In the 1980s, Barbies and Cabbage Patch dolls defined the term “plastic people.” Today, each and every one of us is said to consume upwards to a credit card’s worth of plastic in our bodies every week. Every week! Plastic can be found in most every human’s body: breast milk, heart, liver, kidneys and even in our not-so-public parts.
It seems like there is a lot of doomsday news these days, and health headlines are no exception. Plastics have been in the news a lot recently. They have been linked to cancer, reproductive issues, respiratory diseases and neurological problems. Researchers have recently linked plastic build up in our brains to cognitive deficits and neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s.
So many everyday household products contain dangerous plastics. Just recently, I came across an article that made recommendations on how to get plastics out of our house. I had done most, if not all, of them. I no longer cook with non-stick, although my husband has come up with a lot of brands that claim to be non-toxic in hopes of reimplementing his beloved nonstick in our kitchen once again.
Long ago, I kicked the plastic implements out of my utensil drawer. (Either I was intuitive about their dangers, or they had melted when I left them on a hot pan. Most likely, it’s the latter.). I began to use glass storage containers. I avoided plastic containers when I bought oils, vinegar, mayo, honey and peanut butter as often as possible. But, as I patted myself on the back, a list of other items came up, and these…all of them…I used. A lot.
We’ve become so accustomed to plastics and their ubiquitous presence that we may not even realize it. They weave the fabric of our lives in more ways than one. Our athletic wear is literally woven of plastics, and so is most of our daily wear like t-shirts, shorts, socks and under garments.
Plastics line aluminum cans – both those for canned foods and canned drinks (even sodas and beers!). They make up our water filters, so even if we steer clear of plastic water bottles, our water still streams through harmful plastics. Plastic even lines paper milk containers and baby food packets. Dryer sheets contain plastics. And so do tea bags, infusing our healthy concoctions with heated microplastics.
It may come as no surprise that the largest contributor of ingested microplastics is bottled water. Oddly, beer is the secondary contributor, perhaps due to that incognito plastic can liner. The third source, while shocking, makes sense. It’s the air we breathe.
The bad news
They’re everywhere. They’re in our cars, on our cars as tires, on our bodies as clothes and in our homes as vinyl and microfibers. Microplastics are even in cosmetics to improve their feel and finish.
Data in 2020 supported the presence of plastics in everyday fruits and veggies, which indicates that plastics are in our soil, and in our water. Even fertilizers are coated with plastics to control their release into the soil.
Microplastics were not only detected in bottled water, but in tap water as well. Microwave safe entrees...even if warmed in the oven are packaged in plastic or plastic-lined containers. Heating these plastics in a microwave makes that interaction even more dangerous. Putting hot food in takeout containers contributes to our plastic ingestion as well.
We’re not the only ones eating plastics. Ocean life and land animals alike are ingesting plastics too. And if they are, we are.
Microplastics have recently been reported to be worse than originally thought. They may shed more quickly than reported earlier, spreading through the environment at a quicker pace than anticipated.
At this point, it’s almost impossible to avoid ingesting plastic. Here are some ways in which to avoid it when possible:
• Let there be glass
Many of us allow kids to eat and drink from plastic only, to mitigate damage, of course. But, to mitigate plastic consumption, try graduating them early to thick glass cups and porcelain plates. They need not be expensive to be hardy.
• Filter it out
The last water filter I had installed had all sorts of warnings and plastics listed on the packaging. Find and install a filter that omits all the harmful plastics. If you have a well, why run your water through a plastic filter? Check your fridge filter to see if there are better options as well.
• Cotton Coating
We are hard pressed now to easily find cotton undergarments or socks. Though they may feel like cotton, check the label. Polyester is a plastic. So are its close cousins Lycra, nylon, spandex, and acrylic, a popular wool substitute.
• Ultra-processed
It may come as no surprise that ultra-processed foods contain more plastics simply because they’re tossed around more during preparation. Chicken nuggets, fish sticks, plant-based burgers and even tofu contain higher levels of plastics than non-processed foods. (Note to self since I served this week’s recipe with tofu).
• Steer clear
In addition to ditching the plastic, try to avoid warming foods in the microwave in plastic.
• Ditch single-use plastic
This is a tough one. Even if you avoid yogurt tubes for the kids and decide to make parfaits in glass containers for lunches, the yogurt is still packaged in plastic.
When using disposable baggies, try lining with wax paper or another plastic-free liner to avoid direct contact with your food. Make sure your wax paper is plastic free, as some are coated with…plastic.
Parchment used to be my fave until I read that it, too, is coated in silicone, a plastic that is said to withstand high heat. (The jury is out on this for me).
• Look around
Though it may take some getting used to, switch to loose leaf tea (or break open the tea bag since even the bags that resembles paper contain plastic). Sift out the tea leaf remnants with a strainer. Straining through a natural cheese cloth can help with the tiny tea particles.
• Avoid fragrance
It pains me to say this, but many ingredients listed as "fragrance"contain microplastics. Dryer sheets, deodorants, body washes, shampoos, and even our beloved perfume: most of them contain microplastics.
• Fear less
The bottom line is that we cannot live our lives in fear. We just need to stay informed. We as humans are quite resilient. That said, try choosing some simple ways to mitigate your exposure to microplastics. Small changes like ditching the plastic cooking implements in favor of stainless steel will surely help. Just do it a little at a time.
And try this delicious meal without the takeout plastic!
Garlicky Brown Sauce
INGREDIENTS
3 tablespoons olive or sesame oil
3 cloves garlic
3 tablespoons soy sauce
¾ cup veggie or chicken stock (low sodium if possible)
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon honey
1-2 tablespoons white flour (thicken to taste)
METHOD
In a saucepan, heat oil.
Add garlic and sauté until golden.
Add soy sauce, reduce for 2-3 minutes.
Add stock, vinegar and honey and simmer for 4-5 minutes more.
Whisk flour into mixture.
Continue to heat until reduced as desired.
Serve over rice and choice of protein and veggie.
Chinese food at home without the plastic to-go container!