#095 What Microplastics Are Doing to Your Brain, Body, and Reproductive Systems
Rhonda Patrick
Sep 19, 2024
Episode description
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Every week, the average person ingests the equivalent weight of a credit card in plastic.* While certain preventive measures can significantly reduce your intake of these harmful substances, it’s crucial to acknowledge a more daunting concern: the bioaccumulation of microplastics in the brain, potentially at ten times the rate of other organs. Microplastics and their associated chemicals are alarmingly ubiquitous — they permeate breast milk, sperm, the hippocampus, the prefrontal cortex, the air we breathe, medications, the water supply, and our bloodstream, accumulating in most major organ systems. During this episode, we’ll explore the unsettling realities of microplastics and their associated chemicals, diving into how they infiltrate nearly every facet of our environment and body, and discuss actionable strategies to reduce exposure.
Timestamps:
(00:00) The extent of the problem
(02:12) Top sources of exposure
(04:00) Contamination of our water
(05:04) BPA, phthalates, & PFAS (forever chemicals)
(07:06) How heating plastic affects BPA exposure
(09:21) Our unfortunate habit of eating credit cards
(11:33) Microplastics in major organs
(14:05) Crossing the blood-brain barrier
(15:01) How microplastics affect a developing fetus
(15:55) The bloodstream is a highway for microplastics
(18:12) Endocrine and hormonal effects
(23:09) Consequences in pregnant women
(25:35) How phthalates affect reproductive health
(26:36) BPA's involvement in autism spectrum disorder
(29:58) Side effects of prenatal BPA exposure
(32:18) The brain may be a super-accumulator of plastic
(34:50) Human brain microplastic levels are rising
(36:06) Lost fertility in women
(38:07) Changes in sperm quality
(39:23) Microplastics in sperm
(40:59) Why the heart suffers
(42:51) Microplastics in arterial plaque
(43:56) How BPA affects blood p
Mindsip insights from this episode:
Filter water using reverse osmosis to eliminate microplastics
A reverse osmosis water filter is one of the most effective tools for removing up to 99.9% of microplastics and nanoplastics from water.
Avoid microwaving plastic to prevent toxic microplastics in food
Microwaving food in plastic containers can release over 4 million microplastic particles into a meal in just three minutes.
Identify microplastics in semen to address sperm motility issues
In one study of 40 healthy young men, every single semen sample contained microplastics, with PVC being linked to impaired sperm motility.
Reduce heart attack risk by eliminating microplastics from arteries
A New England Journal of Medicine study found patients with microplastics in their arterial walls were 4.5 times more likely to experience a heart attack or stroke.
Check sparkling water for harmful PFAS levels
Third-party testing found Topo Chico sparkling water had significantly higher levels of PFAS 'forever chemicals' at 9.76 parts per trillion compared to other brands.
Question BPA-free claims and avoid hormonal disruptors
Many 'BPA-free' products replace BPA with chemicals like BPS, which can disrupt hormonal activity in much the same way.
Choose rock salt to reduce microplastic exposure
Rock salts, like Pink Himalayan salt, contain significantly less microplastic contamination than sea salt, which has the highest levels.
Avoid hand sanitizer before handling thermal paper to reduce BPA absorption
Using hand sanitizer before handling thermal paper receipts can dramatically increase the skin's absorption of BPA.
Activate NRF2 pathway with sulforaphane to detoxify plastic chemicals
Sulforaphane, found in broccoli sprouts, activates the NRF2 pathway which helps the body clear out chemicals like BPA and phthalates.
Choose tap water to reduce plastic consumption
People who drink bottled water exclusively could consume up to 90,000 more plastic particles per year compared to those who only drink tap water.
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