Plastic never goes away! This has become even more evident since plastic has been found on Mount Everest, in human placentas, and scientists estimate that adults ingest a credit card’s worth of plastic every week. So what can be done to prevent this, reduce this, or reverse this? We will explore this.
What is plastic?
Plastics are made of polymers, which are large molecules often resembling long chains of interconnected links. These polymers can be divided into two main categories based on their chemical composition: carbon-chain polymers and heterochain polymers.
Carbon-chain polymers have only aliphatic (linear) carbon atoms in their backbone chains. Examples include polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, and polystyrene. Heterochain polymers contain atoms such as oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur in their backbone chains, in addition to carbon. Most engineering plastics, like polycarbonate, are composed of heterochain polymers.
In many plastic products, the polymer is combined with additives such as plasticizers, colorants, reinforcements, and stabilizers to achieve the desired properties.(1)
How do plastics impact our bodies?
“Research on the health impacts of microplastics in humans is just beginning. The particles have been found in multiple organs and tissues, including the brain, testicles, heart, stomach, lymph nodes, and placenta. They’ve also been detected in urine, breastmilk, semen and meconium, which is a newborn’s first stool. “We’re born pre-polluted,” LaBeaud said.
Evidence is growing that this exposure could be harmful. Studies show that microplastics make fish and birds more vulnerable to infections. Animal and cellular studies have linked microplastics to biological changes, including inflammation, an impaired immune system, deteriorated tissues, altered metabolic function, abnormal organ development, cell damage and more. A recent large-scale review of existing research by scholars at the University of California, San Francisco, concluded that exposure to microplastics is suspected to harm reproductive, digestive, and respiratory health and suggested a link to colon and lung cancer.”(2)
Ways you may be currently exposed to plastics:
- Food containers
- Tooth brush
- Plastic water bottles
- Plastic cleaning tools
- Polyester cloths
- Polyester bedding
- Teflon-coated pans
- Cans containing BPA
- Straws
- Shampoo and conditioner bottles
- Plastic shopping bags
- Cooking utensils
- Children’s toys
- Disposable plates and silverware
- Trash bags
- Countertops
- Tea bags
- Tampons
- Baby wipes
- Toothpaste
- Contact lenses
- Eating seafood
- Eating plants
- Eating protein
- Disposable razors
Ways to reduce plastic use:
- Stainless steel or glass water bottles
- Biodegradable toothbrushCotton tampons
- Wool, Linen, or Cotton apparel and sheets
- Paper-based tea bags (linked)
- Metal or glass straws
- Purchase food and beverages in glass containers
- Using toys made with natural materials and fibers
- Using bar soap (linked)
- Using shampoo/conditioner bars (linked)
- Using stainless steel pans
- Lip Balm stored in a paper container (linked)
- Compostable kitchen cleaning products (linked)
- Lotion bars (linked)
- Compostable toothbrushes (linked)
- Using safety razors (linked)
- Eating home-cooked meals
- Use reusable bags made from natural materials
- Drinking tea using a paper tea bag or stainless steel infuser (linked)
- Using floss free of plastic (linked)
- Reusing glass jars for canning
- Using class jars as vases
- Store your food in the glass jars you purchased at the store
Are there ways to detox plastic from our systems?
There is little to no research done on this topic. So, to give a definite answer is impossible but there is evidence that there are holistic supports available for mitigating the effects of plastic on your body, even though there is no way to entirely eliminate exposure to plastic.
Some things to try to support your body:
Fiber is the First Line of Defense Against Microplastics
While the body lacks a built-in mechanism to selectively eliminate microplastics, dietary fiber may offer a robust, natural defense. Fiber—especially insoluble types like cellulose and lignin—acts like a broom in the digestive tract, binding to foreign particles and promoting their excretion. (4)
Other things include supplementing
Medicinal mushrooms such as chaga, reishi, & lionsmane is a great option to start supplementing with.. Other herbs include vitex (hormone supporting), holy basil (adaptogen), milk thistle (male hormone health), ginger (anti-inflammatory), and dandelion root (liver supporting). All of these support the body to reduce the effects of plastic exposure.
You can consume these things as tea, tincture, or by cooking with them. An easy way to start consuming some of these today is by trying this herbal coffee (linked)
Or this herbal tea (linked).
Conclusion:
Plastic is everywhere, you can reduce your exposure to plastic, but microplastics are all over via wind so “environmental activists are targeting more “single-use” plastic. However, not all plastics are created equal.
Medical supplies, bottled water, and food wrap are examples of “single-use” plastics that have great value to society and are not easily replaced by better alternatives. They are vital for keeping food safe, for medical care, and for the millions of Americans whose tap water is contaminated or are in disaster zones, e.g., weather.” (3) These plastics are very supportive for the health of all humanity and very unlikely to be eliminated. But reducing your plastic use is a step in the right direction for your health, the future health of others, and supporting those who do the same is something to be proud of.
We are proud to join your efforts to reduce humanity’s exposure to plastic by creating plastic-free skincare products and running a plastic-reduced business. You can shop our products online by going to www.dandelionnaturals.com or by visiting our store, ‘The Dande’ at 108 Main St, Hayfield, MN.
Resources:
https://www.britannica.com/science/plastic (1)
https://essentialplastics.org/ (3)
https:/www.prevailovercancer.com/blog/from-microplastic-to-prevention-detox-with-natures-tools/ (4)
