Home Health Doctor reveals essential items he has banned from his kitchen because they leak cancer-causing microplastics

Doctor reveals essential items he has banned from his kitchen because they leak cancer-causing microplastics

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Dr Joseph Mercola (pictured), an osteopathic family medicine doctor and author of Your Guide to Cellular Health, told DailyMail.com that he avoids non-stick pans, coffee pods and spice grinders to reduce harmful exposure. to microplastics.

You almost certainly have one, if not more, in your home.

But a doctor is urging people to throw out kitchen essentials because of their growing link with cancer.

Increasingly, research shows that microplastics—microscopic compounds that break off from larger plastic objects—enter our blood, accumulate in our organs, and cause untold damage.

They leach into the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe and have been linked to heart disease, dementia and several types of cancer.

Dr Joseph Mercola, osteopathic family medicine doctor and author of Your Guide to Cellular Health, told DailyMail.com that many of the products responsible for this cascade of health problems can be found in your kitchen.

He said: “Many common kitchen items used every day contain or release microplastics during food preparation and consumption.”

Dr. Mercola first pointed out the obvious: nonstick, plastic cookware. They are a risk due to their close contact with the food we eat, and constant exposure to heat accelerates their degradation.

Black plastic utensils, in particular, have been shown to contain the highest levels of toxic chemicals.

But Dr. Mercola points out other essentials like plastic cutting boards, Tupperware, coffee and tea pods, and salt and pepper grinders.

Dr Joseph Mercola (pictured), an osteopathic family medicine doctor and author of Your Guide to Cellular Health, told DailyMail.com that he avoids non-stick pans, coffee pods and spice grinders to reduce harmful exposure. to microplastics.

Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic that leach into food, water and air from products such as non-stick pans, clothing and children's toys.

Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic that leach into food, water and air from products such as non-stick pans, clothing and children’s toys.

He advises switching to a wooden cutting board to prevent hormone-disrupting microplastics from leaching into meat and vegetables.

And it recommends people opt for loose ground beans and spices to reduce unnecessary plastic from grinders and coffee machines.

Dr Mercola said: “Microplastics pose a significant long-term health hazard because they contain endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs).

“These chemicals mimic estrogen and have been linked to infertility and hormone-induced cancers.

“Research suggests that once microplastics are ingested or inhaled, they can accumulate in tissues, leading to chronic inflammation and an elevated risk of heart attacks and strokes.”

The increased prevalence of EDC has been blamed as a potential cause of the fertility crisis in the United States.

This has largely been seen with phthalates, which are added to plastics, such as food storage containers, to make them flexible and soft.

A study in the magazine Toxicological SciencesFor example, he discovered that female mice exposed in utero to the same phthalate mixtures detected in pregnant women were born with fertility problems, which they then passed on to their female offspring.

Additional investigation has found that higher levels of phthalates in women’s urine could reduce the chance of becoming pregnant and increase the risk of pregnancy loss before 20 weeks of gestation.

A study in the magazine. Breast cancer research It also found that higher levels of phthalates in urine were associated with up to a 32 percent increase in the risk of breast hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.

Meanwhile, a Polish study showed that exposure to phthalates in men reduced sperm quality and count, decreasing the chances of conceiving.

To reduce exposure to phthalates, Dr. Mercola suggests switching to storage containers made of glass, which are non-porous, which prevents the chemicals from leaching into the food.

Dr. Mercola also pointed out nonstick pots and pans, which are often coated with Teflon.

Microplastics used to coat nonstick cookware have been shown to increase the risk of some cancers and thyroid diseases.

Microplastics used to coat nonstick cookware have been shown to increase the risk of some cancers and thyroid diseases.

Some coffee capsules, Dr. Mercola warned, are made with No. 5 polypropylene, which has been linked to reports of asthma.

Some coffee capsules, Dr. Mercola warned, are made with No. 5 polypropylene, which has been linked to reports of asthma.

Also known as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Teflon is used to repel water and oil and prevent food from sticking to the surface.

While Teflon is not considered carcinogenic, some studies have raised concerns about perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a chemical previously used to produce Teflon.

PFOA is considered a perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS), also called a “forever chemical,” meaning it does not break down in the environment.

PFAS have been associated with increased risks of cancer, thyroid disease, and high cholesterol.

Dr. Mercola said, “Nonstick cookware could be replaced with ceramic or stainless steel pots and pans.”

He also noted that toxic chemicals can even make their way into your morning cup of tea or coffee.

Keurig K-Cups, for example, are made from #5 polypropylene, a synthetic polymer derived from fossil fuel oil.

While No. 5 polypropylene is considered one of the safest microplastics, some research has suggested that excessive exposure could infiltrate the lungs and cause asthma.

Dr. Mercola said these plastics have also been found in some tea bags.

One study 2024 Chemosphere magazine found that brewing tea with a bag made of #5 polypropylene released 1.2 billion pieces of plastic per milliliter of tea.

If you need a caffeine boost in the morning, Dr. Mercola suggested using loose ground coffee or loose leaf tea instead of opting for pods or tea bags.

Spices with built-in grinders are also found on Dr. Mercola’s cutting board.

He said: ‘Spice grinders made from polymers such as POM (polyoxymethylene), PS (polystyrene) and PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) have been shown to deposit microplastic particles in ground spices, with POM-based grinders producing the higher levels of pollution. ‘

When heated to high temperatures, POM has been linked to respiratory problems.

Dr. Mercola suggests purchasing spices stored in glass containers that do not have built-in plastic grinders.

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