Doctors are urging people to be wary when reheating food, as it can lead to dementia by mistake.
A shocking amount of microplastic was found in the brains of dementia patients using plastic containers in the microwave after a new study.
A group of researchers recently conducted a study to find that using plastic containers in the microwave exposes people to microplastics and toxins accumulate in the human brain.
One tablespoon of microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) were discovered in the brain, revealing that levels were 3-5 times higher in people diagnosed with dementia.
Micro and nanoplastics are small plastic fragments less than 5 mm long, which can damage DNA and increase the risk of cancer.
Researchers also found that the concentration of plastic in the body is 7-30 times higher in the brain compared to other organs such as the liver and kidneys.
MNPs are also associated with cell death, altered gut microbiota, the formation of blood clots, and increased risk of heart attacks.
In response to this study, a group of physicians offered ways to reduce exposure to MNPs, such as changing plastic containers when reheating food in the microwave.
It was found that plasticity levels were 3-5 times higher in people diagnosed with dementia
Dr. Nicholas Fabiano, PhD at the University of Ottawa School of Psychiatry and the leading author of the commentary, said, “We are particularly wary of the dramatic increase in brain microelastic concentrations over just eight years from 2016 to 2024.
“This rise reflects the increase in exponential functions seen at the environmental microplastics level.”
Dr. Brandon Lu, an internal medicine resident at the University of Toronto, explained that heating food in plastic containers can release BPA and phthalates into the air, absorbed by the food, and penetrate the body when eaten.
BPA, short for bisphenol A, phthalate esters are industrial chemicals that can be added to plastics as part of the manufacturing process, making them even more durable.
Dr. Luu said in the Eureka Journal Paper: “Heating food in plastic containers can release a significant amount of microplastics and nanoplasia, especially in the microwave.
“While avoiding plastic edible storage and using glass or stainless steel alternatives is a small but meaningful step in limiting exposure.”
Heating plastics are one of the biggest drivers of eternal chemical exposure, and Mayo Clinic has forever warned that chemicals found in plastics will be released when items are reheated.
Separately, researchers at the University of Nebraska discovered in a 2023 study that plastic containers in the microwave release billions of nanoplasia and millions of microplastics per plastic container.
The Nebraska team also found that embryonic kidney cells died two days after being exposed to these particles.
Another 2024 study from Indian researchers shows that food grade plastics and foods that were in contact with plastics are heated, BPA is released, leached into food, and thus consumed, making them a potential candidate for serious health damage.”
Dr. Brandon Lou, an internal medicine resident at the University of Toronto, explained that heating food in plastic containers can cause the release of BPA and phthalate esters in microwave air that can contaminate food and enter the body.
BPA, short for bisphenol A, phthalate is an industrial chemical and can also be added to plastics as part of the manufacturing process.
Another large driver of MNP exposure is drinking water.
Dr. Luu pointed out that switching to bottled tap water alone can reduce microplastic intake to 90,000 to 4,000 particles per year.
He states: “Bottle of water alone can expose people to almost every number of microplastic particles each year, just as much as all sources of intake and inhalation combined.
“Switching to tap water can reduce this exposure by almost 90%, making it one of the easiest ways to reduce microplastic intake.”
Recently, the world’s leading infertility scientists have advised people to clarify the use of plastic containers in the microwave due to their potential impact on fertility.
Dr. Shanna Swan, an epidemiologist at the Icahn School of Medicine in Mount Sinai, New York, warned that consumption of BPA and phthalate chemicals released when heating microwave containers can cause fertility issues in the podcast.
BPA is said to be able to chemically “mimic” the female sex hormone estrogen, which can potentially destroy the normal hormonal balance that is thought to be tumor-fueled.
Phthalates are thought to harm fertility through the destruction of hormones, particularly male sex hormones, testosterone.
However, evidence suggests that female ovaries are also negatively affected.
