Your daily cup of tea, favourite chicken nuggets, and even seafood could be increasing your risk of serious health conditions, but not because of their nutritional content. A recent study published in the Brain Medicine journal reveals that microplastics and nano-plastics in these foods are the culprits.
These tiny particles have been linked to various health issues, including heart attacks, dementia, and infertility. While eliminating microplastics entirely from our diets is deemed "an unattainable endpoint" by researchers, making a few simple changes can reduce our intake.
For instance, switching to tea brands that use non-plastic bags or opting for loose-leaf tea with metal or stainless steel infusers can make a difference. Another suggestion is to replace plastic food storage containers with metal or glass ones, especially when heating food in the microwave or oven.
This can help prevent the leaching of microplastics into your food. One of the most significant changes you can make is to ditch bottled water for tap water.
According to the researchers, this simple switch can reduce your microplastic intake from 90,000 to 4,000 particles per year, reports [Surrey Live](https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/health/tea-drinkers-warned-over-ingredient-31168279). The experts also recommended avoiding foods known for high microplastic levels such as alcohol, seafood and chicken nuggets.
The latter reportedly contains 30 times more microplastics per gram than fresh chicken breasts due to its ultra-processed nature. Despite the seemingly bleak outlook, the study also revealed "one of the most hopeful aspects" regarding our constant consumption and exposure to microplastics.
It suggested that the body might have mechanisms to eliminate these particles through sweat, urine and faeces. This could imply that reducing our intake of microplastics over time could completely purge these harmful substances from our bodies.
Researchers conceded that further studies are required to obtain precise figures for this. However, a previous study has confirmed this is feasible. It demonstrated that it takes approximately 70 days for fish to clear 75 per cent of the microplastics in their brain.