March 30, 2025
Do you consume a credit card’s worth of plastic every week, supplements for male fertility, and who you are speaks so loudly.
published in 2019 and sponsored by the World Wide Fund of Nature, an Australian based non-profit, showed that you do.
This study sparked a lot of intensive debate on the internet, and it was difficult to know what was right and what was wrong, or who was being misleading.
I will admit, the World Wide Fund of Nature does not sound like a very objective organization when it comes to sponsoring a study like this, as they could have a bias they’re trying to confirm.
Then, on the flip side, if this data is true, or even mostly true, there is also probably a very big business lobby from many different sectors (as plastic is about as ubiquitous as it gets) that would have a major interest in disproving this data, and of course, the finances to launch a media campaign to do so.
For reference, a credit card’s worth of plastic is about 5g, which if true, means you consume about 260g of plastic per year, or a little over 9oz, which is over half of a pound of plastic.
At minimum, you can be assured the number is not zero, and in these instances, where there are two heavily vested interests both trying to prove opposite points, I tend to think the truth is somewhere in the middle.
A recent paper titled, How microplastics are transported and deposited in realistic upper airways that appears to be more objective, seems to settle the debate a bit more, and it does seem like we do consume close to 5g of plastics per week, if you include both micro and nanoplastics (which are smaller plastics molecules) as well as including inhalation as a method of ingestion.
Furthermore, a paper published in August, 2024 titled, Microplastic presence in dog and human testis and its potential association with sperm count and weights of testis and epididymis
This data would then also align with the growing research which shows that we do in fact ingest/inhale over half a pound of micro and nanoplastics a year.
Naturally, this is a bit disconcerting, but also, a reality of our environment we now live in, and somewhat unavoidable.
I try to live my life on the offensive, and as I share with you through this medium, I try to also help arm you so that you can take greater control of your health and live on the offensive as well.
What do I mean by this?
Let’s use the clear inevitability that we not only ingest, but appear to accumulate microplastics in our system.
One subjective side will tell you this is not a problem, another side will try to scare you to the point where you fear all microplastics.
As I mentioned, I stay in the middle.
Do I think it’s important to be aware and cognizant that microplastics are literally everywhere and have negative effects on our health?
Yes.
Do I spend my life worrying about it?
No.
My approach is to be cognizant and aware of environmental dangers to our health, and then use that info to play offense, rather than letting fear rule me.
That said, next we’ll address the dangers of microplastics and then discuss how you can play offense and better combat them.
The Dangers of Microplastics
Unfortunately, the potential side effects and dangers to our health from microplastic accumulation in the body are quite numerous. That said, I do think it’s important to maintain some perspective.
Ten thousand years ago getting eaten by a Saber-tooth Tiger or stomped by a Wooly Mammoth was a very real, ever present danger to our health.
One hundred and fifty years ago, a simple cut could result in death from infection, among the other numerous illnesses that could kill us. Heck, even dysentery was a serious threat to our health.
We live in the best of times, but with these times, do come new risks to our health, but also, risks we are more adept at avoiding and combatting.
✔️ Inflammation and Oxidative Stress
Microplastics can trigger inflammatory responses in tissues, as the body recognizes them as foreign invaders.
They can also induce oxidative stress, which can damage cells and contribute to chronic diseases.
✔️ Chemical Toxicity
Plastics often contain various chemical additives (like BPA, phthalates, and PFAS) that can leach out and disrupt endocrine systems, potentially leading to hormonal imbalances.
These chemicals have been linked to a range of health problems, including reproductive issues (more on that in a bit), developmental problems, and an increased cancer risk.
✔️ Cardiovascular Issues
Recent studies have indicated a potential link between the presence of microplastics in blood vessels and an increased risk of cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes.
✔️ Gut Microbiome Disruption
Microplastics can alter the composition and function of the gut microbiome, which plays a crucial role in overall health. Disruptions to the gut microbiome have been linked to various health issues, including inflammatory bowel disease and metabolic disorders.
✔️ Potential for Nanoplastic Penetration
Nanoplastics, the even smaller counterparts of microplastics, are of particular concern because they can potentially penetrate cells and even cell nuclei, potentially causing damage at the cellular level.
✔️ Reproductive problems
There is growing evidence that microplastics can negatively affect fertility. This was further evidenced by the aforementioned study above where microplastics were found in all of the canine and human testes studied.
Simple Ways to Reduce Microplastic Buildup
It’s an inevitable part of our environment that we will ingest microplastics, and that they can build up in our system, however, you don’t have to throw your hands in the air and just give up and accept it, nor do you have to spend every minute of your life stressing out about the ingestion of microplastics.
Again, somewhere in the middle.
