These 3 Things Help Excrete Microplastics, BPA, & Phthalates | Rhonda Patrick

Summary

The video script discusses how our bodies handle microplastics and associated chemicals like BPA, BPS, phthalates, and PFAS. It highlights the liver's role in processing these substances and the challenges of constant exposure. The script suggests strategies to aid detoxification, such as incorporating sulfurane-rich foods, increasing dietary fiber, and engaging in physical activities that promote sweating. However, it notes the limitations in eliminating 'forever chemicals' due to their long half-life, emphasizing the importance of reducing plastic exposure.

Takeaways

• 🧬 The body processes chemicals like BPA, BPS, phthalates, and PFAS through the liver using Phase 2 detoxification enzymes.
• ⏱️ BPA is cleared relatively quickly within about 6 hours, while phthalates take between 12 to 24 hours.
• 🔄 PFAS, or 'forever chemicals', have a half-life of 2 to 5 years, making them difficult to eliminate and leading to accumulation in organs.
• 🌐 Microplastics vary in size; larger particles can be excreted through feces, but smaller nanoplastics can cross biological barriers and enter the bloodstream.
• 🥦 Sulfurane, found in cruciferous vegetables, activates the Nrf2 pathway, enhancing the body's detoxification enzymes and potentially helping to clear harmful chemicals.
• 🥦 Animal studies show sulfurane can reduce BPA-related toxicity by boosting Phase 2 detoxification enzymes.
• 🥦 Incorporating sulfurane-rich foods or supplements could be a strategy for detoxifying harmful chemicals.
• 🥦 Dietary fiber can bind to harmful chemicals in the GI tract, reducing absorption and promoting excretion through feces.
• 💦 Physical activity and sweating can also help eliminate harmful chemicals, as trace amounts of BPA and phthalate metabolites are found in sweat.
• 🚫 Avoiding exposure to PFAS is the best strategy due to their resistance to breakdown and long half-life in the body.

Q & A

How do microplastics and associated chemicals enter the human body?

Microplastics and associated chemicals can enter the human body through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact.

What role does the liver play in processing these chemicals?

The liver processes these chemicals using various enzymes, particularly Phase 2 detoxification enzymes, which convert them into more water-soluble forms for easier excretion.

How quickly is BPA typically cleared from the body?

BPA is cleared relatively fast, within about 6 hours under normal conditions.

What is the difference between how BPA and phthalates are excreted compared to PFAS (forever chemicals)?

BPA and phthalates are excreted relatively quickly, whereas PFAS have a half-life of 2 to 5 years, making them harder to eliminate and more likely to accumulate in organs.

How do microplastics of different sizes affect excretion?

Larger microplastics can pass through the gut and be excreted in feces, while smaller nanoplastics can cross biological barriers and enter the bloodstream.

What is a promising dietary strategy to help the body clear out chemicals like BPA, BPS, and phthalates?

Incorporating sulfurane-rich foods or supplements into the diet can activate the Nrf2 pathway, boosting Phase 2 detoxification enzymes that help clear out toxins.

How does dietary fiber help in the elimination of harmful chemicals?

Dietary fiber can bind to lipophilic chemicals in the GI tract, reducing their absorption and promoting excretion via feces.

What is the potential role of physical activity in eliminating microplastic-associated chemicals?

Physical activity and practices that induce sweating can help eliminate harmful chemicals and compounds from the body, as sweat contains trace amounts of BPA and phthalate metabolites.

Why are the excretion strategies less effective for PFAS chemicals?

Excretion strategies are less effective for PFAS because they are resistant to metabolic breakdown and have a long half-life in the body.

What is the best way to avoid the accumulation of PFAS chemicals in the body?

The best way to avoid PFAS is to reduce exposure by avoiding plastics, especially those with high concentrations of PFAS, and by reducing overall plastic use.

How can a fiber-rich diet potentially aid in the excretion of microplastics?

