Microplastics in spam can hurt the brain: “We should worry us all”

More as disEating comfortable.

A collection of four works, published on Tuesday in Brain Medicine, reports a disturbing bond between microplastics, ultra -processed foods (UPF) and Mental Health.

UPFs, which are considered unhealthy because they are rich in added sugars, saturated fats and sodium, include refreshing drinks, fries, chocolate, ice cream, processed meats, many meals prepared for food and cereals produced in dough.

Previous investigations have shown that people who eat UPF have a substantially higher risk of depression, anxiety and bad sleep, but the role that microplastics can play in this connection has not been fully explored.

UPFs are more susceptible to microplastics than other foods due to their packaging and additives and the equipment used to process them.

As an example, researchers pointed to chicken pepites, which according to reports contain 30 times more microplastics per gram than chicken breasts.

“We are seeing convergent evidence that we should all worry about,” said Dr. Nicholas Fabiano, a psychiatry resident at Ottawa University in Canada, in a statement.

“Ultra processed foods now include more than 50% of energy intake in countries like the United States, and these foods contain significantly higher concentrations of microplastics than whole foods,” he added. “Recent findings show that these particles can cross the hematoencephalic barrier and accumulate in alarming quantities.”

This could even explain the recent bombs that our brains could contain a whole “tablespoon” of microplastics.

“This hypothesis is especially convincing because we see a remarkable overlap in biological mechanisms,” said Dr. Wolfgang Marx, a lead researcher at the Food & Mood center at Daakin University in Australia.

“Ultra processed foods have been linked to adverse mental health through inflammation, oxidative stress, epigenetics, mitochondrial dysfunction, and interruptions in neurotransmitter systems,” he continued. “Microplastics seem to work on notably similar tracks.”

While more research is needed on the alleged link between microplastics and mental health, current evidence is alarming.

“As ultra -processed food levels, microplastics and adverse mental health results increase simultaneously, it is imperative that we further investigate this potential association,” said Fabiano. “After all, you are what you eat.”

How to reduce your exposure to microplastics

• Avoid microwave foods in plastic containers: This can release millions of microplastic particles to food.
• Use glass or metal containers – they are safer for storage and food preparation.
• Limit UPF consumption: Opt for whole and not processed foods when possible.
• Filter tap water: This can help reduce microplastic ingestion.