There are simple measures you can make in your life to reduce the amount of microplastics you ingest, while also aiding your body’s natural detox mechanisms to rid your body of microplastics at an accelerated rate.
The goal unfortunately is not no microplastics, just less and less in our system.
For full context as to the inevitability of ingesting microplastics, they will find microplastics in raw milk and organic grass fed beef even.
Now, dramatically less than say, the pearls in boba tea, which contain 32,000% more BPA than the suggested threshold for healthy metabolism, but still, small amounts of microplastics can be found in raw milk even.
Here are simple steps you can take, or things to be cognizant of that will reduce the impact of microplastics on your health:
✔️ Home Air Filtration
Many nanoplastics, which can be the nastiest form of microplastics as they can get inside our cells, are inhaled. High quality air filtration in your home can go a long way in cleaning your air of all pollutants and contaminants. We have a in our house.
✔️ Filter Your Drinking Water
✔️ Avoid Processed Foods and Packaged Foods
The unfortunate truth is that microplastics are found everywhere in our food supply, however, the biggest culprits are processed, packaged, non-whole foods as you can imagine. These are the foods we should be avoiding as much as possible already, so this is just another reason.
✔️ Be Cognizant of the Clothing and Fabrics You Use and Wear
Polyester = Plastic
Wear cotton and merino wool fabrics more. For athletic wear, these can be a bit heavy, and most athletic wear is pure plastic, so at minimum, find athletic wear that is made from recycled polyester, and/or contains some cotton, as that will at least shed lower amounts of microplastics.
Be cognizant of your towels and linens as well that come into contact with your skin.
We use natural fabrics for our bed sheets like linen.
And as promised, here's more on fertility.
A Research Backed Antioxidant Supplement Stack for Male Fertility
If you are at an age, or point in your life where your fertility matters, be cognizant that these microplastics are MAJOR endocrine disruptors and are probably a big culprit of our lowering fertility rates.
There is actually some really solid research on supplements for male fertility that I will recommend.
It’s worth noting that we had our first child almost a year ago, and we were able to conceive right away when we started trying.
I was already supplementing with the stack outlined below naturally, aside from the lycopene, when we tried.
I should also note that my natural testosterone levels were 646 when I was tested at 39 years of age, which is basically through the roof for someone my age, and that is not by accident.
So, I understand correlation doesn’t always equal causation, however, between my lifestyle and supplementation, there probably is a strong correlation between my high fertility and my habits and way of living.
Again, I don’t stress out over avoiding microplastics either, but I do take measures to avoid them more than others, as I outlined above.
A paper published two years ago titled,
“Antioxidant Supplementation on Male Fertility—A Systematic Review”
, performed a review of the current literature regarding the effects of antioxidant supplementation on male fertility parameters.Results were analyzed regarding the following aspects: (a) ingredient and dose; (b) potential mechanism of action and rationale for use; and (c) effect on various reported outcomes.
In total, 29 studies “found a substantial positive effect” of antioxidant supplementation on male fertility. Furthermore, the two overarching conclusions of this meta-analysis are that antioxidant supplementation appears to have a positive effect on male fertility, and environmental factors appear to play a role in fertility, oftentimes, reducing fertility, or negatively affecting it.
Environmental factors = Microplastics contamination, among other things.
The findings of this study are pretty solid, as it’s a review of all the current literature, and the best part about it is they provided an antioxidant supplementation protocol for male fertility based on the actual research, which I will list for you below.
And guys, listen up, because your fertility typically plays a larger role in conceiving than your female counterpart, so if there are issues conceiving, or if you really want to increase your chances of conceiving more quickly, focusing on doing what you can to improve your fertility is important.
And again, anecdotally, I can personally draw a positive correlation after supplementing with this stack.
Okay, here’s the stack, along with researched daily dose:
- Full-spectrum natural Vitamin E (400mg)
- Carnitines (500-1000mg)
- Vitamin C (500-1000mg)
- CoQ10 (100-300mg)
- N-acetylcysteine (NAC) (600mg)
- Selenium (200mg)
- Methylfolate (500mcg)
- Zinc (25-400mg)
- Lycopene (6-8mg)
All of these micronutrients and antioxidants don’t show toxicity at slightly higher doses, so if you find a supplement that doses a little bit higher, you should be fine, unless you have an unknown genetic factor. I would however, try to keep the zinc supplementation below 100mg/day. Although the recommendation goes up to 400mg, I feel that is too high.
Who you are speaks so loudly that I cannot hear a single word you say.
In the end, people will remember you by your actions and how you treated them.
Allow your actions and the energy you put out into the world speak for itself.
Live with intention in all you do, those around you will feel it.
Let your actions speak so loudly about the person you are, that all other noise is drowned out.
