The pollen allergy season has come. The symptoms are runny nose, sneezes, blocked nose, and itchy eyes and throat. Blocked nose can cause mouth breathing, and it causes dry mouth and coughing as well as loosing taste. Other than those symptoms, there are headaches, itch skins, loss of appetite, nosiness, and troubles falling asleep.

ーSelf-prevention of pollen allergyー

・Wear a facial mask properly
To wear a facial mask which suites your facial line properly is effective as well as a wet mask. A wet mask can be self-made by doubling 2 masks inserting a wetted / moisten mask inside.

・How to do laundries and choose clothes
Pollens get attracted to clothes by static electricity. Therefore, it is effective to use a fabric softener which reduces static electricity as well as drying clothes inside. Also wearing a fabric with smooth texture which decreases pollens to stay on the clothe such as cotton and polyester.

・Room coordination
The most effectiveness is to keep a room tidy and clean. Circulation of air is preferred to be done before 10 in the morning when the amount of pollens spreading is lower. Opening a window only about 10cm and using a race fabric curtain can reduce the amount of incoming pollens to 1/4 compared to normal amount. Front door mat, toilet mat, and curtains are easy to get pollens stick on to be washed and cleaned is recommended.
Air cleaner is recommended to be set nearby an entrance or air conditioner to reduce risks of pollen allergy.

・Sunscreen and make ups
Wearing a sunscreen or make ups can prevent your skins from damages of UV and dry skin.
＊Choose a sunscreen and make ups with low stimulations.

『Foods to prevent and reduce risks of pollen allergy』

ーYogurts and kimchi (Lactic acid bacteria involved fermented foods)ー
Lactic acid bacteria can increase the performance of immune functions of our bodies by maintaining intestinal environment. It leads to improving and preventing pollen allergy reactions and symptoms.
*Begin the constant eating habit 3 months before getting pollen allergy reactions is recommended.

ーBlue-skin fishesー
Histamines can be a factor causing an allergy and DHA and EPA can prevent and reduce histamines functions. Blue-skin fishes especially mackerels, sardines, Pasific sauries, and horse mackerels contain a lot of DHA and EPA.

ーLotus roots・burdocks・mushroomsー
They contain a lot of dietary fibers to increase numbers of probiotic bacteria to maintain intestinal environment which improves immunity.
*Lotus roots prevent pollen allergy and improve the occurring allergy reactions.

ーPickled plumsー
Pickled plums are the only food containing vanillin which prevent pollen allergy.
*Pickled plums contain a lot of salinity and taking it to consideration and recommended to have one in a day.

ーChocolatesー
Cocoa polyphenols can prevent and reduce pollen allergy reactions as well as having antioxidant effect such as beautiful skins and decreasing blood pressure.
*Refined sugar has risks of increasing allergy reactions. Therefore, choosing larger number of polyphenols involved chocolate is recommended.

『Non-recommended foods for pollen allergy』

ーFoods containing trans fatty acidsー
Snacks, sweets, sweetened breads, and fast foods contain many trans fatty acids. When a nutrition facts label states including fat spreads, shortenings, margarines, edible vegetable oils, and modified fats can contain many trans fatty acids which may cause allergic reactions.

ーCedar pollen allergic people should consider consuming tomatoesー
Cedar pollen allergic people may feel stimulations in their mouth and throat as well as swollen rips. It is because cedar pollens and proteins contained in tomatoes are alike, causing allergic reactions. Proteins are vulnerable to heat and cooking tomatoes by heat may be able to reduce the risk of causing allergic reactions. However, if you are already suffering from allergic reactions, it may be better to avoid consuming tomatoes.

ーGramineae pollen allergic people should consider watermelons and melonsー
Allergic reactions in a mouth can be caused as well as oranges and tomatoes. If you consume those and gets reactions as well as pollen allergic reactions, see a doctor to define allergies.

ーOther foods to be aware of consumingー
・Japanese alders: apples, kiwifruits, peaches, melons, and watermelons
・Japanese mugworts and ragweed: watermelons, melons, and celeries
・White birches: apples, peaches, and cherries