What if the plastic you throw away doesn’t just pollute the planet, but ends up inside your body, too? It might sound extreme, but that’s exactly what researchers are discovering.

Tiny fragments of plastic – known as microplastics – are now turning up in everything from bottled water and table salt to human blood, gut tissue, and even the brain. And while these particles are invisible to the naked eye, their effects on our health are anything but subtle.

In this blog, we’ll explore what microplastics actually are, how they’re infiltrating our bodies, and what kind of damage they’re capable of – especially when it comes to the gut. You’ll also learn practical, proven ways to minimize your exposure, support your detox pathways, and protect your long-term health. Let’s dive in.

What Are Microplastics?

As the name implies, microplastics are itty-bitty fragments of plastic – some visible to the naked eye, others completely microscopic. But don’t let their size fool you. These tiny particles may be small, but their impact is massive.

There are two main types:¹

• Primary microplastics: Plastics intentionally manufactured to be small – like microbeads found in scrubs, cosmetics, or cleaning products.
• Secondary microplastics: These form when larger plastics (like water bottles or plastic bags) break down over time into smaller and smaller fragments.

And here’s the real problem: All plastic eventually becomes microplastic. Because plastic doesn’t biodegrade – it just breaks apart into smaller pieces, and never truly disappears.

Where Do Microplastics Come From – and How Are We Exposed?

The short answer? Just about everywhere. Microplastics originate from all kinds of plastic-based products – including some you’d never expect. Yes, they come from water bottles and food packaging. But they’re also hiding in carpets, furniture, electronics, paint, personal care products – you name it.

And once they’re out in the world, they’re impossible to contain. These tiny plastic particles infiltrate our:

• Bottled water
• Seafood (especially shellfish)
• Table salt
• Canned foods and ready meals
• Tea bags
• Household dust
• Even the air we breathe

Studies estimate that the average person consumes over 50,000 microplastic particles per year – and that number skyrockets if you regularly drink bottled water, especially when it’s exposed to sunlight. In other words: this isn’t just an environmental problem – it’s a human health problem. So what kind of impact are these plastic particles having on your body?

Let’s start at ground zero: the gut.

The Gut Is Ground Zero for Microplastic Damage

Once microplastics enter the body, their first stop – and primary area of impact – is the gut. And that’s a big deal. Because your gut isn’t just where digestion happens. It’s also home to two of the most important systems for your overall health:^2,3,4,5,6

1. Your microbiome: The trillions of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes that help digest food, regulate the immune system, produce essential nutrients, and even influence your brain.
2. Your gut lining: A thin but powerful barrier that acts like a filter – allowing nutrients in while keeping harmful substances out of the bloodstream.

When both of these are healthy, your body thrives. But when either one gets disrupted? It can trigger a chain reaction that affects every system in your body. And unfortunately, microplastics can wreak havoc on both. Here’s how:

They Disrupt the Microbiome

Your gut microbiome is like a bustling, microscopic city that helps keep everything in balance. But when microplastics enter the mix, they can throw that balance way off.

• Studies show that microplastic exposure leads to dysbiosis, a state where harmful bacteria outnumber beneficial ones.
• This imbalance weakens your immune defenses, disrupts digestion, and promotes inflammation throughout the body.
• It also reduces production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate, which are critical for calming inflammation and maintaining a healthy gut lining.

So instead of supporting your health, your gut microbiome can actually start working against you.

They Damage the Gut Barrier

As if disrupting your internal ecosystem wasn’t enough, microplastics can also cause physical damage to the gut lining.

• These tiny particles are resistant to digestion and can linger in the GI tract, irritating the gut wall.
• Over time, they increase intestinal permeability – better known as leaky gut.
• This allows bacterial toxins (like LPS), undigested food particles, and other inflammatory compounds to leak into your bloodstream.

Once that happens, your immune system sounds the alarm. Cue the chronic inflammation and a ripple effect of symptoms that don’t seem to go away – because they’re not just rooted in your gut anymore. Let’s look at what happens when these issues start spreading beyond the gut.

How Gut Damage from Microplastics Fuels Inflammation and Chronic Disease

Once microplastics disrupt the gut – by damaging the microbiome and weakening the intestinal barrier – they don’t just hang out in the digestive tract. They can migrate into other tissues, accumulate in cells, and trigger inflammatory responses throughout the entire body.

