Best Ways to Detox from Microplastics
Written by: Vincent Pedre M.D. | July 2, 2025 | Time to read 11 min
💧 Understanding Microplastics: Invisible Invaders in Our Bodies
Microplastics—small fragments of plastic less than 5 mm in size—are now ubiquitous. They’ve been found in our oceans, food, drinking water, air, and even within human tissues. While long-term implications are still under investigation, emerging evidence suggests microplastics may disrupt gut health, incite inflammation, and interfere with hormone systems. You can learn everything about microplastics in my blog post from 2024 - Microplastics in Your Gut: The Invisible Threat.
You’ve been told the problem is “out there”—but what if it’s already inside you? Microplastics are the invisible invaders no one warned us about, and their impact on your gut (and your health) is far from benign. While most people are focused on external cleanses, the real detox begins at a much deeper level—inside your gut.
So let’s flip the script. I’m inviting you on a journey—not just to understand how microplastics may be disrupting your system, but to build a practical, step-by-step detox protocol that helps you reduce your internal plastic burden and restore your body’s natural balance. It’s time to reclaim your energy, revive your gut, and feel truly clean from the inside out.
1. Minimize Internal Exposure: The First Step in Detox
🚰 Rethink Your Hydration Habits
Filter tap water: Use a high-quality water filtration system capable of reducing microplastics—look for reverse osmosis or micron-level carbon block filters.
Choose Stainless or BPA-Free Tumblers Instead
Ditch single-use plastic bottles and switch to stainless steel — it’s durable, safe, and reusable.
Why not glass? A recent study (just two weeks ago!) found that glass bottles can contain up to 50 times more microplastics than plastic ones. Why? It’s not just the glass — it’s the plastic caps and seals, the machinery used during bottling, and even abrasion during shipping and handling that introduce tiny plastic particles into the liquid. These microplastics often come from polypropylene or polyethylene components and can shed over time, especially with repeated use. So while glass feels like the cleaner choice, stainless steel or BPA-free tumblers are actually far safer when it comes to minimizing microplastic exposure.
On the go? Find brands made from Tritan or recycled PET free of heavy plastic additives.
🥡 Overhaul Food Storage & Prep
Adopt glass or stainless steel containers: Heat food in glass on the stove or in tempered ceramic, not plastic.
Say no to plastic wrap: Use beeswax wraps or silicone food covers.
Avoid plastic utensils: Opt for stainless steel, bamboo, or porcelain cutlery—simple swaps can cut daily plastic friction.
🧠 Swap Plastic in the Kitchen
Skip nonstick pans: These often contain PFOA and release microplastics at high temps. Instead, choose cast iron, enamel, stainless steel, or ceramic-coated cookware.
Ditch single-use plastics: Plastic candy wrappers and snack packaging may shed particles. Swap for unpackaged foods or bulk foods stored in glass jars.
🌿 Source Mindfully for Produce
Eat minimally packaged options: Seek out unwrapped fruits and vegetables or request packaging-free produce in stores. Farming at farmer’s markets can save you from plastic-wrapped fruit and veggies.
Rinse and brush: Even unpackaged produce may carry microplastic dust. Rinsing and brushing under running water helps reduce buildup.
By minimizing your daily plastic intake, you prevent continual replenishment of microplastics in your body—clearing the path for detox.
2. Support Your Gut & Detox Systems Naturally
Rebuild Your Gut Barrier
Feeding your microbiome: Prebiotic-rich foods—onions, garlic, asparagus, bananas, chicory root, and oats—feed beneficial bacteria that support integrity of the gut lining.
Introduce polyphenols: Blueberries, green tea, turmeric, pomegranate and dark chocolate provide anti-inflammatory support as the gut recovers, helping to rebuild the protective mucus layer inside the gut lining.
Consider targeted supplementation: Symptoms like bloating, IBS, or leaky gut may respond to a tailored probiotic blend and gut-healing nutrients such as L-glutamine, aloe vera, licorice root (DGL), and zinc.
🧪 Detoxify Through Glucuronidation
Cruciferous vegetables: Broccoli, kale, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts—all contain sulfur compounds that support the liver’s Phase II detox pathways.
Support with botanicals: Milk thistle, dandelion root, and burdock help promote bile flow and neutralize toxins.
Include cycles of mild fasting: Intermittent fasting or periodic time-restricted eating gives your detox organs a chance to clear wastes more efficiently.
💧 Hydration Promotes Clearance
Set a hydration goal: Aim for 2–3 liters daily—water, herbal teas, and bone broth all support lymphatic flow.
Add lemon or apple cider vinegar: Stimulate digestion and mild alkalizing effects that aid elimination.
🧘 Stimulate Drainage
Move your body daily: Walking, yoga, rebounding (mini trampoline), or deep twisting flows lymphatic circulation.
Try lymphatic self-care: Dry skin brushing, compression boots, or cupping can support drainage of interstitial fluid and waste removal.
3. Enhance Natural Detoxification Channels
💚 Increase Fiber for Gut “Sweepers”
Psyllium husk: A soluble fiber that can grab onto unwanted particles like microplastics and usher them out.
