The long winter is about to pass, and the sunlight heralding the arrival of spring naturally lightens our steps. At the same time, it's getting harder and harder to go outside... The reason is yes, because there is an invisible enemy called "pollen".

1 in 2 people have hay fever.

According to a report released by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in 2017, it is estimated that 48.8% of Tokyo residents suffer from hay fever. In other words, about 1 in 2 people in Tokyo suffers from hay fever. The number is increasing year by year, and the age of onset is also progressing. The increase seems to be related to various factors, such as the prevalence of chemical substances in the surrounding environment and the widespread use of processed foods in the diet, but first, let's review the mechanism of hay fever. prize. Hay fever is an allergic reaction to various substances contained in various types of pollen, and is one of the immune reactions that protect the body. The immune system of our human body is an honor student, and when a foreign substance invades our noses and eyes, it attacks us in an attempt to render it harmless, and shows some kind of reaction. However, due to the seriousness of the immune system, it overreacts to pollen of invisible plants, resulting in allergic symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes. Among them, cedar and cypress are famous, but in Japan alone, about 20 kinds of plants are said to cause hay fever.

Surfers don't know hay fever!?

Allergic reactions occur at entrances from the outside world, such as the skin, mouth, nose, and eyes, so the key is the immune system that strengthens the skin and mucous membranes. What I want to pick up there is the story that surfers have less hay fever. This is no urban legend. Various research reports have shown that vitamin D, which is produced in the body by exposure to ultraviolet rays, enhances immunity and alleviates the symptoms of hay fever. For this reason, it is said that surfers who are friends with the sun do not have hay fever.

The first step in improving your health is identifying the cause.

Everyone's health is different. There is no single answer to health for you, and it changes in a spectrum depending on your age and environment. Sometimes it's important to question your current body from scratch. What you thought was hay fever may actually be caused by another allergy or poor physical condition. Your health journey begins by knowing your current physical condition. (Reference) ・Akira Murata “New Vitamin C and Health: 21st Century Healthcare” (2012) ・ YANAGISAWA Atsuo “Easy Cancer Treatment: High-Concentration Vitamin C Drip Therapy” (2017) ・Report on Survey of Hay Fever Patients (Tokyo Tokyo official website)