This systemic impact is fueled by a dangerous combination:

• Gut dysbiosis and leaky gut = harmful substances escaping into the bloodstream
• Microplastics themselves = physically infiltrating organs and amplifying immune dysfunction

It’s a double hit – and it sets the stage for chronic, hard-to-pin-down health issues that often seem unrelated on the surface. Let’s explore how this plays out in some of the body’s most vulnerable systems^.2,3,4,5,6

The Gut-Heart Axis: A Hidden Driver of Cardiovascular Risk

Your gut and your heart are more connected than most people realize. Through microbial metabolites, immune messengers, and inflammatory triggers, the gut plays a direct role in cardiovascular health. But when microplastics disrupt this axis, it can have major consequences.

Here’s what researchers have found:

• Dysbiosis allows inflammatory compounds like LPS and TMAO to enter circulation, fueling vascular inflammation
• This contributes to atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, and coronary artery disease
• Microplastics themselves have been detected inside arterial plaques, with one study showing that people with microplastics in their plaques had a 4.5x higher risk of major cardiovascular events (heart attack, stroke, or death)

These findings suggest that microplastics aren’t just along for the ride – they’re actively contributing to the progression of cardiovascular disease.

The Gut-Brain Axis and the Rise of Neuroinflammation

Your gut and brain communicate constantly through neural, hormonal, and immune pathways. But when this communication breaks down due to microplastic-induced gut disruption, the brain feels the ripple effects.

Studies now suggest that microplastics may play a role in triggering neurological symptoms by:

• Reducing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that normally protect brain health
• Increasing pro-inflammatory cytokines that can cross into the brain and alter function
• Disrupting neurotransmitter signaling linked to mood and cognition
• Accumulating directly in brain tissue, including regions like the hippocampus and olfactory bulb

In both animal models and autopsy samples, microplastics have been found embedded in the brain – raising red flags about their potential long-term neurological impact.

Everyone should experience a sharp mind and healthy cognitive growth. Click here to download my FREE guide on how to optimize brain performance both today, and long term.

Kidney Health and the Gut-Kidney Axis

Your kidneys are responsible for filtering waste and managing systemic balance. But when the gut barrier is compromised, the kidneys get hit hard. Here’s how microplastics strain kidney health:

• Leaky gut lets bacterial toxins and microplastics into the bloodstream, adding toxic load for the kidneys to process
• Animal studies show oxidative stress, fibrosis, and cellular damage in kidney tissue from microplastic exposure
• Co-exposure to microplastics and heavy metals (like cadmium) has been shown to worsen toxicity, increasing inflammation and organ stress

Microplastics have even been detected in human urine – confirming that they can circulate through the body and reach the kidneys for excretion. But before they get out, they may be doing some real damage.

So yes – gut health is ground zero. But the effects of microplastic exposure don’t stop there. They travel, accumulate, and amplify chronic inflammation in systems that are already under pressure. Which brings us to the most important question: What can we actually do about it?

What Can You Do About Microplastic Exposure?

The reality is, microplastics are everywhere. Even if you're doing your best to live clean, these tiny invaders are sneaking in through your food, water, air – and even your clothes and furniture. 

So the goal isn’t to eliminate exposure completely (that’s not realistic). The goal is to reduce what’s coming in while also supporting your body’s natural ability to process and eliminate what’s already there. Let’s start with some simple ways to minimize incoming exposure.

Minimize Your Overall Toxic Burden

Reducing the number of toxins entering your system gives your body more bandwidth to deal with the ones that are unavoidable. Microplastics are just one piece of a much larger toxic load puzzle – so lowering your overall burden is key.

Here are some easy ways to reduce exposure:

• Opt for plastic-free products when possible – especially in the kitchen
• Eat a fresh, unprocessed diet to avoid microplastic contamination from packaging
• Be mindful of your seafood intake – marine life often contains higher microplastic levels
• Invest in a high-quality water filter to cut down on microplastics in your tap
• Use an air filtration system designed to trap indoor pollutants, including microplastics
• Avoid microwaving food in plastic, and choose glass or stainless steel for food storage
• Swap out toxin-filled home and personal care products for low-tox ones (click here to explore some of my favorite swaps and recommendations)

Even small lifestyle shifts can significantly lighten your toxic load over time.

There are an estimated 84,000 chemicals in our everyday items. Download my FREE guide, reduce your daily exposure and improve your health today.