Ground flaxseed: Adds soluble and insoluble fiber plus omega‑3 support.
Resistant starch: Found in cooled potatoes, green bananas, white beans—promotes growth of beneficial bacteria.
🚽 Prioritize Daily Elimination
Maintain regular bowel movements: Sluggish elimination may mean plastics stay in your system longer.
Support with magnesium: A gentle laxative effect can help daily transit; consider magnesium citrate or a combination magnesium‑rich formula with meals.
Use ayurveda: Tap into ancient wisdom with a modern twist. The Relax formula combines three powerful Ayurvedic herbs—Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica), and Haritaki (Terminalia chebula)—to gently stimulate detoxification, calm the nervous system, and support digestive flow. This blend not only encourages regularity but also addresses the stress-gut connection that often underlies constipation and toxin buildup.
🌿 Boost Antioxidant Shield
Curcumin (turmeric): A powerful anti-inflammatory compound, ideally taken with black pepper for bioavailability.
Silymarin (milk thistle): Known for liver regenerating properties.
N‑acetylcysteine (NAC): A precursor to glutathione, supporting liver detox capacity.
Green tea catechins: Polyphenols that support both gut health and liver detox support.
4. Use Targeted Supplements to Aid in Microplastics Detox
Adsorbents to Capture Plastic
Activated charcoal: May bind toxins—but should be taken away from other supplements/meds by at least 2 hours.
Bentonite clay: Absorbs heavy metals and potentially microplastics; drink with generous water.
Chitosan: Derived from shellfish, this fiber binds certain toxins. Ask your practitioner whether it’s appropriate for you.
Phospholipids: These fat-loving molecules form the structural foundation of cell membranes—and they have a unique ability to bind and encapsulate fat-soluble toxins, including some microplastics. By supporting bile production and enhancing fat emulsification, phospholipids help shuttle these hidden invaders out of the body through the liver–bile–gut elimination pathway. Think of them as detox delivery agents with a smart GPS.
Microbiome-Supported Debris Removal
Probiotics: Strains like Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium longum, and spore-forming bacillus species enhance epithelial barrier and immune function.
Spore‑based probiotics: These resilient microbes can survive the harsh journey through the stomach and colonize the gut effectively. They help modulate the immune response, support the gut barrier, and encourage a healthy microbiome environment.
Liver-Beneficial Nutrients
N‑acetylcysteine (NAC): Glutathione precursor supporting liver detox.
L‑methionine or S‑adenosyl methionine (SAMe): Further boosts glutathione production.
Alpha‑lipoic acid, selenium, zinc, magnesium: Co-factors for antioxidant enzymes and Phase II liver detox enzymes, which when not optimized can slow down liver detoxification and bring it almost to a halt.
5. Reduce Plastic Shedding in Your Environment
🔊 Upgrade How You Cook
Remove Teflon and PTFE-coated pans: These persistently release microplastic and perfluoro compounds that can not onlly disrupt your gut and gut lining, but also wreak havoc on your hormones.
Use cast iron, ceramic, stainless steel: Spending on safe cookware is an investment in health and longevity.
🌿 Opt for Non-Plastic Household Goods
Laundry shed abatement: Use a microfiber filter to prevent microfibers from entering water systems.
Avoid scented candles or air fresheners in plastic jars—they shed microplastics into indoor air. A Purdue University study found that heating scented wax melts generates nanoparticles in concentrations comparable to diesel engines or gas stoves.
🛋 Improve Indoor Air Quality
Use air purifiers with HEPA filters: These remove plastic dust and ultrafine particles. Investigations confirm that indoor air contains inhalable microplastics, including from plastic jars and containers, which can become aerosolized as micro‑ or nanoplastics
Houseplants: Spider plants, snake plants, and peace lilies help filter out airborne VOCs in controlled experiments. However, a 2020 meta-analysis concluded that potted plants do not meaningfully improve indoor air quality under normal living conditions. But they do make for nice decorations, even if they don’t remove microplastics in the air.
6. Sweat Out the Plastics? What Infrared Saunas Can (and Can’t) Do for Microplastic Detox
If you've ever wondered whether you can actually sweat out microplastics, you're not alone—and the answer is not black and white.
Far-infrared saunas (FIRS) are increasingly praised in the wellness world for their deep-detox capabilities. Unlike traditional saunas that heat the air around you, infrared saunas use light waves to penetrate the skin and raise your core temperature, promoting a deep, purifying sweat.
So... can they help rid your body of microplastics?
Here’s the promising part:
Some studies have shown that sweating can help eliminate certain plastic-related chemicals, like BPA and phthalates—compounds often found in everyday plastics. In fact, BPA was found in sweat samples even when it didn’t show up in blood or urine, suggesting the body may use sweat as a backup detox route for stubborn toxins.
But here’s the catch:
There’s no direct evidence yet that actual microplastic particles—the tiny solids that invade our bodies via food, air, and water—can exit through sweat. These particles can lodge deep in tissues, and unlike fat-soluble toxins, they’re not as easily mobilized.
So what’s the verdict?
