I Care About You.

Recently I learned about a fact of life that whoa alarmed me. Hold the phone where’s my typewriter. I convey, I write, I share this looming invisible menace. Microplastics.

The last time I remember hearing about plastic getting a bad rap was in the late 70’s. Remember those six-pac plastic rings ?? The ugly photos of marine life wrapped up wearing them like neck-braces, all because of and from our soda and beer can pollution. Pretty much not a problem now … Problem solved.

The second time ever hearing that plastic could cause harm had to do with asphyxiation and kids playing around with those nasty child nabbing dry cleaning garment plastic bags.

Ok. Now. Recently. Here Ye. Hear me out :

We eat, drink, and inhale plastic bits every day.

We ingest them. We store them. And, it’s for keeps.

I read an article that had charts and graphs depicting the high levels of microplastics that humans ingest. Unknowingly. Blindly. With a few shifts in our behaviors and habits, besides having a new awareness about this toxic inner pollution, one can side step many of the major entry points of these pretty invisible yet quite harmful critters from permeating nearly every organ of our precious anatomies. Besides, they also pollute our food, water, soil, oceans, the photo-synthesis of plant growth, and the air. Get the picture.

The membrane in our brains that prevents toxins from entering will not filter out microplastics. The highly esteemed cardiologist and scientist Eric Topol did a recent study that found 7 to 30 times higher concentrations of microplastics in the brain than in the liver and kidneys, where you might expect to find them. Might there be a plausible correlation to our microplastics intake and the rising rates of dementia is the question that immediately comes to my wondering mind.

Identifying the THEY ARE EVERYWHERE types of plastics :

Primary microplastics - plastic capsules made small. Think fillers : nylon fibers in sports gear, pellets for shopping bags, beads in toothpaste & exfoliating scrubs, for example.

Secondary plastics ( macroplastic entropy ) Think : dust breakdown from tires, paints, Tupperware baking, etc.

Nanoplastics - most harmful because they penetrate biological tissue and are miniscule-ly microscope-ily small.

How plastics get inside :

Ingesting - drinking from plastic water bottles, eating from fast food styrofoam containers, wrapping leftovers in plastics.

Inhaling - breathing airborne off-gased fumes and particles from synthetic materials like rugs, furniture, packaging.

Absorbtion - make-up, creams, lotions, skin-care products.

How to reduce your intake :

• Use glass bottles for water not plastics.

• Replace non-stick teflon cookware with non-stick ceramic.

• Select fresh veggies & use the butcher. Stay away from pre-packaged plastic wrapped veggies & meats.

• Eat and drink from dishes made from ceramics.

• Store food in glass. Decline from all those tupperware parties.

• Wear clothing made from natural materials like cotton, wool, hemp, linen, instead of synthetics like nylon & polyester.

• Quit microwaving food in plastic. This creates billions of microplastics in mere seconds. Not a good mix or idea.

• Think. Stop to think about exactly what it is that you are including into your world. Simple convenience or the simply not right. Maybe the hippies were onto something way back when.

• Last but not least : did you know glitter is plastic. Nothing is sacred anymore. I love love love glitter. Well, now, I used to ...

What is (not)Being Done &

is Being Done :

•  The current administration has moved us backwards to go back to sucking on plastic straws.

  
  

•  Microplastics are not included in any EPA regulations. It is basically a USA world of plastic freedoms for all.

• The state of California, in 2015, is the only entity that has taken a stand by banning certain personal care products that use microplastic beads. Yea !!

• EU is so far ahead. In 2023 they began enforcing restrictions in the use of microplastics in consumer products. Yea !!

  
  
  
  

• Sole individuals taking action. Light Labs & Plasticlist are research organizations geared toward microplastics. Yes !!

• Independent companies producing microplastic-free products. …….ditto Yes !!

• You, reading this essay in krisstalore. You Go Girl !! & You Go Guys, too.

• You, reading labels.

  ...“Get OUT !!” ** (Elaine on Seinfeld)

Food For Thought :

Because of my naturally curious mind, I wandered into yet darker deeper steeper creepier waters. The real murky begins.

I like to chew gum. Sugarless is my choice. You know, good for my teeth. The box stated “contains bioengineered ingredients.” What the heck does that mean ?

