(Microplastic) Is my face swollen and fat because of ‘this substance’ in the drinking water?!

Microplastics are small plastic particles less than 5mm in size and are found in many places in our daily lives, including food, the air, and various plastic products. 

 

The harmful effects of microplastics have been steadily recognized, with research consistently showing that when they enter the body, they can cause cell damage, reproductive problems, cancer, and heart disease. Recently, analysis has shown that microplastics can also cause weight gain.

 

Dr. Christopher Thompson of Harvard Medical School has published research showing that microplastics affect levels of stress hormones, including cortisol, leading to weight gain. He explains that microplastics mimic various hormones, such as cortisol and estrogen, disrupting endocrine hormone levels. When cortisol accumulates excessively in the body, it stimulates appetite, inhibits fat breakdown, and contributes to obesity and high blood pressure.

 

Dr. Thompson said, "In addition to normal weight gain, increased cortisol can also cause weight gain due to medical conditions." Excessive cortisol levels can lead to Cushing's syndrome, a condition caused by excessive cortisol secretion. Cushing's syndrome is characterized by rapid weight gain, including a rounded, moon-shaped face and fat accumulation around the neck, shoulders, and waist.

Research has also been published in Korea showing that microplastics cause weight gain. Researchers at the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology's Rare and Incurable Disease Research Center found that microplastics, particularly those as small as 1㎛ (micrometer, one-millionth of a meter), are passed on to the next generation through breast milk, increasing weight and body fat in offspring.

 

To prevent the accumulation of microplastics in the body, it's best to minimize the use of plastic products. If you must use plastic products, avoid heating them, such as using a microwave. A study by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the United States found that heating plastic containers in a microwave or storing food in plastic containers for long periods of time resulted in the release of large amounts of microplastics.

 

Between 471,000 and 873,000 microplastic particles were detected in a single plastic container heated in a microwave.

You also need to be careful when drinking bottled water.

Recently, the National Institute of Environmental Research has released a report on the commercially available A study of 30 bottled water products found microplastics in 28 of them. Okay.

 

Avoid products with an impending expiration date and avoid freezing water before drinking.

 

Research from Virginia Tech in the United States and Zhejiang University in China found that plastic containers subjected to repeated freezing and thawing released more microplastic particles than those that were not. One solution is to reduce the consumption of food and beverages in disposable packaging and instead focus on natural foods.

 

Meanwhile, there are still no clear standards in Korea regarding the toxicity of microplastics and acceptable standards. The government needs to establish specific standards and policies to reduce plastic production, while citizens need to minimize their plastic use and make efforts to prevent the influx of microplastics.

 

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I saw microplastics last time

They said it causes high blood pressure

Is this why my face is swollen??