The Integra Blog

Client Questions: Why Does My Skin Itch and I Get Weird Rashes After Pea Protein?

Martina says: “Pea protein is a great solution for people who want to stay away from animal sources of protein. If you are experiencing rashes etc, you may have an intolerance to pea protein. Below are several ways to check for this.

Eliminate pea protein from your diet completely for at least 3 weeks and see if symptoms clear up.

Have a serving of pea protein on a completely empty stomach, ideally first thing in the morning, without eating/drinking anything else. If you experience symptoms such as shakiness, unusually accelerated heartbeat, itchiness or nausea within an hour of ingesting the protein you may have an intolerance or allergy to it. Try to stay relaxed as you do this test, perhaps listen to the radio or read a book. This may sound a little strange, but the mind is a powerful thing, and if you expect to feel ill you probably will, whether you really are sensitive to pea protein or not.

When mixing your shake, wear latex gloves and cover nose and mouth. Keep these areas covered until the shake is fully mixed and there is no loose powder anywhere. The itchiness/rash might be a result of skin contact or inhalation of the powder.

Note that peas belong to the same family as peanuts, so people with a peanut allergy may want to approach pea protein with caution. Consider also that the above methods are not sufficient basis for a medical diagnosis, so it is always wise to have the problem checked out by a medical professional.