Are You Eating a Credit Card Worth of Microplastics Every Week?
Unfortunately, you did read that question correctly. Ongoing research shows that very tiny bits of plastic called microplastics seem to be everywhere … secretly lurking in many sources of your food, in drinking water, in the air you breathe, and it’s even building up inside the organs in your body.
“… consuming the equivalent of a credit card worth of plastic every week ... “
In a 2020 interview at the Center for Strategic and International Studies with Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., he pointed out that according to research, plastic particles have been accumulating inside our bodies. He comments: “… just think of a credit card. We are swallowing, consuming in our human bodies the equivalent of a credit card worth of plastic every week through the air, water and food.”
He was referring to a scientific estimate that the average person may be eating and drinking plastic microparticles that total as much as 5 grams per week. Or from another perspective, the average American is eating and breathing in more than 74,000 microplastic particles every year, according to a 2019 review study.
Microplastics in your liver?
You may be surprised to learn that another new study has found that these microscopic bits of plastic have been found in the body’s major organs, especially those that help perform essential functions to detoxify the body and process internal waste.
Senior researcher Rolf Halden, Director of the Arizona State University (ASU) Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, warns us that according to this new laboratory study: "We have detected these chemicals of plastics in every single organ that we have investigated." In tissue samples of human cadavers, the researchers found plastic microparticles in the liver, lungs, kidneys and spleen.
Danger in microplastic chemicals
This surprising finding may be sending out a mental shockwave to you. Some of the plastic’s nasty chemicals, such as phthalates, are also implicated in promoting a whole range of negative health effects, from obesity to autoimmune disease to infertility. Halden explained that these microplastic particles could also potentially act as ever-present carcinogenic irritants.
Clearly, a simple but powerful nutritional strategy is needed to help keep the liver cleansed on a regular basis.
The Master Detoxifier of the Body: Your Liver
Did you know that your liver is the largest organ in your body? It’s responsible for over 500 different functions, including specialized detoxification processes. Just a few of these vital functions are: producing bile to break down and digest fats, metabolizing fats, proteins and carbohydrates, activating enzymes, storing vitamins, minerals and glycogen, producing cholesterol and special proteins to help carry fats through the body, creating plasma proteins such as albumin and clotting factors and much more.
This makes the liver an incredibly important organ. Considering our nearly universal exposure to microplastics as well as many other environmental contaminants, it’s vitally important for us to nutritionally support the liver EVERY DAY to help clear harmful substances.
The liver can also be stressed by our own life-style choices such as the use of tobacco, chemicals in beauty products, cleaning products, building materials as well as poor dietary choices including processed and fried foods. Other chemicals that are hard for us to avoid are pollution in the air and water, metabolites from prescribed drugs, infectious agents such as viruses and even the natural by-products of our own metabolism.
How can you cleanse your liver effectively? Check out these two recommendations!
To adequately perform its detox functions, the liver requires large amounts of micronutrients, including vitamins, minerals, enzymes and antioxidants.
That’s why our first recommendation is to be sure to include a full spectrum, organic, plant-based multi-vitamin/mineral supplement in your daily nutritional regimen. This full range of plant-based nutrients support the liver to perform its best.
Our second recommendation for the ultimate liver support is organic turmeric. Taking an organic turmeric product every day may work wonders for your liver. Turmeric is well known to support the liver in increasing the production of necessary enzymes that help break down toxins and detoxify the blood.
Insist on Top-Tier Nutrients
Being aware of this world-wide, ever-expanding toxicity problem, the dedicated team at one company, Quantum Nutrition Labs, insists that the raw materials in their nutritional formulas are extensively laboratory tested.
CEO Dr. Linda Forbes, DC, LAc., comments: “Few nutritional companies will take the protective step to go above and beyond ordinary FDA requirements in lab testing. We diligently perform a wide range of laboratory testing – that meets and often exceeds FDA requirements -- including identity, purity, potency, nutrient content, moisture levels and much more for all of our incoming raw materials. Without adequate testing, what this means for the consumer is that it may simply be unknown whether certain contaminants are present in any given nutritional product on the market.”
But are toxins really a problem for nutritional ingredients?
Unwanted “padding” of ingredients (with inferior “junk” fillers) and other contaminants are now a big concern for nutritional products. Another chief executive for the company, Nick Labinsky, COO, reveals: ”Numerous raw materials that we have tested for use in potential products for Quantum Nutrition Labs were found to contain unwanted quantities of toxic elements so we, of course, had to reject them. However, if a company is not testing for a wide range of these toxins, then potentially they may still be present in their final products.”
That’s why we believe that one of the first criteria for purchasing a nutritional supplement should NOT be the benefits of the nutritional supplement … but the integrity of the company making the supplement.
5 great ways to reduce your use of plastic
OK, it’s almost impossible to avoid plastic in your life … but you can certainly reduce your exposure to it (and intake) in several great ways. Here’s how:
Number One: Your water bottle
Yes, Do It! Use glass containers to drink purified water made from your own home water purifier. If leaving home, fill up a glass bottle with purified water to take with you.
Just Avoid: Avoid buying water in plastic bottles or storing water in plastic. Also avoid metallic water bottles (which can leach metallic particles into water).
Number Two: Glass, the environment’s friend
Yes, Do It! Buy and store food in glass or ceramic containers.
Just Avoid: Avoid storing food in plastic containers, especially plastic types that may outgas toxic chemicals.
Number Three: Plastic migration
Yes, Do It! Heat food on your stove in a ceramic-coated or non-teflon-coated pan.
Just Avoid: Avoid microwaving food in plastic. Plastic containers that are heated have a high potential to leach chemicals into food. Also avoid using glass pans which we think take too much time to heat up. In addition, avoid using metal pans (where food comes in direct contact with metal) which can leach metal particles, such as nickel, into the food being cooked.
Number Four: Eating fresh
Yes, Do It! Buy and eat fresh, organic food as much as possible, especially from a farmer’s market if you are blessed to have one in your area. Fresh is best!
Just Avoid: Avoid buying food (as much as possible) in plastic containers or foods wrapped in plastic. Plastic particles can especially leach from “filmy” types of plastic into food where the film is touching the food, such as cheese wrapped in plastic.
Number Five: Let your voice be heard
Yes, Do It! Enjoy volunteering in your community to bring awareness about the negative effects of plastics and other toxic practices. Inspire the people in your community to work together to find innovative ways to reduce plastic usage.
Just Avoid: Never assume that one person doesn’t make a difference … because you definitely do!
Pure nutritional products: Your Liver’s Best Friend
Ultimately, the wise choice is to consider taking an organic, plant-based vitamin/mineral supplement to fully support your liver as well as your whole body. Nutritional deficiencies are common (and many nutrients do get used up when exposed to toxins!). A good multi-vite can work wonders for you and your family. Secondly, don’t forget the organic turmeric – a liver-specific botanical for full liver support.
Before purchasing nutritional supplements, it’s a good idea to check out the manufacturing practices of the company. Do they screen for a full range of laboratory testing of their raw materials? If not, choose a company that thoroughly lab-tests their products to avoid unwanted contaminants as well as poor quality raw materials. Avoid nutritional products that have only been minimally tested. You and your family deserve the best! And yes, your liver will thank you.
