UNEXPLAINED WEIGHT GAIN, HORMONAL IMBALANCE + MICROPLASTICS
TLDR: Avoid plastic and its derivatives. That’s the whole post.
Ok fine, but why? And how?
How is plastic making us gain extra body fat and disrupting our hormones?
Let’s get into it!
Where do microplastics come from and what do they do?
Microplastics are one of the side effects of the discovery of synthetic polymers. Plastics originally meant something that is bendable, pliable and easy to mold. However, we now use the word to refer to a group of materials called polymers. Polymers exist in nature, like cellulose that gives a plant structure. Synthetic polymers, or “plastics'' are what we’ll be talking about here, of which there are many (and some are far less harmful than others).
Plastics became in high demand in WWII – things like nylon were invented as a replacement for silk and used in things like parachutes, ropes and so on. The second world war brought about a plastic explosion – a 300% rise in their production in the United States (6)
In modern life, it’s likely we will always have plastics as they have made our lives easier and created products that are durable. Our phones, computers, and so many other things require plastic. That being said, some materials and types of plastic shed – creating microplastics. They have been found not only in our environment, but in food and beverages, including seafood, drinking water, beer, and salt. Disturbingly, microplastics have also been found in human placenta (7) and in blood (8). Some, depending on their size also have the ability to cross the blood-brain-barrier. Everyone is exposed on a daily basis, so this is really a global health concern.
Synthetic fabrics are the top offenders. The first few washes of fast fashion clothing release particles into the water system and environment. Polyester + synthetic clothes release millions of particles of microplastics just by wearing them, even more than when they are being washed. (9). These particles can then be inhaled or absorbed through the mucous membranes, finding their way into our bodies.
Ever wear yoga pants without underwear? What about the seamless super soft polyester undergarments? It’s a real issue once you start reading your labels and realizing that polyester is in nearly everything.
The research implies that nearly 300 million polyester microfibers are released per person, per year into the environment from washing clothes, and more than 900 million particles are released into the air just from wearing polyester clothes (9).
Sources of Microplastics in the Ocean
Where do we think microplastics are coming from? Unfortunately, primarily clothing and textiles — including your favourite buttery soft polyester yoga pants. Fashion is getting less and less sustainable. Although recycling plastic bottles into clothing is a noble idea, it’s not good for our bodies.
Microplastics in Humans
Aside from the effects on the environment, microplastics can act as endocrine disruptors, affecting blood pressure, fertility, immune systems and contributing to being a cause of multiple diseases including cancer.
Our bodies can flush some out, but not all of them. Over time, our liver becomes burdened by the constant exposure, and multiple processes start going awry.
Chronic exposure to microplastics can induce inflammatory reactions, creating the environment for disease to thrive. Microplastics can also be a carrier for viruses, bacteria and other germs, helping microbes get into our bodies. Exposure in the gut can contribute to a “leaky gut” which is the layman’s term for “intestinal permeability,” which occurs when the tight junctions between cells loosen — this happens as inflammatory substances (such as microplastics) enter the gut and the immune system is triggered.
The gut gets “leaky” to allow the immune system to come in and clean up whatever is causing the inflammation. Issues occur when this becomes constant, which can lead to chronic low grade inflammation and particles using the "leaky” space as a doorway into the body.
Gut permeability is often the first stage of dis-ease, long before any actual disease presents itself.
An especially insidious form of direct exposure comes from takeout food + drinks, canned foods and using plastic food containers (especially with heat), drinking from plastic bottles, using plastic cookware and cooking with scratched non-stick pans.
Body systems that are affected by microplastic exposure
The predominant routes of exposure come from inhalation and ingestion, usually accidental or unknown to us as particles are so small (dust being a major carrier). The skin to some degree can absorb plastics as well, depending on their size.
Source - (11)
ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING CHEMICALS (EDC’s)
Microplastics + Hormonal Imbalances
Known endocrine-disrupting-chemicals (EDCs) are compounds that affect our hormonal system and can contribute to disease and autoimmunity. Our endocrine (hormone) system is responsible for many things, from reproduction, to metabolism, to regeneration + more. It’s a slow moving system that communicates back with the brain + nervous system.
Endocrine changes can happen gradually over time without us giving them much notice, until they become disturbing enough that we realize “hey maybe I have an issue here.”
Chemicals that are known EDCs, which leach out from plastics include:
BPAs (bisphenols) + their substitutes*
Flame retardants - found in furniture, children’s products
Phthalates*
PFAS*
Dioxins
Plasticizers - PVC, phones, receipt paper
UV-stabilizers - found in sunscreen, UV-safe plastics
Heavy metals (lead, cadmium).
