Your Best Defense Against Microplastics Might Already Be in Your Produce Drawer

If it seems like a weekly occurrence that a new microplastic-filled product is potentially harming your health, you’re right. Between tea bags, lipstick, dishwasher detergent, and gum (among many other things), it’s hard to avoid these tiny toxic particles. But there’s a glimmer of good news: a study published in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis found that colorful fruits and vegetables may combat the negative effects of microplastics in the body.

Fruits and vegetables are known for their abundant vitamins and minerals, but the study examined how anthocyanins — natural compounds found in colorful fruits and vegetables — may protect the reproductive systems from microplastic damage. Specifically, researchers explored how anthocyanins interact with steroid receptors (protein molecules within a cell that bind to hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone) which play essential roles in reproductive health, says Angelo Falcone, MD, an integrative medicine physician and founder of Dignity Integrative Health and Wellness. “This isn’t an original research study with experiments, but rather a comprehensive review of existing literature because the study authors looked at how microplastics disrupt our endocrine system and harm reproductive health, then assessed how anthocyanins might counteract these effects through their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.”