I looked up the chewing gum ingredients on-line : sorbitol, gum base, glycerol, natural and artificial flavors, and hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, along with smaller amounts of aspartame, mannitol, acesulfame K, soy lecithin, BHT, and colors. All that in a stick of chewing gum. Yet it was “sugarless.” What exactly am I being sold here …

I recently read a MEDIUM article that listed 7 USA type foods that are completely banned & outlawed in Europe. The health standards in Europe do not take any risks for their peoples. They consider these foods, that our FDA allows here, way too dangerous :

1. Skittles ( or any artificially dyed candy ) No dyes. European candy uses natural fruit or vegetable dyes only. Safer.

2. USA bread made with potassium bromate. The EU considers it a carcinogen. But it sure makes the bread oh sooo fluffy !!

3.  USA farm-raised salmon. EU does not want to consume the synthetic-fed astaxanthin chemical. But it makes the hue of the salmon coloration soooo pretty in the pink !!

4.  USA chlorine-washed chicken. The USA has poor farming standards for hygiene. EU relies upon stricter animal welfare standards. Note : to get around this chlorine, buy organic chicken instead.

5.  USA milk with rBGH ( recombinant bovine growth hormone) a synthetic cancer risk besides being banned in 30 other countries. Our FDA approved this chemical in 1993.

6.   USA processed foods with BHA & BHT. EU said no. Not in our food. These preservatives cause cancer. Or, in other words : butylated hydroxytoluene & butylated hydroxyanisole.

7.   Ractopamine-treated pork, beef, turkey. This is used to bulk up animals before the slaughter. Then it passes from them to us … This is FDA approved even tho it is banned in China and 160 other countries. Buy organic instead my friends.

The single-most disturbing fact when looking into

our USA/FDA regulations :

The practice of adding the preservative BHT to the food packaging material is approved by the FDA. Because it is not an actual food ingredient it does not need to be listed in the food’s ingredients. The preservative vaporizes into the food substance and lengthens the shelf life. So the food stays fresher longer for the unknowing public. You know the plastic sleeve liner in the cereal box ? It is covered in BHT.

Thus all these claims ring so very true :

Cap’n Crunch stays crunchy even in milk.

Cocoa Crispies tastes like a chocolate milkshake, only crunchy.

Way too Coo-Coo for  Cocoa Puffs.

Fruity Pebbles rocks your whole mouth.

Kix is kid tested, mother approved.

What you eating ? Nutin’ honey, Nut & Honey Crunch.

Puffed Rice the cereal shot from guns.

Quisp for Quazy energy.

Rice Krispies snap crackle pop.

Silly rabbit Trix are for kids.

Wheaties, our breakfast of the champions.

I dug further into the deep dark chasm abyss of food ingredients that are all allowed by the FDA. All those sodium nitrates in processed meats. The bright dyes and food colorings. Guar gum in sauces ice creams. High fructose corn syrup in sodas, juice, candy, cereals. Carrageenan in creamers. Sodium benzoate in soda. Trans fat in those innocent looking Ritz crackers. Xanthan gum. Titanium dioxide and its nanoparticles in particular have been associated with DNA damage and cell mutations, which in turn, have potential to cause cancer. Look for it in your nearest grocery shelves.  It’s willfully added as a whitener brightener to creamers, cottage cheese, etc etc … Do you see whhaaat ?? I see here …

as an overall standard policy and system in asymmetrical misaligned priorities.

I thought food was consumed for nourishment. For one’s health. For survival.

I presumed our standards for safety and health by our food producers and government regulations were all looking out for us.

In conclusion, I say with great importance, read your food labels. Especially if there is a food that you consume a lot. Go for the organics when you can. And above all get fresh food.

In general, just stay aware and take an interest in what you place inside your surroundings, your environment, and your body. No need to get fanatical or freaked out about the science of food water air and spirit. Only stay informed and actively plugged into your consumer  consuming thinking. It's about just plain being mindful. It is all about just being worthwhile to your self. If you don't do it, who will ?

There is great power in being an advocate for your Self.

There is great strength in being your very own Champion.

I quit chewing gum altogether.