Post-Golden Week 'Vague Malaise' Influenced by New Lifestyle Stress at the Start of the New Fiscal Year

Oizumi Pures Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Daikan, Yamato City, Kanagawa Prefecture; Representative Director: Yuto Ogura), which plans, develops, manufactures, and sells health foods, primarily dietary fiber, both domestically and internationally, proposes products that support essential nutrition for the body as part of its efforts to manage daily physical condition.

Decline in Immunity Due to New Lifestyle Stress

April, marking the start of the new fiscal year, is a period when many people experience environmental changes, such as entering or graduating from school, transitioning from student to new working adult, job transfers, and moving. It is said that fatigue and mental stress tend to accumulate unknowingly due to these changes in lifestyle rhythms and living in unfamiliar environments.

It is known that the accumulation of such fatigue and mental stress affects immune function, and it has been reported that it can potentially impact immune function. As a result, a connection has been pointed out between symptoms such as "body sluggishness," "easy fatigability," "decreased motivation," "poor sleep quality," "loss of appetite," and "headaches/abdominal pain" after Golden Week, potentially leading to a condition commonly known as "May Sickness."

Furthermore, stress is known to affect not only the autonomic nervous system and endocrine system but also immune function, and its potential involvement in the decline of immune function in the intestinal tract has been noted. In fact, animal experiments have confirmed that when stress is applied, the secretion of IgA, an indicator of intestinal immunity, decreases, suggesting that stress can affect immune function.

≪References≫

・Osaka Medical Association "Genki Information: May Sickness"

https://www.osaka.med.or.jp/citizen/tv85.html

(Accessed: April 15, 2026)

・J-Milk "Suppressive Effect of Fermented Lactic Acid Bacteria in a Stress-Induced Allergic Enteritis Model"

https://m-alliance.j-milk.jp/ronbun/kenkokagaku/studyreports2010-10.html

(Accessed: April 15, 2026)

The Intestine, Functioning as the "Second Brain"

In recent years, the intestine is sometimes referred to as the "second brain," and attention is gathering on its functions.

It is known that the intestine has a neural network called the "enteric nervous system," which autonomously regulates functions such as digestion and secretion through numerous nerve cells.

Furthermore, the intestine and brain exchange information with each other via nerves, hormones, and immunity, and this relationship is being researched as the "gut-brain axis." Recent studies also suggest that the gut environment may be related to stress response and mood states.

Moreover, the gut environment is also attracting attention as one of the factors involved in the overall condition of the body, and research is progressing on the relationship between the gut environment, immune function, and stress. A diet conscious of the gut environment is also suggested to be helpful in maintaining daily physical condition.

Thus, the gut environment is considered to be closely related to the overall condition of the body, and it is believed that being conscious of the gut environment in daily life may contribute to maintaining a healthy state.

・Mayer, E. A. (2011). Gut feelings: The emerging biology of gut–brain communication. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 12(8), 453–466.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21750565/

・Sudo, N. (2005). Stress and gut microbiota. Journal of Intestinal Microbiology, 19(1), 25–29.

https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jim/19/1/19_1_25/_article/-char/ja/

・Yoshii, K. et al. (2022). Regulation of immune function via metabolites of intestinal bacteria. Journal of Intestinal Microbiology, 36(1), 1–11. https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jim/36/1/36_1/_pdf

Recommended Products for Health from MyLOHAS

Super Barley BarleyMax®

▪ Super Barley BarleyMax®

It contains three types of soluble and insoluble dietary fibers—fructan, β-glucan, and resistant starch—wrapped in a double and triple complex structure, allowing them to be gradually broken down and reach deep into the intestines.

It contains eight times the dietary fiber of brown rice and twice that of mochi barley, and also includes protein, providing a balanced nutritional profile.

By simply mixing it with rice and cooking, you can enjoy delicious, chewy rice and consume dietary fiber.

▪ Dietary Fiber Supplement

Water-soluble dietary fiber "I