* discussed in more detail below
These EDCs can be found in packaging, construction supplies, flooring, food production + packaging, cookware, healthcare, children’s toys + products, leisure goods + sportswear, furniture, electronics, textiles, cars, and cosmetics. Literally everywhere.
Animal studies have shown that EDCs can cause DNA modifications which will have consequences across generations. (10) EDCs enter our body and create hormonal activity that alters our natural balance. They disrupt development + affect functioning of organs that are in communication with hormonal signals. EDCs can operate by either mimicking natural hormones (xenoestrogens are an example of this and are highly correlated with breast cancer), antagonizing hormone actions, altering the pattern of hormone synthesis and metabolism, or modifying the expression of hormone receptors. (11)
Research has associated these hormonal changes with breast, prostate and testicular cancers, reproductive issues like genital malformations and infertility, metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity, asthma, neurodevelopmental changes including learning disorders and autism.
How Plastic Contributes to Obesity
Due to the pro-inflammatory nature of microplastics once they’ve entered our bodies, they start inducing oxidative stress. As mentioned, this will put a burden on the liver and alter our energy balance. As hormonal changes take place (hormones are responsible for our hunger, satiety and for telling our body how much energy aka. fat we have stored), fatty acid metabolism changes, and the accumulation of microplastics in the liver and kidneys (as the body tries to eliminate them) can accelerate the growth and development of fat cells. (10)
Some of the chemical by-products of plastics can also have an effect on cell growth (tumors, increased fat cells) and affect the proteins that regulate our lipid and glucose metabolism, leading to “misfires” in the body.
In other words, the tightly controlled order that creates balance in our bodies becomes more chaotic and less organized, leading to a variety of issues.
They also may be linked with an increased risk for obesity by how these chemicals affect metabolism. The rise in the plastic industry from the 1890’s until the present also corresponds well with the rise in modern disease. Just in the last ~60 years, obesity has risen dramatically across the world.
The rates of obesity have been climbing exponentially since the 70’s.
If I had the data to source back to the 1800’s I’m sure this would look a lot more stark. Obesity is certainly a complex issue in regards to what’s causing it (disclaimer: it’s not one thing but a multitude), however the correlation between the rise in plastic and chemical usage since the end of WWII is a plausible cause.
Source: Our World in Data
Toxins in the Body
Beyond the plastic industry itself and the fact that many plastics are not environmentally friendly or sustainable, we need to be mindful of what’s in the plastic.
Potentially toxic chemicals and by-products can leach out from the plastic materials as they degrade in the environment. These can include EDC’s as discussed above, as well as other potentially harmful chemicals. I’ll share with you three of the big offenders that we want to avoid as much as possible.
Bisphenol A (BPA) + It’s Substitutes
BPA in everywhere – it turns up in most peoples urine upon testing, and it’s estimated that nearly all exposures come from food and beverage packaging – including takeout packaging as well as things like food and drinks in cans and tins. (12)
BPA is linked with estrogen dominance – a hormonal imbalance that can lead to endocrine disorders including infertility for both sexes, early puberty, hormonal tumors like breast and prostate cancers as well as metabolic disorders like PCOS. (1)
It also is known to interfere with metabolic processes involved in energy metabolism like lipid and glucose balance, as well as thyroid function. This can lead to obesity, thyroid disorders and autoimmune issues as well as cardiovascular disease, hypertension and type II diabetes.
Though much of the absorbed BPA is excreted through the urine, it has a tendency to bio-accumulate which means we want to do everything we can to reduce exposure as health risks increase with repeated contact.
The most common exposures come from food packaging, dust, dental materials, healthcare equipment, receipt/thermal paper, and children’s toys. BPA + it’s substitutes can be found in plastic packaging, kitchenware and in the inner lining of cans and jars.
Many companies now provide “BPA-free” plastics, but this doesn’t mean the plastic is “safe.” BPS is a common substitute for BPA and it has been shown to have similar hormone disrupting effects, albeit to a lesser extent compared to BPA. (2).
In one study, researchers found that the presence of BPA in contaminated food may have been responsible for over 12,00 cases of childhood obesity and nearly 34,000 cases of coronary heart disease in one year.
A European study estimated that BPA in food packaging and thermal paper (receipts, etc.) was responsible for 42,000 cases of obese children, costing 1.5 billion euros per year to healthcare. (11)
Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAs)
Known as “the forever chemical.” These are absolutely toxic, man-made substances in use since the 1950’s that have found their way into nearly everything and persist in the environment and in our bodies. This isn’t to make you afraid, but it should make you angry.
