Add a pinch of plastic with every bite.
That's what it's like when you consume food from most cans and plastic containers.
Dr. Rhonda Patrick, a scientist and health educator, is putting a spotlight on microplastics again by discussing a 2021 study on mass ingestion of microplastics in a September episode of her podcast.
The founder of FoundMyFitness pointed out how humans ingest plastic the equivalent of a credit card every week without knowing it. These microplastics are contaminated with all types of toxic chemicals, including BPA and BPS.
BPA stands for bisphenol A, an industrial chemical used to make plastics, and is found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Some researches suggest a link between BPA and type 2 diabetes and other cardiovascular illnesses, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Patrick pointed out that the chemicals found in microplastics that end up seeping into food and beverage may alter metabolism, and increase risks of infertility, heart disease, and cancer.
She cited one study that asked participants to consume canned soup daily for five days and the results were staggering. The experiment led to a 1,200% increase in urinary BPA levels compared to those who ate fresh soup.
BPA is often used in the lining of cans to prevent corrosion.
"[These chemicals] don't just pass through us. They are accumulating," she pointed out.
"They've been detected in the lungs, liver, heart, brain, reproductive organs, and even in the placenta."
To lower the exposure to BPA and other microplastics, Washington University in St. Louis' Office of Sustainability suggests avoiding single-use plastics and highly processed foods, and using non-plastic options in the kitchen.
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