A fiber-rich diet might help encapsulate microplastics in the gut, facilitating their removal through regular bowel movements and reducing their residence time in the body.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 Detoxification of Microplastics and Chemicals

The script discusses how our bodies handle microplastics and associated chemicals like BPA, BPS, phthalates, and PFAS (forever chemicals). These chemicals are absorbed by the liver, which uses Phase 2 detoxification enzymes to convert them into more water-soluble forms for excretion, primarily through urine. However, the constant exposure to these chemicals means our bodies are in a continuous state of processing them. The script highlights that PFAS chemicals are particularly concerning due to their long half-life and resistance to breakdown, leading to accumulation in organs. Microplastics, especially nanoplastics, can cross biological barriers and enter the bloodstream, with their excretion mechanisms still not fully understood. The paragraph suggests that boosting the body's natural detoxification systems through dietary interventions, such as consuming sulfurane-rich foods like broccoli sprouts, could help increase the excretion of harmful chemicals.

05:02

🥦 Dietary and Lifestyle Interventions for Detoxification

The second paragraph focuses on strategies to help the body clear out harmful chemicals and microplastics more efficiently. It emphasizes the role of sulfurane, a compound found in cruciferous vegetables, which activates the Nrf2 pathway and boosts Phase 2 detoxification enzymes. The script also explores the potential of dietary fiber to aid in the excretion of larger microplastics by binding to lipophilic chemicals in the gut and promoting their excretion through feces. Physical activity and practices that induce sweating, like exercise and sauna use, are mentioned as additional methods to eliminate harmful chemicals from the body. The paragraph concludes by noting that while these strategies can be effective for chemicals like BPA and phthalates, they are less so for PFAS due to their resistance to metabolic breakdown. It advises reducing exposure to plastics as the best way to avoid PFAS.

Keywords

💡Excretion methods

Excretion methods refer to the processes by which the body eliminates waste products and toxins. In the context of the video, these methods are crucial for handling the influx of microplastics and associated chemicals. The script discusses how these substances are absorbed and processed, primarily by the liver, and then excreted, mostly through urine.

💡Microplastics

Microplastics are small plastic particles that are less than 5mm in size. They are a significant environmental and health concern as they can enter the body through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact. The video script emphasizes the difficulty in excreting these particles, especially nanoplastics, which can cross biological barriers and enter the bloodstream.

💡Chemicals

The script mentions various chemicals such as BPA (Bisphenol A), BPS (Bisphenol S), phthalates, and PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, also known as 'forever chemicals'). These chemicals are associated with plastics and can have detrimental health effects. The video discusses how the body handles these chemicals and the challenges in their excretion.

💡Phase 2 detoxification enzymes

These are liver enzymes that play a vital role in the body's detoxification process. They convert harmful chemicals into more water-soluble forms, facilitating their excretion through urine. The video explains that these enzymes are activated to handle the influx of chemicals from plastics.

💡BPA

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical compound found in many plastics and epoxy resins. It is known to have endocrine-disrupting effects. The script mentions that BPA is cleared relatively fast from the body within about 6 hours under normal conditions.

💡Phthalates

Phthalates are a class of chemicals used primarily to soften plastics. They are associated with potential health risks and are discussed in the video in relation to their longer excretion time, ranging between 12 to 24 hours, depending on the compound.

💡Forever chemicals (PFAS)

PFAS, or 'forever chemicals,' are a group of man-made chemicals that are highly resistant to breaking down in the environment and in the body. They have a half-life of 2 to 5 years, leading to accumulation in organs and posing long-term health risks. The video highlights the difficulty in eliminating these chemicals once they accumulate.

💡Sulfurane

Sulfurane is a molecule found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli sprouts. It activates the Nrf2 pathway, which is a master regulator of detoxification. The video suggests that sulfurane can boost Phase 2 detoxification enzymes, potentially helping the body clear out harmful chemicals more efficiently.

💡Dietary fiber

Dietary fiber is discussed in the video as a potential aid in the elimination of chemicals associated with plastics and possibly microplastics themselves. It can bind to lipophilic chemicals in the gastrointestinal tract, reducing their absorption and promoting excretion through feces.