There are over 9000 versions of this chemical, so tracking it down and eliminating it is not an easy task for industry + policy makers.
Where can you find PFAS?
Cleaning products
Water resistant fabrics (rain jackets, umbrellas, tents)
Grease-resistant paper (“waxed” paper without actual wax)
Non-stick cookware
Personal care products (shampoo, floss, nail polish, eye makeup)
Stain resistant fabrics
“Plant based” compostable bowls and other “environmentally friendly” options have been found to have PFAS 3-10x higher than conventional paper food packaging. (3)
Side effects of PFAS exposure (4)
Increase cholesterol levels.
Decrease immune response.
Increase the risk of thyroid disease.
Decrease fertility in women.
Increase the risk of serious conditions like high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia during pregnancy.
Lower infant birth weights (the decrease in weight is small and may not affect health).
Phthalates
Phthalates remain one of the most ubiquitous plastic additives with approximately 6 million tons being produced annually across the globe. This has been more or less constant for the last 20 years. They have been detected in wastewater from households, showing that they leach from plastics in home use and find their way into the environment.
Some phthalates are proven to be a health risk due to their effects on ecosystems and on human as well as animal health such as hormonal disruptions, reprotoxicity (toxic to reproductive health) and carcinogenic effects. (11)
Different phthalates have similar modes of action, and have the potential to mix together and create different effects, so although some are considered “safe” they are of particular concern due to their saturation in the environment and the potential for combination side effects.
Unfortunately, these chemicals are found in many personal care products and more, as they have a lubricating effect.
Canada has banned DHEP (a type of phthalate) from cosmetics, and restricted use in medical produces – however others are still in use.
What are phthalates in?
Personal care products - nail polish, perfume, deodorants, hair gel, shampoo, soap, hair spray, body lotion, etc.
Soft PVC products - garden hoses, medical tubing
Plastic gloves used in food preparation, other uses
Vinyl products like shower curtains
Air fresheners, plug ins
Portable plastic water bottles
… just to name a few.
How to Reduce Plastic + Chemical Exposure
So now you know, what do you do? Support your body as it supports you.
As I said at the beginning of this blog, the whole message here is avoidance.
We are going to be exposed to microplastics and chemicals as a result of living on planet earth in the year 2023 (or whatever year it is when you read this).
As a friend of mine said recently, “welcome to earth bitch! Bring a helmet.”
In other words, danger is an inherent part of life, but we can do what we can to be prepared and to reduce our risks as much as possible.
A huge part of this is INVESTING and DIVESTING.
We want to invest in sustainable options – think back to the grandmother’s of 1842.
What options did she have for food storage? What about cooking? How many outfits did she really have? I bet 99% of them were utilitarian (as I move into my 30’s I’m dreaming of a capsule wardrobe instead of piles of thrifted fashion as self expression).
What modern conveniences do we have now that could both improve our functionality and also preserve our health?
Get creative.
We want to divest from consumerism and mindless convenience. We’re all guilty of it, I know I am. On the one hand, you do what you can and you accept what is. On the other hand, you strive to improve your outcomes by making better choices. The balance is somewhere between.
Instead of buying the cheap/affordable option, research and see what higher-end items you can buy and have them stick around. If it costs you more up front, but lasts a lifetime (or longer) then how expensive is it really? Compared to buying something “cheap” which will need to be replaced several times over the years… that is a bigger cost in the long run.
I’m not anti-capitalist, but the ceaseless type of uncontrolled centralized capitalism that threatens to usurp all resources and corral them into a singular entity while commodifying all human emotions, playing on our fear and programming our ideology is a beast that we need to stand against in whatever ways we see fit.
Buying less, needing less, living differently, ancestrally, investing in things that aren’t designed to break after a few years is a great way to start divesting from the machine.
How to Start Living with Less + Buying Better
Although it may be inconvenient at first, investing in our welfare is the best thing we can do both for ourselves, our families and for the environment as we choose less single-use items, purchase products that can last a lifetime (or at least several decades), buy foods that have less or no packaging and so on and so forth.
You don’t have to do it all at once either – it is what it is.
Buying Better Kitchen Products
Maybe you buy a coffee tumbler that is made from stainless steel and start using that instead of paper to go cups. You get a stainless steel water bottle and a home filtration system instead of buying bottled water.
Maybe you buy a set of cast iron or stainless steel cookware and get rid of your scratched “non stick” pans.
