Happy Monday 👋 

Every week, I go deep into the roots of health in search of the best ingredients to prepare a delicious and nutritious menu for you!

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On today’s menu I’ve got: Microplastics

Enjoy!

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Starter 🥗 

Invisible Poison

Take a look around - it's everywhere!

In your water, your food, even the air you breathe - tiny particles that are sneaking into your body without you even noticing it. 👀

Microplastics are so small they’re near invisible to the eye, yet they’ve managed to invade every corner of the planet - from the deepest parts of the ocean 🌏️ to the bloodstream of humans.🩸 

We generate around 400 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, of which only 9% is recycled.

At this point, we can say that we’re practically turning into walking plastic bottles…

How did this happen, and what does it mean for our health and the planet?

Let’s break it down! 🔍️ 

Main 🥙 

The Dangers of Microplastics

Plastic was once viewed as a miracle material. 🪄 

Its durability, affordability, and light weight transformed industries when mass production took off in the mid-20th century.

From packaging and clothing to medical equipment and electronic devices, plastic has become an inevitable part of our daily lives.

But as its use skyrocketed, so did its unforeseen consequences - plastic waste.

It is estimated that 40% of the world's ocean surface (containing approximately 170 trillion plastic particles) is covered in plastic debris.

Microplastics, which are the result of the breakdown of plastics, range in diameter from 5 millimeters (about the thickness of pencil lead) to 1 nanometer.

Since these particles are so small, they enter the body mainly through ingestion or inhalation.

So, are they harmful?

Plastics are created from a complicated combination of thousands of chemicals, including additives that give them strength and flexibility, making it difficult to determine if they are harmful or not.

So far, microplastics found in the human body have been shown to

• increase the risk of lung and colon cancer 🫁 

• raise the chance of a stroke or heart attack ❤️ 

• impact digestive, reproductive, and respiratory health

• cause oxidative stress, DNA damage, organ dysfunction, metabolic disorders, and neurotoxicity 🧠 

• boost inflammation, fetal growth issues, and inflammatory bowel disease

👨‍🍳 Tip: The truth is that you cannot escape microplastics. However, there are a few things you can do to reduce your microplastics intake.

Dessert 🍰 

How to Avoid Microplastics

You might not consume microplastics on purpose; nonetheless, they’re sneaking into your life in many surprising ways. 🎁 

The first step to avoiding them?

Knowing exactly where they’re hiding! 👀 

Here are some common items surprisingly high in microplastics:

• 🥘 Nonstick pans

• 🥤 Paper cups

• 👕 Synthetic textiles

• 🥫 Canned foods (e.g. tomato sauce, veggies, soups)

• 🧴 Personal care products

• 🧂 Sea salt

• 🐟️ Seafood

• 🍵 Teabags

• 🍬 Chewing gum

• 🍺 Beer

Bonus tip: HEPA filters can be used to remove micro- and nanoplastics from the air, while reverse osmosis water filters can be used to remove them from water.

Using plastic-free reusable bottles, containers, and bags, as well as ditching plastic packaging, is the first step towards avoiding microplastics. 👍️