たろうくん「T先生！この前ニュースで、乳酸菌を取ると花粉症が良くなるって言ってたんだけど、本当なの？」
T先生「おや、たろうくん。そうなんだね。実は、最近の研究で乳酸菌が花粉症の症状を和らげる可能性があることがわかってきているんだよ」
たろうくん「へぇ！でも、どうして腸の中の乳酸菌が、鼻とか目の花粉症に効くの？」
T先生「いい質問だね。実は、私たちの腸には免疫細胞の約7割が集まっていて、体の中で一番大きな免疫の司令部なんだ。乳酸菌はその司令部で働いて、花粉に対する過剰な反応を抑えてくれるんだよ」
たろうくん「へぇ～！じゃあ、どんな乳酸菌を食べればいいの？」
T先生「特に効果が期待できる乳酸菌には、『ラクトバチルス・ラムノーサス』や『ラクトバチルス・カゼイ』というものがあるんだ。難しい名前だけど、これらはヨーグルトやサプリメントに入っているよ」
たろうくん「ヨーグルト？お母さんが買ってくるやつだ！他にも乳酸菌が入ってる食べ物ってあるの？」
T先生「そうそう、キムチや納豆なんかの発酵食品にもたくさんの乳酸菌が含まれているんだよ。でも、一番手軽なのはやっぱりヨーグルトかな」
たろうくん「じゃあ、毎日ヨーグルト食べれば花粉症が治るってこと？」
T先生「残念ながら、そう単純じゃないんだ。人によって効果は違うし、すぐには効果が出ないかもしれない。でも、研究では乳酸菌を継続的に摂取することで、花粉症の症状が和らぐ人が多いことがわかっているんだ。それに、乳酸菌には腸内環境を整えたり、免疫力を高めたりする良い効果もあるからね」
たろうくん「なるほど！じゃあ、明日から僕もヨーグルト食べてみる！」
T先生「その意気だね！でも、急に食べすぎないように気をつけてね。最初は小さじ1杯くらいから始めて、少しずつ量を増やしていくのがいいよ。それと、花粉症の薬を飲んでいる人は、急に薬を止めちゃダメだからね」
たろうくん「わかった！ありがとう、T先生！」
T先生「花粉症で困っている人はたくさんいるから、たろうくんが乳酸菌の効果を実感できたら、お友達にも教えてあげてね」
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