💡Physical activity

Physical activity and practices that induce sweating, such as exercise, sauna, and hot yoga, are mentioned as methods to eliminate harmful chemicals and compounds from the body. Sweat can contain trace amounts of BPA and phthalate metabolites, suggesting that regular sweating could help reduce the body's toxic burden.

💡Nrf2

Nrf2, or Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, is a protein that acts as a master regulator of detoxification. It controls the production of enzymes that help the body clear out toxins. The video explains how sulfurane activates Nrf2, potentially enhancing the body's natural detoxification processes.

Highlights

The body processes microplastics and associated chemicals like BPA, BPS, phthalates, and PFAS through the liver.

Phase 2 detoxification enzymes help convert harmful chemicals into more water-soluble forms for excretion.

BPA is cleared relatively fast within about 6 hours under normal conditions.

Phthalates take longer to clear, ranging between 12 to 24 hours depending on the compound.

Our bodies are in a near continuous state of processing these chemicals due to constant exposure.

PFAS, or 'forever chemicals', have a half-life of 2 to 5 years and accumulate in organs.

Microplastics vary in size; larger particles can be excreted in feces, while smaller nanoplastics enter the bloodstream.

The long-term health implications of microplastics accumulation in organs are a growing concern.

Sulfurane, found in cruciferous vegetables, activates the Nrf2 pathway, a master regulator of detoxification.

Sulfurane can increase the excretion of toxins like Benzene and acryline by up to 60%.

Incorporating sulfurane-rich foods or supplements can help detoxify BPA, BPS, and phthalates.

Dietary fiber can bind to lipophilic chemicals in the GI tract, reducing absorption and promoting excretion via feces.

A fiber-rich diet may help encapsulate and remove larger microplastics through regular bowel movements.

Physical activity and practices that induce sweating can help eliminate harmful chemicals from the body.

Sweat contains trace amounts of BPA and phthalate metabolites, suggesting it as a viable route for excretion.

Consistent sweating through exercise or sauna use can play a role in reducing the body's toxic burden.

Excretion strategies are less effective for PFAS due to their resistance to metabolic breakdown.

Avoiding exposure to plastics is the most effective way to reduce the burden of PFAS chemicals.

