WHY YOU SHOULD READ THIS NOW
The actor Orlando Bloom just spent $13,000 to filter microplastics from his bloodstream. It may seem dramatic, and maybe it’s not the best method, but he’s not wrong to be worried.
There’s approximately 100 times MORE microplastics in the bottle of water you’re drinking than has been previously reported. That’s around 200,000 plastic particles in one 16 oz. bottle of water.
A 2025 tumor study found microplastics embedded in 100% of colorectal cancer samples tested. As two board-certified gastroenterologists, we are officially sounding the alarm.
There may be a silver lining though.. read on to for our take.
As physicians, we’re starting to see the troublesome impact microplastics are having on our patients’ cancer risk, hormones, gut health, immune system, inflammatory response, and more.
TODAY’S OPPONENT:
Microplastics
Based on a recent study, microplastics are found in 100% of colon cancer tumors. Every single one. And what we once thought was correlation is looking more and more like causation.
This isn’t hype or some fringe thing. Dr. Storage and I are what you would call mainstream, conventional, and forward-thinking medical doctors.
And we are nearing a point of definitively saying microplastics are linked to cancer.
Microplastics can negatively impact your health by disturbing your metabolic and physiological homeostasis.
Regular exposure to microplastics appears to induce chromosomal alteration and chronic inflammation, conditions which favor disease development and progression.
This may include many types of cancers, for example breast, lung, prostate, and colon cancer – which are all on the rise.
Microplastics are also detected in areas of your brain linked to memory, cognition, and neuroinflammation.
This raises serious concerns about microplastic exposure’s contribution to neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, as suggested by this 2025 study.
So when you take this all in, it’s easier to understand why Orlando Bloom just spent a small fortune “cleaning” his blood by undergoing a treatment called apheresis.
Apheresis is similar to dialysis (which ironically, appears to be introducing MORE microplastics into the bloodstream, study here).
As medical doctors, we aren’t quite endorsing apheresis as a viable treatment.. there’s not enough clinical data. But we’re keeping a close eye on it and other potential solutions.
A Potential Silver Lining
Your body may actually be able to detox some microplastics on its own.. if your gut, liver, and elimination pathways are working well.
This reinforces 2 important things we tell patients:
Support a diverse gut microbiome by eating fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir, kimchi, and sauerkraut (and/or take a high-quality probiotic) .
Stop drinking bottled water, don’t microwave plastic, and limit your plastic exposure (especially with regard to your oral intake) wherever and however you can.
“I was skeptical to believe that microplastic particles could deposit into the human brain, colon, lymph nodes, placenta, and testicles, among other parts of the body. Well, the evidence is now out there.”
I can no longer ignore microplastics as a major health concern for my patients.
Do everything you can to diversify your gut bacteria and limit plastic exposure while we, in the medical and scientific community, work on mitigation methods and potential therapies.
“When I trained in med school, we never thought to look for plastic in colon tumors or brain tissue. Now we’re finding it everywhere. The science is evolving fast and we need to evolve with it.”
What To Tell Your Doctor
"I’ve been reading about how microplastics can disrupt the gut lining and microbiome. Is there anything on the horizon that can help minimize the damage?"
TikTok Trend We’d (Not Quite) Ban
Chia Seeds to “Flush Out” Microplastics?
This trend claims that chia seeds “bind” to microplastics in your gut and escort them out of the body.
Here’s what’s partly true:
→ Chia seeds are rich in soluble fiber, which can support healthy bowel movements and reduce intestinal permeability.
→ They’re more cost-effective than Orlando Bloom’s method.
Pricier than chia seeds, that’s for sure.
→ Fiber-rich foods may help trap and eliminate some small particles through regular stool passage.
→ A healthy gut lining + good motility is one of your body’s best natural defenses.
But here’s where the TikTok logic goes awry:
There’s no evidence that chia seeds specifically bind microplastics like a magnet.
Detoxing from microplastics doesn’t come down to eating one superfood, it’s about lowering exposure + maintaining gut integrity.
Chia seeds are great for your microbiome, for your intestinal health, and yes, for supporting your gut’s ability to get rid of stuff.
Just don’t expect them to vacuum out microplastics. They’re a piece of the puzzle, not a cure. But hey, it’s a little cheaper than Orland Bloom’s way, so there’s that (:
Verdict: NOT BANNED.
WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND?
Respond to this email and let us know!
As gastroenterologists, we definitely have a lot to talk about when it comes to your gut health and well-being. But we can’t always get to everything (you know… like coffee enemas)! So reply directly to this email or DM us on TikTok below and maybe YOUR topic will be featured soon!