Boost Your Natural Detox Pathways

Reducing exposure is step one. But amplifying your body’s own detox abilities is where the real magic happens. Your body is already equipped with systems to eliminate toxins – your liver, kidneys, lymphatic system, and skin are constantly working behind the scenes. But thanks to our modern environment, these systems can easily get overwhelmed. Supporting them with detox-enhancing strategies can give your body a major edge.

Some of the most effective detox-supportive therapies include:

• PEMF therapy to stimulate cellular healing and circulation
• Infrared saunas to sweat out fat-soluble toxins through the skin
• IV vitamin therapy to replenish nutrients and antioxidant reserves
• Coffee enemas to support liver detox pathways
• Essential oils (like lemon, cilantro, or rosemary) to gently stimulate detoxification

Used consistently, these practices can help your body clear microplastics more efficiently and feel better in the process.

Incorporate Detox-Boosting Supplements

Your body also relies on specific nutrients to neutralize and eliminate toxins – and unfortunately, most of us aren’t getting enough through diet alone. Targeted supplementation can help you restore balance, repair gut integrity, and support phase I and II detoxification.

Some of my go-to detox supplements include:

• Probiotics to rebalance the gut microbiome and outcompete harmful bacteria
• Collagen to strengthen the gut lining and reduce permeability
• Glutathione + Vitamin C to support antioxidant defense and cellular detox
• Detox binders to trap and escort toxins like microplastics out of the body

To make it easy, I’ve bundled my favorite detox essentials into one simple Detox Support Bundle – curated to give you the biggest results with the fewest steps. You can find all these supplements and more in my online store – and get free shipping on all orders over $250.

While there’s no quick fix for microplastic exposure, these foundational practices can help your body stay strong, supported, and resilient – no matter what the environment throws your way.

Now, for those navigating deeper health issues or looking to do a full-on detox protocol, let’s talk next steps.

When to Get Expert Help

If you're dealing with persistent gut issues, chronic inflammation, or you're considering a more intensive detox protocol, it's worth getting the right support. Functional and Integrative Medicine Doctors are trained to dig deeper – to uncover the root causes of symptoms, assess toxic burden, and create personalized protocols that actually work for your body.

Whether it’s helping you navigate supplement stacks, designing a comprehensive gut repair plan, or exploring more advanced therapies like fecal microbiota transplants (FMT), a skilled practitioner can guide you every step of the way.

Because the truth is – detox isn’t always straightforward. And if your body is already struggling, you deserve more than just trial-and-error.

So, How Concerned Should I Really Be About Microplastics?

In short? Concerned – but not powerless. Microplastics are absolutely a real and growing threat to our health. The research is mounting, the exposures are constant, and the damage isn’t always easy to see – until it starts showing up as chronic inflammation, brain fog, digestive issues, or more serious disease. And no, the problem isn’t going away anytime soon.

But here’s the thing: we are not simply at the mercy of our environment. You are not helpless. You are not doomed. With the right tools, knowledge, and support, you can stack the deck in your favor – and create vibrant health and longevity in the face of modern challenges like this one. Because big change doesn’t come from obsessing over every toxin or living in fear of what’s around the corner.

It comes from the small, intentional choices you make every day. Filtering your water. Supporting your gut. Choosing better products. Getting curious. Learning how your body works. Being mindful of microplastics.

This is the lifestyle I’m passionate about helping people build. Not a perfect one. A powerful one. So, if you’re ready to protect yourself, optimize your health, and feel more confident navigating all this information, I’ve created hundreds of resources to help you do exactly that. 

You’ll find them on my blog, YouTube channel, in my book, and even in my film.

But the best place to start? Download my free Resource Roadmap. It’s the simplest way to cut through the noise, find what you need, and take your next step toward a healthier, more empowered life. Click here to get instant access to your free Resource Roadmap.

Resources:

1. microplastics | Definition, Properties, & Plastic Pollution | Britannica
2. Frontiers | Microplastics and human health: unveiling the gut microbiome disruption and chronic disease risks
3. Microplastics: what they are and how you can reduce them | Natural History Museum (nhm.ac.uk)
4. A Detailed Review Study on Potential Effects of Microplastics and Additives of Concern on Human Health (nih.gov)
5. Microplastic–toxic chemical interaction: a review study on quantified levels, mechanism and implication | SpringerLink
6. Toxicity of plastics – Blastic