First human study shows microplastics alter gut bacteria in patterns linked to cancer and depression – NaturalNews.com

• Microplastics in our food and water are altering human gut bacteria.
• A new human study found microplastics change gut activity and acidity.
• These changes mirror bacterial patterns seen in depression and colon cancer.
• Microplastic exposure is pervasive through ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact.
• Reducing microplastic exposure is a wise precaution for your health.

New research confirms that the microplastics contaminating our food and water are actively altering our gut health, creating a pathway for serious diseases including colon cancer and depression. This first-of-its-kind human study, led by Austrian researchers, exposes the hidden damage being done by the plastic industry and its permissive government regulators.

The study, presented at the United European Gastroenterology annual congress in Berlin, examined the gut microbiomes of five healthy volunteers. Researchers exposed their gut cultures to five common types of microplastics found in food packaging and our environment. The results were alarming, showing that these tiny particles consistently changed the very activity of our gut bacteria.

A toxic takeover of your gut

The findings revealed a significant increase in acidity within the gut after microplastic exposure, a clear sign of altered microbial metabolism. More disturbingly, the research team observed specific shifts in bacterial composition. Certain key families of gut bacteria, vital for digestion and overall health, were either increased or decreased depending on the type of plastic they encountered.

Lead author Christian Pacher-Deutsch commented on the pervasiveness of the problem. “These findings are significant given how pervasive microplastic exposure is in everyday life,” he said. “Microplastics have been found in fish, salt, bottled water, and even tap water, meaning that most people are exposed daily through ingestion, inhalation and skin contact.”

The link to disease is clear

The most chilling part of the research identified that these microplastic-induced changes in the gut reflect patterns previously linked to serious diseases. The altered bacterial composition mirrored patterns seen in patients with depression and colorectal cancer. This provides a direct, plausible biological mechanism for how our plastic-saturated environment could be driving the modern epidemics of these conditions.

“The key takeaway is that microplastics do have an impact on our microbiome,” Pacher-Deutsch stated. “While it’s too early to make definitive health claims, the microbiome plays a central role in many aspects of well-being, from digestion to mental health. Reducing microplastic exposure where possible is therefore a wise and important precaution.”

This research adds to a growing body of evidence detailing the assault of modern chemicals on human health. Our knowledge base reveals that the gut microbiome plays a crucial role in overall health, and that microplastics can alter the permeability of the intestinal wall, potentially shifting the gut to an unhealthy state. This shift can have far-reaching consequences, impacting immune function, weight loss, and even heart and brain health.

Microplastics are everywhere

The ubiquity of microplastics is a testament to corporate negligence. They are found in a wide array of foods and beverages, from rice and sugar to seafood and vegetables. Polyester clothing sheds plastic fibers, and opening a soda bottle can release thousands of plastic particles. This contamination is the direct result of a profit-driven system that prioritizes cheap packaging over human vitality.

This is not an isolated issue but part of a broader chemical war on our bodies. Our environment is saturated with plastics, which contain formaldehyde, phenols, and other toxic chemicals. Many pharmaceuticals include phenol, and chlorine is routinely added to municipal water supplies. The average person is now carrying a toxic burden that their body was never designed to handle.

The Austrian study confirms that we are conducting a massive, unregulated experiment on the human population. Chemicals persistently overload the immune system, causing damage well into symptom onset. When the gut microbiome is damaged, the entire body suffers. The connection to depression underscores how this chemical assault can directly impact our mental and emotional well-being.

Sources for this article include:

DailyMail.co.uk

InterestingEngineering.com

News-Medical.net

NDTV.com