New research has revealed a concerning link between microplastics, ultra-processed foods and mental health, according to a collection of four papers published Tuesday in a medical journal, Brain Medicine.
Ultra-processed foods, including items like soft drinks, chips and processed meats, are known to be high in added sugars, saturated fat and sodium. Previous studies have connected UPF consumption to a higher risk of depression, anxiety and poor sleep.
“We’re seeing converging evidence that should concern us all,” explains Dr. Nicholas Fabiano, a psychiatry resident at the University of Ottawa and a lead author. “Ultra-processed foods now comprise more than 50% of energy intake in countries like the United States, and these foods contain significantly higher concentrations of microplastics than whole foods. Recent findings show these particles can cross the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in alarming quantities.”
Experts say UPFs are more susceptible to microplastic contamination due to their packaging, additives and processing equipment. For instance, chicken nuggets contain 30 times more microplastics per gram than chicken breasts, the researchers said.
“This hypothesis is particularly compelling because we see remarkable overlap in biological mechanisms,” said Dr. Wolfgang Marx, a senior fellow at Deakin University and co-author. “Ultra-processed foods have been linked to adverse mental health through inflammation, oxidative stress, epigenetics, mitochondrial dysfunction, and disruptions to neurotransmitter systems. Microplastics appear to operate through remarkably similar pathways.”
The good news, according to another study, is that a blood-filtering technique known as extracorporeal apheresis could potentially remove microplastics from the body.
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