Microplastics: What They Are, Why They are Dangerous, and How to Protect Yourself
Mark Hyman
May 31, 2024
Mindsip insights from this episode:
Avoid BPA to prevent hormone disruption and weight gain
BPA is structurally similar to estrogen and mimics it in the body, binding to estrogen receptors and altering hormone signaling which can lead to reproductive issues and weight gain.
Reduce plastic exposure by avoiding bottled water
A new study found that a single liter of water from a plastic bottle can contain 240,000 detectable plastic fragments, which is 10 to 100 times more than previous estimates.
Induce sweating to enhance BPA detoxification
Studies found that BPA concentrations were higher in sweat than in urine, suggesting that inducing sweating through methods like sauna use is a useful tool to facilitate its release.
Incorporate soluble fiber to excrete microplastics
Soluble fiber from sources like oats, apples, and flax seeds binds to bile and cholesterol, which helps excrete fat-soluble microplastics through your poop.
Incorporate cruciferous vegetables to enhance detox pathways
Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, kale, and brussels sprouts contain compounds that help upregulate your body's own built-in detoxification pathways.
Utilize probiotics to bind and remove BPA from the gut
Probiotics such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Saccharomyces boulardii can bind to BPA and other toxins in the gut, aiding in their removal.
Reduce microplastics exposure to lower heart attack risk
A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the presence of microplastics in carotid artery plaque increased the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death by 453%.
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