Transcripts

okay lastly I want to cover some

excretion methods I want to talk about

how our bodies handle the influx of

microplastics and the chemicals

associated with them including BPA BPS

phalates and the forever chemicals the

pasas so once these chemicals enter the

body whether it's through ingestion or

inhalation or through skin contact they

are quickly absorbed and processed

primarily by the liver the liver is

equipped with a variety of enzymes part

of these enzymes are called Phase 2

detoxification enzymes these are enzymes

that convert these chemicals into more

water soluble forms making them easier

for our body to excrete them mostly

through urine for example BPA is cleared

relatively fast within about 6 hours

under normal conditions ballades take a

bit longer ranging between 12 to 24

hours depending on the specific compound

while that might sound reassuring the

problem is we are exposed to these

chemicals almost constantly so our

bodies are in a near continuous state of

processing them but this is where it

gets even more complicated so past again

these are forever chemicals do not break

down easily so unlike BPA or phalates

the past have a halflife of 2 to 5 years

meaning they accumulate in our organs

like the liver and the kidneys and their

persistence in the body makes them much

harder harder to eliminate they stick

around and they build up over time then

there's microplastics themselves

microplastics do vary in size larger

particles could pass through the gut and

be excreted in feces but the smaller

nanoplastics these are the really really

tiny particles these are crossing

biological barriers and they're entering

the bloodstream once they get into

circulation systemically we don't really

fully understand how or if they're ever

excreted efficiently what we do know is

that they are accumulating in our organs

in our tissues and this is a growing

concern when we talk about long-term

Health implications so how do we help

our bodies clear out chemicals like BPA

BPS and phalates more efficiently one

promising strategy revolves around

tapping into our body's natural

detoxification systems and we can do

that through dietary and lifestyle

interventions one compound that really

stands out here is sulfur F you've

probably heard me talk about this before

it's a powerful molecule found in

broccoli sprouts and other cruciferous

vegetables sulfurane activates a key

pathway called

Nrf2 think of Nrf2 as a master regulator

of

detoxification it controls the

production of enzymes that helps our

body clear out many many toxins it

boosts The Phase 2 detoxification

enzymes these are enzymes that bind to

harmful chemicals and make them more

water soluble so we can excrete them

through our urine animal Studies have

shown that when rodents are exposed to

BPA and given sulfurane their Phase 2

detoxification enzymes go into overdrive

and they experience less overall BPA

related toxicity now while there's not a

lot of direct evidence on sulfurane

ability to clear BPA and phalates

specifically I think the mechanism here

is very solid and we do have compelling

human data in other areas for instance

studies show that sulfurane can increase

the excretion of toxins like Benzene and

acryline which we get exposed through

through air pollution and food by up to

60% so in my view incorporating

sulfurane rich foods into our diet like

broccoli Sprouts which contain up to a

100 times more sulfurane than mature

broccoli or considering a highquality

supplement of stabilized sulfurane or

its precursor glucoraphenin could be a

viable strategy for helping detoxify BPA

BPS and phalates and by doing so we do

Boost our body's natural detoxification

Pathways that has been shown in human

studies that could help us more

effectively eliminate some of these

microplastic Associated chemicals

another Avenue Worth exploring is the

role of dietary fiber in helping our

bodies eliminate chemicals associated

with plastics and perhaps even even some

microplastics themselves consuming fiber

rich foods can bind to lipophilic

chemicals like BPA and phalates in the

GI tract and reduce their absorption

into the bloodstream promoting their

excretion via feces so feces is another

way our bodies detoxify BPA phalates and

even microplastics some animal studies

support this mechanism indicating that

higher fiber intake leads to increased

fecal extre of these compounds but what

about microplastics themselves while

research is still emerging here I think

there's a reason to believe that dietary

fiber could Aid in the excretion of some

larger microplastics so since

microplastics can be trapped within the

gut Lumen a fiber rich diet could

potentially help encapsulate these

particles and facilitate their removal

through regular bowel movements

essentially fiber might help sweep the

gut clean and reduce the residence time

of microplastic

therefore limiting their chances of

causing harm and getting into the

bloodstream this means incorporating

foods that are high in fiber like

legumes fruits vegetables whole grains

could serve a dual purpose not only do

they provide essential nutrients and

micronutrients and phytochemicals and

fermentable fiber that supports overall

health and gut health but they also

could enhance the elimination of both

harmful chemicals and microplastic

particles let's talk about another

powerful tool for eliminating some of

these microplastic Associated chemicals

physical activity and practices that

induce sweating so exercise things like

sauna hot tubs even Hot Yoga sweat it's

not just about cooling down the body

it's also a way to eliminate harmful

chemicals and compounds from the body so

sweat does can trace Trace Amounts of

BPA and phalate metabolites Now While

most of these chemicals are excreted

through urine Studies have shown that

sweat can help too one study published

in the Journal of environmental and

public health found measurable levels of

phalates in sweat of participants I

think this tells us that regular

sweating whether through exercise or

sauna or hot yoga can be a viable root

for excreting some of these harmful

substances so while the amounts of BPA

and BPS and phalates that are excreted

in sweat are smaller compared to urine I

think consistent sweating could really

still play a meaningful role in

lightening the toxic burden load on our

body and lastly I do want to make one

last mention that these excretion

strategies that we've been discussing

are less effective for the forever

chemicals the past because of their

resistance to metabolic breakdown

because their Half-Life in the body is 2

to five years so really the best way to

avoid past is to avoid the exposure in

the first place and reducing our

exposure to Plastics does Remain the

most effective way to reducing our

burden of past chemicals so this means

avoiding plastic chemicals avoiding

mineral Waters with high concentrations

of past and really just trying hard to

reduce our use of plastics