MICROPLASTICS

Tiny pieces of plastic, called microplastics, are now everywhere.

Most of the food we eat and the water we drink contains microplastics!

Even though they’re smaller than 5mm, they can cause big problems for our health. 

Scientists have found that when we eat or drink microplastics, they can upset the balance of good bacteria in our tummies and even lead to other health issues.

Our bodies have a hard time getting rid of these plastics because they stick to our intestines and may cause long-term inflammation.

But there’s good news! 

In a recent study, scientists discovered two special types of probiotics that can help our bodies remove microplastics.

Here’s how they work:

1️⃣ Stick and Block: They attach to the tiny plastics so the plastics don’t stick to our gut walls.

2️⃣ Carry Them Out: Once attached, they help move the plastics through our digestive system so we can get rid of them.

3️⃣ Reduce inflammation: One of these bacteria also helps calm down any gut inflammation caused by the plastics.

This discovery shows that eating probiotic-rich foods or taking a quality probiotic supplement could be a simple way to support our gut health in a world full of microplastics!

References:

Bozkurt, H. S., Yörüklü, H. C., Bozkurt, K., Denktaş, C., Bozdoğan, A., Özdemir, O., & Özkaya, B. (2022). Biodegradation of microplastic by probiotic bifidobacterium. International Journal of Global Warming, 26(4), 429-443.

Teng, X., Zhang, T., & Rao, C. (2025). Novel probiotics adsorbing and excreting microplastics in vivo show potential gut health benefits. Frontiers in Microbiology, 15, 1522794.

Zhao, L., Dou, Q., Chen, S., Wang, Y., Yang, Q., Chen, W., ... & Xie, M. (2023). Adsorption abilities and mechanisms of Lactobacillus on various nanoplastics. Chemosphere, 320, 138038.International journal of women's health, 477-486.