News media says there’s no way to remove microplastics from the body—research says otherwise and we’ve got you covered!
Microplastics are in the news a lot lately, and for good reason. After twenty years of warnings from “conspiracy theory people” on the periphery, the plastic problem is now widely acknowledged.
The world produces around 350 million tons of plastic waste each year, much of ending up in the world’s oceans and rivers. As the plastic breaks down, tiny pieces—microplastics and even smaller nanoplastics—end up literally everywhere.
And “everywhere” includes in the stomach, blood and organs of humans.
It will take a long time to establish all the health implications of this microplastic onslaught, but already studies have shown that microplastics cause digestive problems and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. New research published in January 2025 documented that plastics also build up in the brain process that is suspected, but not yet proven, to cause dementia.
As these findings make headlines many consumers have broached the subject about what, if anything, they can do about the plastic accumulation in their bodies. As far as the news media is concerned, there seems to be widespread agreement on the answer: Nothing—you’re just along for the ride!
Is there really nothing you can do?
The phrase, “Currently, no treatment exists to remove microplastics from the body,” as reported in the Epoch Times, is the repeated claim. But that isn’t really true. While there may not be a pharmaceutical drug or clinical procedure approved by the medical establishment, there are demonstrated ways to eliminate—or at least reduce—microplastics in the body.
As with many aspects of health, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure… so limiting exposure to plastics in one’s everyday life should be the first step. However, microplastics are ubiquitous, so some accumulation in the body is unavoidable.
Even the most ardent plastic-avoiding consumer will be exposed to, and ingest, microplastics to some extent. In fact, a 2024 study by Consumer Reports, found phthalates—one of the most toxic ingredients in plastics—in all but one of the 85 brand-name grocery store and fast food items they tested.
While there is no “magic bullet” for ridding the body of all microplastics, the good news is that there are diet and supplementing choices that have been shown to eliminate at least some of the accumulated microplastics. With this emerging research it is important to note that in some cases the removal of toxins in general is assumed to also include microplastics. In other studies, microplastics, specifically, have been studied.
- Stay well hydrated
Staying well-hydrated by drinking plenty of clean, fresh water supports optimal kidney function. This better equips the kidneys to eliminate toxins, including microplastics. - Eat plenty of fiber
Fiber binds to microplastics in the intestine, helping to move them out of the body more quickly. A high-fiber diet also helps strengthen the intestinal barrier, which can lessen the effects of microplastics on the digestive system. - Supplement probiotics
Several studies showed that various probiotic strains are able to “degrade” different ingredients in plastic, such as bisphenol A. Other probiotic strains were confirmed to have biosorptive or “toxin binding” abilities—a function that helps eliminate toxins from the body. - Include algae in diet, or supplement
Algae such as kelp, chlorella and spirulina are not only extremely nutrient dense, they are also natural binding agents that draw toxins out of the body. Depending on the type of algae, it can be eaten as food, sprinkled as a condiment or taken as a nutritional supplement. - Increase antioxidant intake
By increasing antioxidant intake a person can help combat the oxidative stress caused by microplastics. Foods like vegetables—especially green leafy vegetables—berries, nuts, and a variety of fruit provide the needed antioxidant boost. - New enzyme may be your best defense
For several years scientists have been researching enzymes that can destroy, or at least degrade, phthalates. From this research a new enzyme—phthalazyme—has been tested and proven to “enzymatically degrade phthalate esters.”
We are excited to announce that Phthalazyme is available in a product that we make available to all our clients/patients. If you’d like to learn more about this product and how you can add this to your health regime, please don’t hesitate to call our office. It’s another service we provide to help you achieve “the best performance of your life!”
God bless,
DrB
Sources: Nature Medicine, Epoch Times, Consumer Reports.