Start with one thing at a time and build the habit.
Swap plastic tupperware for glass pyrex options, or lightweight stainless steel bento boxes.
Use beeswax wraps instead of plastic wrap.
Get creative with food storage, using mason jars, pyrex glass and so on.
Stop Taking Your Receipts
If you use your phone to pay for things you’ve probably already stopped taking receipts – but if you’re like me and still use old fashioned plastic cards to pay for things, avoid touching the receipts if you can as they tend to leach chemicals into the skin.
I have personal experience with this, from working retail and hospitality – my skin literally keeps peeling off in the same place, sometimes leaving a wound where I touch receipts. I try to wear gloves but it’s not always feasible.
One study actually found that when people use hand sanitizer before touching a receipt (or other lotions with ingredients made to enhance skin absorption) that BPA absorption is increased 100 fold. (12)
Often, this is then transferred to the mouth either unintentionally or through eating, significantly increasing the levels of BPA in the body. So ideally, make sure your hands are dry, dry, dry when you touch receipts and then wash them well with an oil/fat based soap, not sanitizer.
Chemicals in Cosmetics
We know that personal care products and synthetic fabrics from fast fashion are two major routes of exposure. It's estimated that women are exposed to 168 chemicals daily through personal care products, perfumes and other things. For men, the number is less, coming in at about 85 different daily chemicals.
Going natural with your cosmetics is a great option. This can be incredibly simple and beneficial to your health, your skin and the environment. Don’t even get me started on the negative side effects of perfume, cologne and so on.
God forbid anyone is still spraying their bodies with Axe or cheap perfume (tell those teenagers to STOP).
Natural products can be a bit tricky, as they aren’t well regulated. Researching ingredients is your best option, the EWG cosmetic database is a good source for understanding cosmetic ingredients a bit better.
I personally went off makeup in my late 20’s and only rarely use it now, but you do what makes you feel best! I still like a little natural mascara and mineral based cheeky shimmer a few days a week.
I also recommend NOT using a ton of essential oils in lotions, conditioners and so on as some can have endocrine and microbiome disrupting effects as well (I’ll write about that another day).
However, if you do want a signature scent, an essential oil based perfume or hair perfume is your best option. Just use it sparingly and go scentless or minimally scented for the rest.
Updating Your Wardrobe + Sustainable Athletic Wear
For clothing, invest in timeless pieces made from plants such as cotton/denim, linen, flax, hemp and bamboo; as well as animal fabrics, like wool, mohair, angora, and cashmere.
I’ll add that the process in creating plant-based fabrics isn’t perfect, but it’s an improvement from purely synthetic ones. The rabbit hole runs deep when you start looking at the textile industry.
There are more and more companies now coming up with sustainable yoga clothing and other organic + high quality gym wear. I’ve found organic cotton in Walmart. If you’re not ready for a big investment, just choose these fabrics over others and compromise where you need to (like maybe a synthetic rain jacket here in the pacific northwest).
I also am a huge fan of thrift stores. You’ll still want to search the garments to find what materials they are made of, but at least if you do decide to buy synthetic, most of the washes have already been done and the fabric has already leached many of its microparticles. I find this is a great way of having choices made for me since I tend to buy clothes I don’t need (oops).
If it’s not an organic/natural material I simply don’t buy it.
In Conclusion:
Avoidance is the best medicine.
Assess what you really need vs. what looks trendy right now.
Make compromises where you must, but invest your time and energy in pieces that will last and divest from the system that says we always need to be buying something new “updating” and keeping up with trends.
Timelessness is always trending.
Limit your exposure to toxicants by figuring out what you need to have a good quality of life (without fear and anxiety) and then live like grandma in 1842 the rest of the time.
As a side note, if you’re worried about your lifetime exposure to these chemicals you can support your body to detox from PFAs and other compounds by donating blood regularly.
Unfortunately, unless this blood is somehow cleaned or discarded, the chemicals will end up in someone else.
The cycle of life, eh?
As always, I invite you to leave your comments or questions below. Let’s start a discussion!Further Reading / References
(1) Health risk of exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA)
(3) High levels of 'forever chemicals' found in paper takeout containers: Study
(4) Chemicals: Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) Substances
(5) Where the Ocean's Microplastics Come From
(6) History and Future of Plastics
(7) Plasticenta: First evidence of microplastics in human placenta
(8) Discovery and quantification of plastic particle pollution in human blood
(9) Wearing clothes could release more microfibers to the environment than washing them
(10) Plastics pose threat to human health
(this one is really worth reading!)