Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that pervade our environment. Worse, they pervade our bodies…
Some are intentionally produced, like microbeads, plastic pellets and microfibers, and some result from the breakdown of larger plastics due to wear and tear.
Regardless, microplastics have been found throughout the human body… breaching the blood-brain barrier in seconds, lodging in blood clots and arterial plaques and taking up residency in organs like the liver and kidneys.
But they’re not just piling up. They contain endrocrine-disrupting chemicals that wreak havoc on our hormones and their functions. They’re also linked to disease-causing inflammation.
It’s easy to feel helpless against microplastics when they’re in the water we drink and the food we eat. But investigators have been exploring ways to help us cut down on the ingestion of microplastics…
Thankfully, an international team of researchers has made an exciting discovery about how we can all do that — and you won’t believe how incredibly easy it is…
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The secret lies in potent polyphenols
Antioxidants such as polyphenols are the substances that give fruits, vegetables and flowers their vibrant colors. Anthocyanins, a particularly potent group of polyphenols, are abundant in red, blue, and purple produce, as well as some nuts.
Previous research shows eating foods high in anthocyanins can lead to drastic reductions in acute inflammation and oxidative stress — two hallmarks of disease.
The team of researchers from Finland, China and Canada conducted a review of scientific literature to determine the impact of anthocyanins on microplastic-induced hormone dysfunction.
They found encouraging evidence that anthocyanin consumption can protect against a range of microplastic-induced effects on hormones, reductions in testosterone and estrogen, decreased sperm counts, lower sperm quality, erectile dysfunction and ovarian damage.
In essence, anthocyanins hold the potential to significantly reduce the toxic impact of microplastic consumption, offering a beacon of hope in the face of this environmental health crisis.
Microplastics have been found in the testicles and semen of males and ovarian tissue, placenta and breast milk of females. They also have been found in fetuses.
Some anthocyanins have demonstrated the ability to protect the integrity of the blood-testis barrier, which prevents microplastics from entering the tissue.
In another study, mice exposed to the same substances in microplastics that cause diseases were treated with anthocyanins. They showed increased sperm count and motility and an overall reduction in testicular damage.
Research also indicates anthocyanins can help restore testosterone production by protecting the cells responsible for producing it.
In women, anthocyanins could mitigate microplastics’ impact on fertility and sexual development. When rats with health issues that can be caused by microplastic exposure were treated with anthocyanins, they protected the ovarian tissue and normalized levels of estrogen and other hormones.
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Anthocyanins against microplastics
While the research reviewed in this study focused on reproductive issues, the hormone disruption caused by microplastics can also impact heart and brain health.
Previous studies investigating anthocyanins show their mighty antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties promote heart and brain health.
“The search for natural compounds to counteract these harmful effects is ongoing, with anthocyanins emerging as a promising candidate,” the study’s authors write.
The best sources of anthocyanins include:
- Blue, purple or red-skinned berries such as blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, elderberries, cranberries and bilberries
- Dark cherries
- Purple grapes (which also contain the powerful antioxidant resveratrol)
- Red cabbage (which contains over 36 different kinds of anthocyanins)
- Eggplants
- Purple asparagus
- Pomegranates
Keep in mind that anthocyanins can be degraded through high-temperature cooking methods. If you want to preserve the anthocyanin content of these foods, it’s best to consume them raw or gently steam or boil them.
Sources:
Antioxidants in fruits and flowers seem to counteract harmful effects of microplastics, study shows — The Guardian
Exploring the potential protective role of anthocyanins in mitigating micro/nanoplastic-induced reproductive toxicity: A steroid receptor perspective — Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis
Anthocyanins keep heart disease, diabetes and obesity away — Easy Health Options