People are being encouraged to ‘rethink’ their drinking habits, especially if they enjoy a cup of tea and use tea bags. The warning comes from health expert Dr Eric Berg DC, who explained why people should use paper bags or loose tea leaves instead in a video titled: ” Critical: detoxify your brain from microplastics”.
In it, he discusses the risk certain everyday items can pose regarding the amount of plastic they contain. One such item he lists is tea bags, which can release microplastics and nanoplastics into your cup, potentially posing health problems if consumed.
This concern is primarily aimed at tea bags that are made from plastic or contain plastic sealants. Prolonged consumption of these tiny plastic particles could potentially lead to poor gut health and a weakened immune system. Fortunately, many brands now offer plastic-free alternatives, such as paper bags with compostable bioplastics or organic cotton.
Dr Berg begins his video by telling viewers: “Today I’m going to discuss a very important topic: how to detoxify the plastic out of your brain microplastics. The brain accumulates the most microplastics of all of the organs the brain accumulates seven to 30 times more microplastics than the liver in the kidneys.”
Dr Berg is a nutritionist, researcher and chiropractic doctor specialising in diet and weight loss. He is otherwise known as The Knowledge Doc and is the author of “The 7 Principles of Fat Burning” and “The Healthy Keto Plan”. The former chiropractor turned health educator regularly uploads health content online, including his YouTube channel, which has 13 million subscribers.
He shared how ‘forever’ chemicals in certain plastic food and drink items can impact your health. “They can bind with proteins in your blood, creating problems as they bioaccumulate in the body over time,” he said.
He referenced a report by researchers at the University of New Mexico, who found the average brain has the equivalent of about seven grams of microplastics. This amount is 50% more than that detected in similar studies from 2016.
Why tea bags can be ‘toxic’
Dr Berg recommends “natural tea bags without plastic” instead of plastic tea bags. According to a study by the American Chemical Society, plastic teabags release billions of microscopic particles into tea.
Researchers from McGill University also examined four well-known tea brands available in stores and discovered that a single plastic tea bag can release 11.6 billion microplastic and 3.1 billion nanoplastic particles into the water. While experts are still uncertain about the precise impact these chemicals may have on our health, consuming plastic certainly doesn’t seem like a wise or healthy choice.
The particles originate from the polypropylene used by many manufacturers to seal tea bags. These microplastics are commonly found in various foods and drinks (including bottled water), but the study indicated that the amount released by tea bags was thousands of times greater than that of other products.
How to ‘detoxify’
Dr Berg claimed: “Scientists are working to develop microbes, fungi, and enzymes that can eat plastic, but until those are developed, there are only two things you can do to detoxify your body of microplastics. First, avoid plastic! “
He added: “High-quality deep sleep is vital to detox microplastics from the brain. Inducing autophagy can also detox microplastics. Fasting for at least 18 hours is one of the best ways to induce autophagy.” Fasting isn’t suitable for everyone. Speak to your doctor first to check if it is safe for you.
He continued: “Plastics and forever chemicals create oxidative stress in the body, which can be countered with strong antioxidant systems. Foods high in sulfur, such as garlic, onions, and cruciferous vegetables, can help strengthen your body’s antioxidant networks. NAC and milk thistle are great for detoxification.”
Choose fully biodegradable tea bags that are free from plastic, organic, or crafted from plant-based materials. Additionally, look for tea bags labelled as “free of epichlorohydrin,” a chemical that some producers use to enhance the bags’ durability.
Dr Berg’s other tips to reduce microplastics in your body
- Use a water filter
- Eliminate plastic cutting boards
- Avoid dishwasher pods
- Switch to biodegradable coffee filters
- Use sea salt from an ancient seabed
- Avoid plastic baby bottles
- Use a stainless steel water bottle
- Use plastic-free sponges
- Avoid canned food and liquids
- Use bamboo toothbrushes
- Use glass Tupperware
- Avoid plastic dental floss
- Use 100% organic cotton tampons