In this episode of The Listen to Your Gut -Podcast I spoke with probiotic pioneer Natasha Trenev about a deep relevant subject: microplastic particles in the human body and their effect on our health.
We have spoken about many issues over the years, but this one has shocked us! The presence of microplastics in food, water and the human bloodstream is not just a trend or head. It is a crisis that influences the digestive system, the immune system and every part of the body.
You can watch the video of our discussion:
Or listen to the podcast:
/
Chapters (main topics)
- Microplastics in the blood, brain, placenta and breast milk
- How microplastics enter the human body through food and water
- Sea salt versus mined salt: Choosing the safer option
- Dangers of bottle water and plastic packaging
- Why food in plastic in the microwave is harmful
- The relationship between microplastics and damage to the intestinal microbiome
- How precision -Probiotics can help protect the digestive system
- The growing impact of environmental oxins on chronic disease
- Easy lifestyle changes to reduce microplastic exposure
- The importance of packaging, filtration and conscious consumption
Microplastics found in organs, blood and brain
Recent studies have found microplastic particles in almost every part of the human body. These include the brain, liver, kidneys and even the placenta and breast milk.
One study tested 23 men and 47 dogs. Every testicle surveyed had within the microplastic particles. That level of contamination shocked me.
Another recent study reported that 4 out of 45 people had toxic levels of microplastics in their blood.
Researchers from Harvard Discovered that if microplastics are in your blood, your risk of heart attack or stroke increases by 450%. These small particles can even cross the blood-brain barrier.
Natasha added that this is a serious concern. The biological systems of the body constantly work, every second. Everything that the body can digest, use or eliminate will irritate or disrupt those processes.
Microplastics are strange to the human body. They are not meant to be there.
Where do these microplastics come from?
Natasha reminded me that this problem is not new. She spoke out more than 50 years ago against the use of plastic in health food stores. Nobody listened then. Now, the Plastic waste floats in the Pacific Ocean Would be the size of the state of Texas.
That plastic waste breaks down in microplastic particles. These particles are then found in bottle water, plastic packaging and even our food supply.
Microplastics also enter the food chain through life in the sea. Fish such as catfish and shellfish are filter feeds. They consume what is on the bottom of the ocean, where microplastics settle.
When we eat those animals, we also take those plastic particles. This influences our digestive system and our immune system in ways we are just starting to understand.
Even salt is influenced. Ocean salt, such as sea salt or Celtic sea salt, comes from evaporated seawater. That water can contain nanoseized plastic particles. So those particles remain in the salt crystals.
That is why I now only use salt that comes from underground, old deposits that are not exposed to microplastic pollution.
Plastic packaging and bottled water: hidden dangers
We also talked about bottled water. Natasha and I both avoid drinking from plastic bottles. Even if water is cold, the chemicals can be loved from plastic in the water. And our bodies absorb liquids faster than solids, which increases the risk. I buy water that is supplied in glass bottles, both for at home and on the road. Natasha does the same.
Plastic packaging is another important source of exposure. Natasha made the decision years ago to pack her wet probiotics in dark amber bottles with pewter lids. She refuses to use plastic containers or plastic lids.
She explained that tin lids offer the best protection for probiotics and prevent any interaction with the product. This level of dedication is rare.
Most companies opt for plastic packaging because it is cheaper and lighter. But that choice costs a health costs. And many people do not realize that the impact of plastic packaging on the content is inside.
We must be more aware of what we buy and how it is packaged.
The microwave problem: heat and plastic
Food in the microwave in plastic containers is a dangerous practice. Natasha and I discussed how warmth ensures that the plastic releases toxic chemicals. Microwaves heat food from the inside. This heating method is not natural and has never been tested for long periods.
In 1968, when microwaves were first installed at UCLA, many students refused to use them. They didn’t trust them. And now we know why. Heating plastic containers in the microwave ensures that chemical bindings break.
Those poisonous chemicals such as bisphenol A and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
I encourage people to use a toaster oven instead. Get one that is stainless steel or ceramic coated. Use nothing with anti -stick coatings such as Teflon.
And always use glass or ceramic containers for heating food. That small switch can considerably reduce your microplastic exposure.
Related: Alternatives to Teflon Frity Pans
Microbiome and probiotic protection
Our intestinal microbiome is attacked. Microplastic particles can damage the gastrointestinal tract. They interfer the communication between neurotransmitters and can even block or irritate cell walls.
Natasha emphasized that we now live in an environment where probiotics are not optional. They are needed.
Probiotics Help maintain the balance in the digestive system. But not all probiotics are the same. Natasha warns that many companies sell generic strains without understanding the precise species or how they behave in the human intestine. These are living organisms. They need the right environment to thrive.
Natren remains the only vertically integrated probiotic manufacturer in North America and the EU. That means that they control the entire production process from tension to board. Natasha is only using what is scientifically supported.
This level of detail is important. Especially now, when the food system, water sources and the environment are all infected.
The bigger problem: Crisis for Environmental Health
Natasha pointed out that our health crisis goes much further than just microplastic particles. The air that we breathe is also contaminated. Here in British Columbia we have seen the effects of forest fires.
The smoke fills our lungs, our eyes burn and we walk expensive air filters to breathe inside. This pollution influences our immune system and our microbiome.
In the US, 80% of people are chronically ill. Yet Americans are only 4% of the world’s population, while they consume 75% of the world’s pharmaceutical products. That is a stunning statistics. It shows that the health problems are not isolated. They are systemic.
Much of the problem is caused by short -sighted solutions. A new product comes out with chic marketing and promises to repair digestion or detoxify the body. But people do not realize that some of these large intestinal cleansing and parasite cleaning will rid the intestinal wall. And nothing is put back.
Simple actions to reduce exposure
So what can we do? Here are the changes I have made and that Natasha recommends:
- Avoid bottling water – Use glass bottles and stainless steel water filters such as Berkey.
- Stop using plastic containers – Especially for heating or storing food.
- Never microwave in plastic – Use ceramics or glass. Better yet, stop using the microwave.
- Do not eat shellfish or soil feeds – These animals absorb high levels of microplastic particles.
- Use old, mined salt – Avoid sea salt that can contain microplastics.
- Choose glass and metal packaging – Especially for supplements and probiotics.
- Support companies that go one step further – Even if the product costs more.
Last thoughts: Consciousness is the first step
I wish we didn’t have to think about microplastic exposure in so many details. But we do that. This is the world in which we live. Natasha said it best: “If we want to talk about keeping the environment, the first place we have to start is to reduce our own plastic use.”
That is why I invite everyone to make informed choices. Start by avoiding plastic where you can. Look at your water sources, your food packaging and even your cooking utensils. Every small change makes a difference.
This is not a fear monitor. It’s just the reality of the modern world. The health effects of microplastics are serious. They influence the digestive system, the immune system, the heart, brain and even blood.
We cannot control everything. But we can determine what we bring in our houses and in our body. Let’s start there.
Maybe you may also be interested in
Jini Patel Thompson is an internationally recognized expert in the field of natural healing for digestive diseases. They heal themselves from Crohn’s widespread disease and have been free of medicines and surgery for more than 25 years. Jini has appeared on numerous podcast, TV and radio programs in the US, the VK, Canada and Australia and gives people hope and vision on how they can heal their colitis, crohn’s, diverticulitis and irritable intestinal syndrome (IBS) with the help of completely natural methods. Her books about natural healing for digestive diseases have been sold worldwide in more than 80 countries. Jini is married to 3 children, 9 sheep, 11 horses, 1 cat and 3 dogs.
#Microplastic #food #water #salt #stay #safe