🧠 The Plastic Within: How Microplastics Hijack Your Health

 By Dr. Shruthi Thennati | Kayakalpa Clinic, Vadodara

MBBS, MD, DipIBLM, PgDip Endocrine (UK)
General Physician | Metabolic Physician | Lifestyle Medicine Practitioner

🌊 Imagine This

You’re holding a glass of crystal-clear water.
 It looks pure. Feels refreshing. But hidden in that innocent sip are tiny fragments of plastic — the same stuff used in bottles, clothes, and food packaging.

Now, imagine those microscopic particles making their way through your bloodstream, quietly lodging in your arteries — even reaching your heart.

Sounds like science fiction?
Unfortunately, it’s science fact.

💥 The Shocking Discovery

In a landmark NEJM (2024) study, researchers found microplastics inside human arteries, linked to a 4.5× higher risk of heart attack, stroke, or death.
 Nanoplastics were literally embedded within arterial plaques — the kind we see every day in patients with heart disease.

This isn’t just about ocean pollution or sea turtles anymore.
 It’s about what’s happening inside us.

🧬 How Does Plastic Get Inside?

Microplastics are everywhere — in the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink.
 Every week, the average person consumes about 5 grams of plastic — roughly the weight of a credit card.

Here’s how they sneak in:

• Ingestion: Bottled water, seafood, salt, even vegetables.
• Inhalation: Synthetic clothing fibers and airborne dust.
• Skin contact: Cosmetics, personal care products, and non-stick cookware.

And once inside, they don’t just sit quietly.

The Biological Backlash

Microplastics are not inert. They trigger oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and cellular damage.
 They alter gut bacteria, disrupt hormone balance, and worsen insulin resistance — setting the stage for chronic diseases like:

• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Obesity
• Atherosclerosis

In short, they behave like the perfect storm for lifestyle diseases.

Plastic: The New Smoking?

Just as we once underestimated the risks of tobacco, we may be underestimating the silent epidemic of microplastic exposure.
 Plastics carry toxic chemicals — phthalates, BPA, and PFAS (“forever chemicals”) — that mimic our hormones and confuse our metabolism.
 Even unborn babies aren’t spared: microplastics have been detected in the placenta and breast milk.

We’re no longer just polluting the planet — we’re polluting ourselves.

Can Lifestyle Medicine Help?

Here’s the good news: small, daily choices can dramatically reduce your plastic load.

Try this “anti-plastic prescription”:

• Drink from steel or glass bottles, not plastic ones.
• Switch to cast iron or stainless steel cookware.
• Eat more fresh, unpackaged foods.
• Wear natural fibers like cotton or linen.
• Say no to cosmetics with microbeads or synthetic glitter.

These aren’t just eco-friendly moves — they’re biochemical interventions for your future health.

What’s Next: AI Joins the Fight

At Kayakalpa, we’re exploring how AI can personalize prevention.
 Our upcoming tool, PlastiRisk AI, will help estimate your microplastic exposure risk — based on your lifestyle, environment, and diet.
 It’s where science meets data, and prevention becomes personal.

Microplastics may be invisible, but their impact is anything but.
 Every sip, every breath, every meal matters.

So, the next time you reach for that bottle of water — remember: you might be hydrating… and plasticizing.

Choose wisely.
 Because health isn’t just about what you eat — it’s about what you unknowingly consume.

“Detox isn’t a 3-day cleanse — it’s a lifelong choice to live lighter, cleaner, and plastic-free.”

🔗 Book Your Visit Today

Visit: 🌐 www.kayakalpa.in
 📱 Call/WhatsApp: [+91 90232 68462]
 📍 Google Maps: “Kayakalpa Clinic, Old Padra Road”