#MentalHealthMonday - Microplastics: The Uninvited Guests at Your Dinner Table

Today’s #MentalHealthMonday episode? Might shock you a little.

Because we’re talking about something that’s in your water, your food, your clothes, your makeup—heck, it’s probably in your bloodstream right now.

Microplastics.
“Your Gut Called—It’s Tired of Eating Tupperware”
“Breaking Up with Plastic (It’s Not Me, It’s You)”

Tiny pieces of plastic that are everywhere—and I mean everywhere. Including inside you.

But don’t panic—this episode isn’t about fear. It’s about awareness. And power. Because once you know where plastic came from, what it’s doing to us, and how to reduce it—you’ll realize how deeply beautiful it is to take control of your environment.

 

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A Quick History of Plastic 

Let’s rewind the tape.

Plastic was invented in 1907 by a Belgian chemist named Leo Baekeland. It was hailed as a miracle material. Durable, moldable, lightweight, and cheap. In the post-WWII era, it became synonymous with progress—convenience, prosperity, modern life.

Tupperware parties, polyester pantsuits, Barbie dolls, grocery bags—it was all plastic, and it was everywhere. Still is.

But no one stopped to ask: Where does it go when we're done with it?

Here’s the sobering truth: Every piece of plastic ever made still exists.

And as it breaks down? It becomes microplastics—particles smaller than 5mm. Too tiny to see. Too sneaky to filter out. Too dangerous to ignore.

 

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The Science of Microplastics 

Let’s get into your inner nerd for a second (you know she’s in there).

Microplastics come from:

• Plastic packaging breaking down in the sun

• Synthetic clothing shedding fibers in the wash

• Plastic containers releasing particles when heated

• Even car tires and city dust

We inhale them. We drink them. We eat them.

Recent studies have found microplastics in:

• Human blood

• Breast milk

• Placenta

• And yes… even the lungs

They carry endocrine-disrupting chemicals like BPA and phthalates. These mimic hormones and can interfere with:

• Fertility

• Thyroid function

• Gut health

• Brain development

The gut microbiome—our second brain—is especially vulnerable. Ingested plastics can trigger inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune dysfunction. That affects everything, from mood to metabolism.

 

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Where They’re Hiding 

Here’s the unsettling part:
You’re likely eating a credit card’s worth of plastic every week. Not a metaphor. That’s per research by the WWF in 2019.

Let’s name names. Microplastics are hiding in:

• 🥤 Bottled water (much worse than tap!)

• 🐟 Shellfish and fish (especially those eaten whole)

• 🧂 Table salt (refined sea salts often contain plastic particles)

• 🍱 Plastic-wrapped takeout

• 🍵 Plastic teabags

• 🍼 Baby bottles made with polypropylene

• 🌬️ Even the air you breathe—especially indoors

 

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PART 4: How to Eat (and Live) With Less Plastic I want you to feel empowered, not overwhelmed. So here are five practical shifts you can start today:

1. Ditch the plastic water bottle
   Use a glass or stainless steel reusable one. Filter your water with a carbon filter or reverse osmosis system.

2. Eat more whole, unpackaged foods
   Shop farmers markets. Choose produce without plastic wrap. Bonus: it’s usually fresher and tastes better!

3. Swap your food storage
   Store leftovers in glass containers, not plastic. Don’t microwave in plastic—ever.

4. Wear natural fibers
   Cotton, wool, bamboo > polyester. Synthetic clothes shed microfibers in the wash and into our water systems.

5. Choose loose-leaf tea
   Many tea bags are sealed with plastic. Opt for metal infusers and loose blends.

Start small. Start somewhere. Then build. You don’t need to be perfect. Just intentional.

 

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The Beauty of Conscious Living 

Here’s my challenge to you:

👉 This week, swap one plastic item in your daily routine for a reusable or natural version. Just one.
A water bottle. A food container. A bag of produce.
And then tell someone about it. Share this episode. Spark a conversation.

Because the real solution? Isn’t just personal.
It’s collective. Cultural. Global.

Plastic pollution isn’t just about trash. It’s about values.
And I believe that when we truly love ourselves—when we believe our bodies and our children’s bodies are worth protecting—we change the way we shop, eat, think, and vote.

You, my friend, are part of this shift.
You are the ripple effect.
And yes, you are allowed to be radiant, healthy, and fully informed.

Thanks for listening to The Meredith Patterson Podcast. If this episode moved you, please leave a review, share it with a friend, and remember: Bliss is your birthright.

Let’s go out there, breathe clean air, drink clean water, and live plastic-free—one empowered step at a time.