Have you been hearing about microplastics? These tiny plastic bits are everywhere, and they’re not just an environmental problem. They can really mess with your health, building up in your body and even your brain. The good news is there’s a simple, free way to get rid of a lot of them, and it might surprise you. In this article, Dr. Mindy Pelz shares the life-saving trick.
The Hidden Danger of Microplastics
Microplastics are a big deal, even though we used to kind of ignore them. But it turns out they’re some of the most harmful chemicals around. One of the worst things they do is gather in your brain. Not only that, but they also help other bad stuff, like heavy metals, get deeper into your brain. For years, I helped people get rid of heavy metals, and I saw how much they affected memory and attention, especially as people got older. With so many people dealing with brain issues as they age, we need to find simple solutions.
Key Takeaways
- Microplastics are in everyone and everything, from rainwater to breast milk.
- They carry harmful chemicals called PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” which mess with your hormones.
- Donating blood regularly can reduce your microplastic levels by 40%.
- Donating plasma can reduce your microplastic levels by 60%.
- This simple act can help balance hormones and save lives.
Microplastics Are Everywhere
Researchers have looked at tissue samples from lots of people, and guess what? Every single person had microplastics. It’s not a question of if you have them, but how much. They’ve been found in all sorts of places you wouldn’t expect:
- Rainwater
- Breast milk
- Placentas
- Menstrual blood
- Our food
Think about it: almost anything you buy in a plastic container has had that plastic rubbing against your food. And please, never microwave plastic. When you heat plastic in the microwave, it releases chemicals into your food, and then you eat them. It’s sneaky how these things get into our bodies.
A study from 2024 called microplastics one of the biggest problems in the world today. They found that almost all food samples they tested, especially refined, packaged, and ultra-processed foods, had measurable levels of microplastics. Just look around your kitchen. Chip bags, cracker boxes—they all have plastic inside. We’re so used to it, we don’t even think of it as a problem. But take a day or two to notice how much your food is exposed to plastic.
The Problem with Forever Chemicals
Microplastics break down very slowly in the environment, which is bad enough. But once they break down and get into the soil and water, they bring another problem with them. Plastics are often coated with something called PFAS, also known as PFOAs or “forever chemicals.” They’re called forever chemicals because they don’t break down in the environment, and they don’t break down in our bodies either. They stick around forever.
The big issue with PFAS is that they mess with your hormones. They can change estrogen and testosterone levels in both women and men. A 2024 study found that PFAS disrupt hormone levels, especially testosterone. How many of us are trying to balance our hormones with creams or pellets, but we haven’t even thought about getting rid of these plastics from our bodies?
The Simple Solution: Donate Blood
According to a recent study, there’s a quick and easy way to lower your microplastic levels. Are you ready for this? It might surprise you: donate blood.
In the study, researchers looked at 285 firefighters who regularly donated blood or plasma for a year. Firefighter foam is full of PFAS, so firefighters tend to have higher levels than most people. The researchers found that if these firefighters donated blood eight times a year (that’s every six weeks), they reduced their PFAS levels by 40%.
I’ve been looking into a treatment called therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), where they filter out your plasma to remove toxins. It’s amazing for people with high toxin loads, autoimmune conditions, or chronic illnesses, but it can cost a lot of money—around $5,000 to $10,000. However, for everyday prevention, donating blood can give you a similar benefit without the cost.
If you donate blood every six weeks, you can bring your plastic load down by 40%. If you donate plasma, which is a bit different from donating whole blood, you can reduce your PFAS levels by 60%.
Why This Matters for Your Health
Think about hormone balance. So many of us are trying different creams and patches to balance our hormones, but we haven’t thought about cleaning our blood. Donating blood every six weeks is a simple way to bring down that toxin load, which can help balance your hormones. Plus, donating blood and plasma saves lives. It’s a win-win: you reduce your plastic load and help another person.
If you’re in America and want to donate blood, you can go to the American Red Cross website, enter your zip code, and find out where to donate blood or plasma. For those with chronic conditions, treatments like TPE are great. But if you’re looking for a free way to lower microplastics, reduce PFAS, and balance your hormones, try giving blood.
We live in a time with a lot of toxins, and they affect our physical, mental, and hormonal health. We need simple, free strategies, just like fasting is a free strategy. Donating blood is another free and effective strategy.
Source: Dr. Mindy Pelz