The Danger of Microplastics: Why This Is a Real Threat
Microplastics are the asbestos of our age. We ignored asbestos, lead paint, tobacco, until it was too late. Now we’re repeating the same mistake with plastic.
This isn’t just about oceans and fish. Microplastics are in fruits and vegetables. They’re in meat. Even pasture-raised cows carry them. The truth is that we cannot completely eliminate microplastics, but we can stop adding more of them to our kitchens. And we can stop poisoning ourselves with them.
Sometimes, it takes one image to drive the point home. Remember the sea turtle with the plastic straw stuck in its nose? That video was seen millions of times. It broke hearts, and it changed laws. My own state, California, outlawed plastic straws after that. I’m not much of a straw user, but let’s be honest — paper straws are’t great, folks. The lesson wasn’t that we need a better straw; it’s that we need fewer plastics, period.
Now, back to the kitchen. My Vitamix — the one I bought 15 years ago — has been a workhorse. It’s made smoothies, soups, Korma sauce, ground spices, nut butters. But over time, its once-clear container has turned cloudy and scratched. That isn’t just age. That’s plastic breaking down. Every frozen berry, every handful of ice, every hot soup left its mark.
And then there’s the Nutribullet. I’ll admit it: I like it. It got me back into smoothies. Quick to clean, easy to use. But let's be honest: with ice, frozen fruit and seeds five days a week, it's not built to last. A year in, maybe two if you’re lucky, the cups are cloudy, scratched, and shedding plastic into the smoothies that are supposed to make us healthier.
And while we’re here — what about after the smoothie? I drive about 700 miles a week, and I bring mine with me. My answer is FrostBuddy. It fits perfectly in the car cup holder (no adapter needed), keeps the smoothie cold all day — though mine’s usually gone by lunch — and it’s dishwasher safe.
The same goes for coffee. If you’re picking up coffee at a local shop, bring your own cup. I do. Why add more plastics, or cardboard? I like my own cup that fits into the cup holder, and I can easily get into my mouth. My coffee cup of choice? Simple Modern. It’s easy, it works, it lasts. And my coffee? Black, the healthiest kind. I don't drink my coffee hot, I prefer it cold like my heart. I usually brew the coffee the night before and put it in the refrigerator. Here is a tip: if it is the morning, I have some coffee frozen cubes in my silicon ice maker. Don’t buy the “hyperchill” device you see advertised all over - it is large, cumbersome, and doesn’t work as fast as a coffee ice cube (yes, I bought one, so you don’t have to).
One thing to note: I don’t get paid to recommend these. There are no affiliate codes here, no sponsorships. The people who pay me are my subscribers. You. That way, you can trust that when I endorse something, it’s because I use it — not because a brand paid me to.
So for subscribers, I will share the full kitchen audit: blenders, cutting boards, spatulas, silicone swaps, peppermills, storage and the specific products I have tested and trusted. And yes, you’ll also get the recipe for the classic Marx Brothers Caesar Salad, it is simply the greatest Caesar salad ever.
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So yes, this is my kitchen remake to decrease the load of microplastics.