5 Helpful Tips To Avoid The Consumption Of Microplastics Hidden In Your Food

Initially, the presence of microplastics was limited to packaged food. But nowadays a lot of vegetables and fruits also come with coats of microplastic. The reason why the presence of microplastics in food has become so rampant is the excess plastic pollution. The presence of plastic pollution in all parts of the world is quite threatening. 

Also Read: Does Sea Salt Contain Microplastics? Explains This Research

Often, this plastic gets coated up on fresh fruits and vegetables that are further sold in the market. As per a news published by BBC, upon the ingestion of microplastics in the body, a high level of cell damage can happen which may lead to both allergic reactions and inflammation. Here are some tips that will help you in avoiding the consumption of microplastics regularly.

* Packaging Of Food

Always opt for eco-friendly packaging for your food. At any cost, you must avoid using plastic especially while storing hot food. The transfer of microplastic in food through plastic containers is a very common phenomenon. Due to the hot temperature of the food, the plastic starts melting and particles of it start getting dissolved in the food. The best way to store hot food or any kind of food is by using materials like stainless steel, glass, and boxes made from bamboo, rice, husk, and such eco-friendly materials. This will not lead to the transfer of plastic in the food and it will stay devoid of any kind of harmful materials.

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* Use Less Processed Food

Using less processed food is also very important to make sure that the consumption of microplastics is as minimised as possible. Generally highly processed food always contains a greater quantity of microplastics. This is because this food has gone through multiple processes and during each of them a certain level of microplastics gets added. Consumption of more processed foods will lead to the accumulation of a lot of microplastics in the body. The best way to avoid it is by eating fresh food. A person's diet should only consist of fresh fruits, grains and vegetables. This is the best way to remain healthy.

* Don't Drink From Plastic 

Plastic bottles are popularly used for selling packaged drinks and water. This is a very common sight and mostly everyone is familiar with drinking water in plastic bottles. Storing water in plastic bottles is not at all a great idea. Instead, you must use glass water or stainless steel water bottles to store your water. This will help you in minimising the exposure of water to microplastics. Since water is such an essential thing to sustain life, it is necessary to avoid the exposure of water to microplastics as much as possible. Drinking water in a glass or stainless steel water bottle is going to harness a lot of health benefits. 

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* Don't Use Tea Bags

Using tea bags for making tea is another common method of dissolving plastic in tea which is a very popular drink in India. Just like using plastic utensils for storing food leads to the transfer of plastic in the food, using tea bags also leads to pretty much the same thing. The water and milk used for making tea are pretty hot. The tea bag usually consists of a plastic pouch that has tea and some other herbs. When the tea bag is dissolved in the water in milk, it leads to the exposure of the liquid to the plastic and the liquid also absorbs microplastics. The tea becomes exposed through this process. In a study published by The New Yorker, it was found that plastic bags contain hundreds of harmful chemicals other than micro plastics. The best way of drinking tea is by using all the fresh ingredients by yourself and avoiding using things like tea bags. 

* Don't Use Plastic Bags

Everyone is acquainted with the harmful effects of using plastic bags. This is why it is always suggested to avoid using plastic bags and instead resort to other storage methods. Keeping food and plastic bags leads to excessive exposure of food to microplastics. These plastic bags are made from very low-quality plastic that instantly gets melted and food transfers. As per the Centre for Biological Diversity, plastic bags are one of the primary reasons behind the deadly choking of a lot of animals. The best way to keep your food free from microplastics is by eradicating the use of microplastics at home. 

All of these tips are extremely helpful in ensuring that the food doesn't get exposed to microplastics and remains fit for consumption.