4 Essential Rules to Avoid Microplastics
You might have heard concerns being raised about the presence of microplastics in our bodies.
Studies have recently been exploring the amount of microplastics in babies, and have found that they are present even in the placentas of unborn children. Now more than ever, it is paramount that we minimize our exposure to microplastics, especially when it comes to our children.
Microplastics are scary, because plastic is quite literally everywhere around us. It’s in our food, it’s in our furniture, our homes, and even part of the technology you’re using to read about microplastics. We don’t know the full extent of the harm that these microplastics cause us, but there is plenty of research that shows even the tip of the iceberg is concerning. What we know is that they negatively affect us on a cellular level by damaging parts of our cells, our intestinal microflora, our reproductive systems, and more.
How can we minimize the amount that is getting into our bodies?
The most important thing is to avoid ingesting plastics. How can we do that? Many processed foods are made on equipment with both metal and plastic parts. Those plastic parts can actually shed microplastics onto and into the food as it is being processed.
So, naturally...
Rule #1 - avoid processed foods
I know, that’s the solution touted for a lot of different health problems, and it’s an inconvenient one in this day and age where we depend on processed foods to keep up with the hustle and bustle. However, it is important to keep microplastics out of our bodies and the bodies of our children wherever possible, so it may be worth prioritizing.
Plastics actually shed more micro particles when they are hot than when they are cold. A lot of processed food is refined and produced in ways that are chemically harsh, but are not required to appear on a label. Not only is it possible for there to be pieces of the actual factory machinery in processed food, but So while storing your food in plastic containers might shed some particles, heating it up in plastic containers will shed substantially more into your food.
Now when you think of heating plastic, do you think of the traditional plastic baby bottle full of nearly-scalding hot milk?
Because I do. Which leads us to…
Rule #2 - do not use plastic baby bottles.
Unfortunately, there is some unavoidable shedding that will happen because the nipples have to be made of plastic or rubber materials. However, the bottle itself, which comes most into contact with the hot milk, can be made of glass.
Studies have found higher concentrations of microplastics in infants than in adults. It is believed that the reason for this is primarily to the common use of plastic bottles. A recent study found that infants fed with plastic bottles swallow MILLIONS of microplastic particles every day. Now that’s concerning.
I used the Phillips Avent set for my children, who also breastfed, and they were able to transition from nipple to nipple and back, with no issues. They are easy to clean and they have a nice weight to them, so you know they’re not going to break if you set them down a little too hard on the counter. I’ve dropped them on the floor, let them clang around in the sink with other dishes, and of course, let my children use and play with them. I’ve never had one break.
You can get a starter set with 4 of the 4-ounce bottles here:
(I personally recommend just getting the 4 oz size, because you don’t typically need to be serving more than that at a time to an infant. By the time they are old enough to eat more than 4 oz in a sitting, they will be too old for a bottle.)
Of course, you can try to avoid bottle-feeding altogether, which is a lovely idea. However, for many people, that is simply not a realistic solution as they have to work, or go to school, or have other obligations that require milk in a bottle to be given by someone else.
There is no shame in having to use a baby bottle to feed your baby. Just use the best bottles you can in order to minimize the amount of microplastic exposure.
Rule #3 – do not use cookware with nonstick lining
Cooking with nonstick pans might seem innocuous, but it is actually a huge potential source of microplastics. They have been made for decades with PFAS chemicals, which are “forever chemicals” that our bodies are not designed to be able to process. These microplastics have invaded our food supply from root to kitchen.
A recent study found that a single scratch in the lining of a nonstick pan can leak millions of microplastic particles per minute!
Fortunately, there are multiple alternatives to nonstick pans. I love using ceramic cookware like these:
Ceramic-coated pots and pans tend to be nonstick on their own, without the need for forever chemicals! You hardly need any oil for this particular set, because food will slide right off of it. I love the cream and gold look as well. They are a much more affordable alternative to other high-end brands that cost triple the price of this set, or more!
(Of course, you only want to use those included plastic utensils for serving cold food and not for cooking at high temperatures)
Other options include using glass pots. These are especially popular for simple dishes where you have to use boiling water. They’re also perfect for simmer pots or soups, if you like to see all those colorful and wonderful-smelling ingredients as they simmer. (who doesn’t?)
You can check out this gorgeous set of 2 borosilicate glass pots here:
Many chefs still use aluminum pans without nonstick coating, which can be just as effective, easy to use, and easy to clean. However, you will want to make sure to get a thick-walled pan so that it doesn’t burn too easily on the bottom of the pan. Metal pans that are too thin run the risk of burning your food really easily.
You can get an affordable 10-piece set from GreenLife here:
Compare the different options, maybe test them out, and see what works best for you and your kitchen! I personally like to keep a combination of types in my cooking space, but if you are the type of person that prefers uniformity, there are plenty of matching sets available.
Rule #4 – do not use plastic storage dishes to reheat your food
Because of the fact that plastic sheds more at higher temperatures, I avoid using any plastic containers for hot food or beverages. This especially pertains to using storage containers for leftovers and using them to heat up your food.
Many people just pop open their plastic tupper and stick it in the microwave without thinking about it – but unfortunately this approach is going to lead to more microplastics in your food!
The solution is quite simple, and not too expensive if you can find a good set. I also often thrift glass baking dishes, storage containers, bowls…anything I can find. It is an inexpensive alternative, but it does take time to look through stores to find what you are looking for.
I have used this set from Amazon and it has worked really well for meal prepping. It comes with quite a few different sizes, the glass is thick, and the lids are sturdy. I have been using them for a few months and nothing has broken yet. They are all dishwasher safe, as well. The lids are sealed plastic but fortunately that is going to come into minimal contact with your food.
Check out my favorite set of rectangular meal prep containers here:
Another personal favorite of mine are the round Pyrex dishes that come with colorful lids. I use these every day and I have never had one break on me. I have 3 sets of these currently, with various different colored lids, and they are my go-to when I am prepping ingredients.
Find the Pyrex containers here:
Of course you can get the Pyrex dishes in many different sizes, these are just a good size if you are going to get a couple to start.
There is plastic everywhere in our world. Stay informed and use rules of thumb like these to keep as much plastic out of your body as possible! There are definitely other ways you can avoid microplastics, but this is a great place to start. Once you’ve implemented these changes, you can start looking at ways to reduce your exposure even more. And remember, you don’t have to do something perfectly for it to make a difference in your life. Even if you only follow these tips 80% of the time, you’re going to be better off than if you didn’t at all! Consistency over perfection!