Microplastics are now present everywhere: in water, drinks, seafood and even certain food packaging. An invisible pollution which increasingly worries researchers.
According to a recent scientific study, a fermented food very popular in South Korea could, however, help the body better eliminate these particles: kimchi.
Microplastics are already in our food
It’s impossible to completely escape it. Microplastics — these tiny fragments of plastic — have been found in many everyday foods.
They come in particular from the degradation of packaging, synthetic textiles or even certain plastic waste present in the environment. Result: we find it in water, salt, seafood or certain drinks.
Researchers are now trying to better understand their potential effects on human health. Several scientific studies are particularly interested in their possible impact on the intestine and the digestive system.
Kimchi, an avenue studied by researchers
Kimchi is a traditional Korean dish made with fermented vegetables, often Chinese cabbage and spices. This food is naturally rich in probiotics, these good bacteria beneficial for the intestinal microbiota.
According to the study published on ScienceDirectcertain components resulting from fermentation could help capture or promote the elimination of microplastics present in the body.
The researchers were particularly interested in the bacteria produced during the fermentation of kimchi. Some could help degrade or trap these plastic particles in the digestive system.
A discovery still being explored
Be careful, however: scientists remain cautious. Research on microplastics and food is still in its early stages.
Above all, the study opens up a new avenue of reflection around the role of the intestinal microbiota and fermented foods in the management of pollutants present in our body.
In other words, kimchi should not be considered a miracle cure. But this discovery shows to what extent diet could play an important role in protecting our body from everyday pollutants.
Why fermented foods interest experts so much
For several years, fermented foods such as kimchi, kefir or certain yogurts have attracted the attention of researchers for their potential effects on digestive health.
Their richness in probiotics could help maintain a balanced intestinal microbiota, essential for the proper functioning of the digestive and immune systems.
In the case of microplastics, scientists are now investigating whether certain bacteria present in these foods could limit their accumulation in the body or promote their elimination.