Dangers of Prolonged Plastic Use

Plastic. It’s everywhere. Yes, we rely on its value as far as convenience and cost. However, making our lives easier and cheaper is coming at a price. Did you know that prolonged plastic use comes with health risks? From hormone disruption to cancer, infertility, and now, cardiovascular damage.

A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, based on data from more than 200 people undergoing surgery due to stroke risk shows that nearly 60% had microplastics – or even smaller nanoplastics – in a main artery. Scarily, those 60% are “4.5 times more likely to experience a heart attack, a stroke, or death in the (approximately) 34 months following the surgery than those with plastic-free arteries.”

Limiting Day-to-Day Plastic Exposure

We don’t yet know the full scope of how plastic affects our bodies, and each body reacts differently to plastic – how it’s able to remove and break it down.  For me and my family, I choose to limit our plastic exposure to mitigate future health concerns.  We do this by using:

• Cloth produce bags
• Glass and stainless steel food and drink containers
  • Bringing our own container for leftovers when we go out for a meal
• High-quality water filter
• Whole food options, purchasing less processed & pre-packaged food
• Good laundry practices – clothes are a huge source of microplastics. We reduce exposure by:
  • Doing fewer, more fully loaded loads
  • Using cold water
  • Using less detergent
  • Drying laundry on a clothesline

Micro / Nano Plastics & Inflammation

The study also reveals that those who have micro or nano plastics in their blood often have higher level biomarkers for inflammation. It’s well-known that more inflammation places people at greater health risk. So if you’re already dealing with plaque or other cardiovascular issues, those plastics only make a bad situation worse.

While some exposure is out of our control, regardless of “best practices,” the less you interact with plastic, the better your future health. To learn more about holistic health approaches to boost your cardiovascular wellness, let’s talk. I’m diving into more cardiometabolic knowledge to help clients who want to adjust their overall approach to health to include proven functional nutrition methods.

Get in touch with Christopher Horan, CR, CFNC, to discuss how a holistic nutrition approach can transform your overall health. He is a Certified Functional Nutrition Counselor (CFNC) through the Functional Nutrition Alliance, as well as a longtime Certified Rolfer (CR). His practice offices are in Tacoma and Bellevue, Washington.

Reference Sources:
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2400683

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/microplastics-linked-to-heart-attack-stroke-and-death/?_kx=hyPJ_CySsJG_gOPehS77aLXxT8ehqHCjzcT3WxAa3wiLK3a6e54t_jUwHsvkbdeZ.HKMsXE

Laundry Source: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/laundry-is-a-top-source-of-microplastic-pollution-heres-how-to-clean-your-clothes-more-sustainably

Magnesium is a naturally occurring mineral in many everyday whole foods and snacks: pumpkin seeds, roasted almonds, brown rice, and spinach, to name just a few (more here on the National Institute of Health’s site). Overall, magnesium is heavily involved in cellular metabolic and biochemical processes. With it being so readily available, how is it that being magnesium deficient is so common?

According to the NIH article cited above, as much as 75 percent of us in the US fall into the range of magnesium deficient. No surprise that processed foods are one of the culprits – refining and processing strips the nutrients out of foods. But sometimes, our bodies work against us.

The kicker: it’s really hard to test for magnesium deficiency using blood tests, etc. Most of us simply have to figure it out on our own based on symptoms or with the help of a professional, like a functional nutrition counselor.

For instance, subtle symptoms may already exist – you have trouble sleeping well, suffer from anxiety, or get frequent muscle cramps.  You’re also highly likely to be deficient when you’re a diabetic, suffer from other insulin-resistant issues, have a Vitamin D deficiency, or deal with Crohn’s or Celiac disease – just to name a few chronic health issues.

Why it’s Important to Take the Right Form of Magnesium

You’ve likely never had to think too much about magnesium, so you may be unaware there are multiple types, each with its own strengths. An intake process with a qualified FxN counselor can help you more efficiently identify the type of magnesium that best suits you, the cause of your symptoms, and your body’s tolerance for supplements.  Avoid wasting time with the incorrect form. 

I’ll go into more detail on the various types in the next post, but they are:

• Magnesium Glycinate
• Magnesium L-Threonate
• Topical Magnesium: Magnesium Chloride & Sulfate
• Magnesium Malate
• Magnesium Citrate
• Magnesium Taurate
• Magnesium Oxide

As with anything you’re going to ingest, be sure to read the full ingredients list – the shorter that list, the better! You want to avoid fillers and additives (gelatin, magnesium stearate) that may irritate your system. Taking the correct form will address magnesium deficiency and ensure you’re absorbing key nutrients in the most beneficial way.

Contact Christopher Horan for more information on holistic nutrition or pain-free movement. He is a Certified Functional Nutrition Counselor (CFNC) through the Functional Nutrition Alliance, as well as a longtime Certified Rolfer (CR). His practice offices are in Tacoma and Bellevue, Washington.