This crazy simple method for getting rid of microplastics blew my mind

Dr. Vivian Chen breaks down her top tips for reducing your toxic load.

Hello friends!

Honestly, microplastics terrify me. Research shows they’re literally everywhere and can cause a whole host of health issues, from respiratory problems to cardiovascular disease and certain cancers.

That’s why I was excited to sit down with Dr. Vivian Chen (

Dr.Viv

on Substack) on today’s episode of The Liz Moody Podcast to learn more about this issue. Dr. Chen, a medical doctor and the founder of Plateful Health, is an expert in helping people reduce their toxic load, improve mitochondrial health, and uncover the root causes of chronic health issues. With over 14 years of experience practicing medicine in the UK, she's known for her deep dives into research and her ability to translate complex science into actionable advice.

She had so many brilliant insights that I can’t stop thinking about, but this is the one that really stuck with me:

One of the best ways to get rid of microplastics is through your poop

While we may not be able to avoid microplastics completely, we can reduce our overall toxic load by pooping at least once a day. Here’s how Dr. Chen explains it.

💩 The longer poop stays in your body, the more toxins your system reabsorbs

That’s why it’s a problem when people take liver detox supplements without supporting regular bowel movements. The liver may be flushing out toxins into the gut—but if you’re not pooping, those toxins just get reabsorbed instead of eliminated.

🫐 To make sure you’re pooping once a day, load up on berries and kiwi

Eating all types of berries, but especially raspberries, is a great hack for staying regular because they contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber supports heart health and helps lower cholesterol; the insoluble fiber adds bulk and aids digestion. Kiwi is a great option, too: A randomized controlled trial found that just two kiwis a day improved constipation and eased GI discomfort from constipation.

💦 Don’t forget to drink water!

Staying well-hydrated is one of the simplest yet most powerful things you can do for your body. It helps keep your digestive system moving smoothly and supports your kidneys in flushing out environmental toxins like BPA, which can leach from plastic containers. If you're looking to reduce inflammation and support your gut even further, try cutting back on ultra-processed foods and steer clear of dairy if you know you're sensitive to it.

From the episode:

“The longer that poop stays in your body, the more you are reabsorbing these toxins. So you'll see people say, oh yeah, I'm doing a cleanse, liver cleanse, and they're popping these supplements that push liver detoxification, but they're not pooping. If they're not pooping, the liver's flushing out these toxins into the gut and all they're doing is just reabsorbing it.”

The takeaway:

Yes, microplastics are everywhere, but there are actions you can take to eliminate the overall load in your body. One of those actions? Making sure to poop once a day. Make this happen by eating fiber-rich foods, drinking enough water, and avoiding ultra-processed foods.

For more takes on the real science behind today’s hottest wellness trends, including whether we should actually worry about EMFs and if it’s worth it to throw out your plastic cutting board (this one surprised me!) head over today’s episode of The Liz Moody Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.

Here’s to staying regular in the name of eliminating microplastics!

Xo,

Liz

P.S. Paid subscribers always get a list of key takeaways from the episode, plus the full episode transcript. And on Friday, we have an amazing bonus Q&A with Dr. Chen about microplastics for paid subscribers only, so stay tuned for that!

5 key takeaways