News media says there’s no way to remove microplastics from the body—research says otherwise

Microplastics are in the news a lot lately, and for good reason. After twenty years of warnings from “conspiracy theory people” on the periphery, the plastic problem is now widely acknowledged.

The world produces around 350 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, much of ending up in the world’s oceans and rivers. As the plastic breaks down, tiny pieces—microplastics and even smaller nanoplastics—end up literally everywhere.

And “everywhere” includes in the stomach, blood and organs of humans.

It will take a long time to establish all the health implications of this microplastic onslaught, but already studies have shown that microplastics cause digestive problems and increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. New research published in January 2025 documented that plastics also build up in the brain—a process that is suspected, but not yet proven, to cause dementia.

As these findings make headlines many consumers have broached the subject about what, if anything, they can do about the plastic accumulation in their bodies. As far as the news media is concerned, there seems to be widespread agreement on the answer: Nothing—you’re just along for the ride!

Is there really nothing you can do?

The phrase, “Currently, no treatment exists to remove microplastics from the body,” as reported in the Epoch Times, is the repeated claim.

But that isn’t really true. While there may not be a pharmaceutical drug or clinical procedure approved by the medical establishment, there are demonstrated ways to eliminate—or at least reduce—microplastics in the body.

As with many aspects of health, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure… so limiting exposure to plastics in one’s everyday life should be the first step. However, microplastics are ubiquitous, so some accumulation in the body is unavoidable.

Even the most ardent plastic-avoiding consumer will be exposed to, and ingest, microplastics to some extent. In fact, a 2024 study by Consumer Reports, found phthalates—one of the most toxic ingredients in plastics—in all but one of the 85 brand-name grocery store and fast food items they tested.

While there is no “magic bullet” for ridding the body of all microplastics, there are diet and supplementing choices that have been shown to eliminate at least some of the accumulated microplastics.

With this emerging research it is important to note that in some cases the removal of toxins in general is assumed to also include microplastics. In other studies microplastics, specifically, have been studied.

• Stay well hydrated
Staying well-hydrated by drinking plenty of clean, fresh water supports optimal kidney function. This better equips the kidneys to eliminate toxins—including microplastics.

• Eat plenty of fiber
Fiber binds to microplastics in the intestine, helping to move them out of the body more quickly. A high-fiber diest also helps strengthen the intestinal barrier, which can lessen the effects of microplastics on the digestive system.

• Supplement probiotics
Several studies showed that various probiotic strains are able to “degrade” different ingredients in plastic, such as bisphenol A. Other probiotic strains were confirmed to have biosorptive or “toxin binding” abilities—a function that helps eliminate toxins from the body. Learn more about probiotic toxin removal in our previous post here.

• Include algae in diet, or supplement
Algae such as kelp, chlorella and spirulina are not only extremely nutrient dense, they are also natural binding agents that draw toxins out of the body. Depending on the type of alga, it can be eaten as food, sprinkled as a condiment or taken as a nutritional supplement. Learn more about algae toxin removal in our previous post here.