New research suggests microplastics, particularly from ultra-processed foods, may be linked to rising mental health disorders, including depression and dementia. Studies reveal that ultra-processed foods, which constitute over 50% of energy intake in the U.S., contain higher microplastic concentrations than whole foods. Individuals consuming junk food are found to have increased risks of depression and anxiety, while cutting junk food shows mental health improvements. This indicates that microplastics could explain the link between junk food consumption and neurological problems.
"We're seeing converging evidence that should concern us all," said Nicholas Fabiano from the University of Ottawa, who led one of the studies, in a about the work. "Ultra-processed foods now comprise more than 50 percent of energy intake in countries like the United States, and these foods contain significantly higher concentrations of microplastics than whole foods."
One cited by the researchers found that people who ate ultra-processed meals had a significantly higher risk of depression, anxiety, and poor sleep. On the flip side, randomized control trials have demonstrated that weaning someone off junk food led to significant improvements in mental health.
This hypothesis is particularly compelling because we see remarkable overlap in biological mechanisms ... Junk foods are absolutely riddled with plastic particles.
If true, it would mean that microplastics were the missing link in the correlation between junk food consumption and brain disorders.
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