults.Allergy. 2013 Nov;68(11):1396-1402. doi:10.1111/all.12259Bublin M, Breiteneder H.Cross-reactivity of peanut allergens.Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2014 Feb;14(4):426. doi:10.1007/s11882-014-0426-8Bähr M, Fechner A, Kaatz M, Jahreis G.Skin prick test reactivity to lupin in comparison to peanut, pea, and soybean in atopic and non‐atopic German subjects: A preliminary cross‐sectional study.Immunity, Inflammation and Disease. 2014 Jun;2(2):114-120. doi:10.1002/iid3.24Kattan JD, Cocco RR, Järvinen KM.Milk and soy allergy.Pediatric Clinics of North America. 2011 Apr;58(2):407-426. doi:10.1016/j.pcl.2011.02.005American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Soy allergy.United States Department of Agriculture and Health and Human Services.Dietary guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025.American Academy of Pediatrics.Dietary interventions to prevent atopic disease: Updated recommendations.
Geiselhart S, Hoffmann-Sommergruber K, Bublin M.Tree nut allergens.Molecular Immunology. 2018 Aug;100:71-81. doi:10.1016/j.molimm.2018.03.011
Chan ES, Greenhawt MJ, Fleischer DM, Caubet J-C.Managing cross-reactivity in those with peanut allergy.The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. 2019 Feb;7(2):381-386. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2018.11.012
Klemans RJB, Knol EF, Michelsen-Huisman A, et al.Components in soy allergy diagnostics: Gly m 2S albumin has the best diagnostic value in adults.Allergy. 2013 Nov;68(11):1396-1402. doi:10.1111/all.12259
Bublin M, Breiteneder H.Cross-reactivity of peanut allergens.Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2014 Feb;14(4):426. doi:10.1007/s11882-014-0426-8
Bähr M, Fechner A, Kaatz M, Jahreis G.Skin prick test reactivity to lupin in comparison to peanut, pea, and soybean in atopic and non‐atopic German subjects: A preliminary cross‐sectional study.Immunity, Inflammation and Disease. 2014 Jun;2(2):114-120. doi:10.1002/iid3.24
Kattan JD, Cocco RR, Järvinen KM.Milk and soy allergy.Pediatric Clinics of North America. 2011 Apr;58(2):407-426. doi:10.1016/j.pcl.2011.02.005
American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Soy allergy.
United States Department of Agriculture and Health and Human Services.Dietary guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025.
American Academy of Pediatrics.Dietary interventions to prevent atopic disease: Updated recommendations.
Fleischer DM, Spergel JM, Assaad AH, Pongracic JA.Primary prevention of allergic disease through nutritional interventions.The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology in Practice. 2013 Jan;1(1):29-36. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2012.09.003
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