What’s causing the increase in allergies? - What in the World podcast?

The world is getting more allergic because our bodies are reacting to things they didn’t used to react to, kind of like when you eat a new food and your tummy gets upset.

Imagine your body is like a detective who knows what’s safe. Every day, it meets new people (we call them germs) or tries new foods (allergens). Most of the time, it stays calm. But sometimes, especially if there are too many new things around, it thinks, “Oh no! This is dangerous!”, and that’s when allergies happen.

There are more pollen, like from trees or grasses, because of climate change, it's like the plants are having bigger parties now. Also, we're living in cleaner homes than before, so our bodies aren’t as used to dirt and germs. It’s like never playing with mud, your immune system gets confused.

Another reason is that kids are eating more processed foods early on, which might make their bodies more likely to be allergic later. Think of it like learning a new song, the more you practice, the easier it gets. But if you start too late or practice the wrong notes, your body might get confused and sing off-key.

So, it's not magic, it’s just our bodies trying to keep up with a world that’s changing fast!