Does your nutrition app work against you?

Although plastic is something that they would not eat voluntarily, the truth is that microplastics (plastic particles less than five millimeters) and nanoplasty (which are so small or smaller than a dust stain) are widespread in our food supply. But while you feel inevitable, are certain foods and diets more risky than others? You can do the following to reduce your admission of microplastics, according to experts.

Which foods contain most microplastics?

There is a good chance that you know that plastic water bottles and other types of plastic packaging and kitchen articles are among the greatest culprits for microplastic exposure. (Also on the list is the air we breathe, the clothes we wear, and the personal care products that we use, to name just a few.) But what you may not know is that a growing group of research work that uncover a variety of food and drinks – of which you probably consume every day – contains more plastic.

At the beginning there are plenty of microplastics in seafood, which is not too surprising in view of the immense amount of plastic pollution in the world’s oceans. A study published in February 2024 showed in a broader sense that protein, in the large and entire navy, terrestrial (or land-related) and herbal sources, as well as those with different processing levels-a significant source of microplastic food exposure for adults in the USA. The authors find that adults can expect an average of 11,000 microplastic particles to take out protein sources annually, whereby this maximum exposure by this macronutrient macronutrient to up to 3.8 million microplastics per year.

A study published in November 2024 showed that tea bags made of the synthetic materials nylon and polypropylene have released more microplastics and nanoplasty than that made of cellulose based on paper. Plastics are also used in the adhesive that comes together and their connected strings, says Aidan Charron, deputy director at Global Earth Day.

However, this list is anything but comprehensive. Charron adds that the microplastics in the soil can get into fruit and root vegetables. So far, they have also been recognized in salt, sugar, honey, milk and beer.

What are the potential dangers of microplastic exposure?

Andrea de Vizcaya-Ruiz, PhD, professor of environmental and professional health at UC Irvine Joe C. Wen School of Population and Public Health, states that tiny pieces of foreign materials are accumulated in human tissues and organs that have the ability to distinguish themselves with physiological and cellular processes and oxidative and inflammatory (Ie, ie, ie, ie. “Evidence shows that microplastics may have the brain, the reproductive system, fetal development and more,” says Trevor Craig, expert in food safety and company director for technical training and advice at Microbac Laboratories. ” tied together.”

According to Sophia Ruan Gushee – an non -toxic lifestyle expert and author of author of A to Z of D-toxing-If microplastics are broken down into smaller nanoplasty, you can penetrate into biological membranes, including the blood brain barrier, the placenta and the intestine.

Speaking of placenta, microplastics can also represent risks for hopeful or expectant parents and their descendants, says Charron. A study published in May 2024 showed that all 62 examined placentas contained microplastics. “The chemical body pollution of a mother is passed on to her children through pregnancy and nursing, and chemicals can influence epigenetics,” warns Gushee. Men are also not spared because microplastics were also found in seed samples.

How alarming are microplastics in your food?

While none of these potential results seem to calculate good news for your health and well -being, there are some less discouraging reservations. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the presence of microplastics in the human body guarantees no damage, at least based on the previous results. Craig also realizes that it is difficult to have absolute evidence, since most studies are carried out on animals (often mice) and the results do not necessarily lead to humans.

“Context is also important in many of these studies in the discussion of toxicity and carcinogenic, as we forget to involve the dosage in the conversation,” explains Craig. “The chemical and dosage are important when we talk about effects, how [many] Things probably show some toxic or effects in high volumes. “

Charron, on the other hand, is restless in terms of microplastics in our food supply. “We have been going to assume for years that plastic is inert and does not shed, but now we know that this is the case and that we were all part of an ignorant health experiment on an epic standard,” he warns. Simply put, he says that people are not designed to absorb plastics, so they will probably take their tribute in any form.

Vizcaya-Ruiz is “somewhat alerted” in everyday foods, since the particles can accumulate in the body and, among other things, lead to inflammation and endocrine disorders. “So far, her toxicity level has been determined as low or moderate,” she explains, “but the great exposure, the lack of regulation and unknown long -term consequences are reasons for concern.”

How can you avoid or limit microplastics in your meal?

As far as your food traffic is concerned, there is no perfect science to avoid food and drinks that contain microplastics. (In addition, I will not stand up to avoid protein at all costs that underline the countless health benefits of green tea or tell them that they should start to fear fruits and vegetables.) “Even as GMO-free, grass-fed or sustainable objects that are marked as a GMO-free, grass-fed or sustainable, plastics can still be exposed to. that you can pass on ”, shares Shares.

All in all, it is best to make a precaution (compared to fearsome) approach and to do what is in its appropriate ability to limit the microplastic exposure within and outside of the kitchen. “It is important to recognize that you cannot remove all microplastics from your world and cannot change the past,” says Craig, “but we can concentrate on more intelligent, more sustainable opportunities to use and reduce them in our daily life.”

This includes, among other things, to minimize your consumption of food and drinks that are sold in plastic, instead keep your own in glass containers and, if possible, avoid plastic kitchen dishes. “If you only prioritize this, you can significantly reduce your exposure by selecting healthier options,” says Gushee.