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Life In Plastic Is Not Inevitable
As you all know, I’m as passionate about health – inside and out – which includes keeping my food and my environment as clean as possible. I’ve talked about my fave cork yoga mat and recently even shared a Fit Tip about how kim chi has been proven to help eliminate nanoplastics from our digestive system.
Recently, I read about a clinical trial out of Australia that was super encouraging when it comes to our ability to transform our choices into real impact.
Researchers had participants swap out everyday plastics in their kitchens, bathrooms, and food packaging. In just seven days, bisphenol levels dropped by more than 50%, and phthalates fell by over 44%. That’s amazing!
A few thoughtful swaps, over even a short amount of time, can meaningfully lower the chemical load our bodies are carrying.
The simplest way for us to start is to focus on two things that make the biggest difference: frequency of exposure and heat.
In the kitchen, we can swap out plastic spatulas and cutting boards for wood or stainless steel and transition from plastic meal-prep containers to glass or ceramic. And warm foods in glass or ceramic as well, avoiding plastic if at all possible in the microwave.
When it comes to foods and drinks, pick loose produce over shrink-wrapped veggies, grab a stainless steel mug for hot drinks instead of paper cups (they’re plastic-lined), and use filter water rather than buying single-use bottles.
Even in the bathroom and bedroom, we can switch to a bamboo toothbrush, opt for bar soap rather than liquids in plastic bottles, and even shop for natural fiber clothing that doesn’t shed microplastics.
Don’t worry! You don’t have to throw everything out overnight and go plastic-free cold turkey. Pick a swap or two and build from there. Over time, you’ll transition your environment to less and less plastics.
And the best part is that the science suggests our bodies are ready to respond quickly to the good choices we make. That’s worth feeling good about!