While infrared saunas may not directly sweat out microplastics, they do support the detoxification of plastic-related chemicals and boost overall elimination. A 2011 study found that BPA, a common plastic additive, was detectable in sweat—even when not found in blood or urine. Think of them as a powerful sidekick—especially when paired with gut-healing fiber, toxin binders, and liver support.
Pro tip: Add sauna sessions 2–3 times per week as part of a comprehensive detox strategy, not as a standalone fix. Combine it with targeted supplements, hydration, and smart lifestyle choices for real, sustainable results.
7. Adopt Daily Microplastic-Free Rituals
🍵 Upgrade Your Drinking Vessels
Glass or stainless steel: Sip tea or coffee only from non-plastic mugs or insulated steel vacuum tumblers.
🦷 Revamp Oralcare Tools
Switch from plastic toothbrushes: Go bamboo or silicone; choose natural bristles.
Skip bottled mouthwash: Use alcohol-free rinse in glass, or make your own with water and baking soda.
💄 Reevaluate Personal Care
Clean beauty: Use shampoos, conditioners, lotions, sunscreen, and deodorants free from synthetic microbeads (like polyethylene).
Reusable cotton pads: Spare the plastic from 1-time-use pads by washing your own.
8. Ongoing Clean Routine: Habit-Building for Long-Term Benefits
📅 Periodic Cleanse Cycles
Use intermittent micronutrient-based cleanups once a year, twice a year, or even quarterly, rich in antioxidants, liver support, hydration, fiber, and whole-food nutrition. The 28-Day Gut Reset Program is an amazing Cleanse that takes just 4 weeks and helps with everything we discussed here, combining the premium Happy Gut supplements — LEAKY GUT ADVANTAGE, ACTIVATE PLUS, RESTORE, RELAX, GUT HARMONY, and CLEANSE SHAKE.
🔎 Monitor Your Progress
Track symptoms: Digestive changes, energy, memory, joint pain—supportive changes in lifestyle often yield measurable results.
Functional lab testing: Stool analyses, liver panels, bile flow testing, total tox burden, plastic toxin blood test—mention your microplastic exposure concerns to your clinician.
💬 Connect & Thrive
Gut-healing recipes: Broth-based soups, bone broths, high-fiber veggie bowls keep your gut nourished.
Community support: Look for forums or local groups focused on detox and gut health—collaboration sustains motivation.
9. Key Takeaways: A Detox Blueprint for Gut Health
Reduce intake: Filter water, remove plastic mugs/containers, replace single-use packaging.
Nourish the gut: Prebiotics, polyphenols, and gut-repair nutrients support barrier resilience.
Support liver & kidneys: Eat cruciferous veggies, herbs like milk thistle, drink water and decaf herbal teas.
Implement supplements mindfully: Use binders like psyllium and clay, plus phase II boosters like turmeric, glycine and NAC.
Revamp your environment: Ditch nonstick pans, trap dust, and filter your air.
Create rituals: Reusable mugs, bamboo toothbrushes, far-infrared sauna sessions, and safe beauty products reinforce habits.
Monitor & iterate: Observe symptom relief, leverage labs, and adjust detox rhythm seasonally.
🌟 Spotlight: Happy Gut Coffee — A Thoughtful Addition
I’d love to highlight a thoughtfully crafted pairing to your detox journey: Happy Gut Coffee from Happy Gut Life. It’s a clear, organic coffee that’s third-party lab tested to ensure purity—free from toxins and plastics that could subtly undermine all your diligent detox efforts.
Best of all, it comes in both dark roast and Swiss decaf versions , available in ground or whole bean forms, so whether you love that bold AM kick or prefer a smoother, caffeine-free evening ritual, there’s a perfect fit for your routine.
🎁 Complementary Gift with Every Order
As part of their commitment to gut health, Happy Gut Life now includes a free downloadable guide titled "Cleanse Your Coffee – How to Detox and Avoid Microplastics for a Happy Gut" with every order. It’s packed with practical tips you can apply right away: choosing the cleanest brews, using glass containers, and optimizing your coffee ritual for wellness. It’s a thoughtful bonus to support you in taking another small—but meaningful—step towards plastic-free living.
Suggested Next Steps
Choose one plastic-free swap this week—maybe glass containers or ditching nonstick pans.
Add in one gut-loving food daily—like steamed kale or a green smoothie with prebiotic fibers.
Try Happy Gut Coffee —take comfort in knowing it’s a pure, clean choice, and enjoy the free guide included with your order.
A Final Word
Detoxing from microplastics is about intentional, incremental changes. Every filtered sip, plastic swap, fiber-rich meal, and gut-healing supplement adds up. Over weeks and months, these efforts compound to reduce exposure, support your body's natural defenses, and reinforce habits that preserve long-term wellness.
Your gut is resilient, and with consistent, mindful support, you can reclaim balance—even in a world full of invisible challenges like microplastics. Whether you start by filtering your water, exploring non-plastic cookware, or sipping a clean-roast cup of Happy Gut Coffee, know that every change helps.
Stay curious, stay kind to yourself, and remember: you've got this. Here's to your radiant, resilient, and happy gut 💚
To your detox success and ongoing gut wellness!
