Hey Reader,

This one’s for my fellow tea lovers (which, honestly, feels like many of you, because multiple clients have brought this up recently, so it’s time we talk about it!):

What’s the deal with tea bags and microplastics? Are they really that bad?

Let’s break it down.

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Microplastics = Macroproblem

Microplastics are everywhere - in our food, water, air, clothing, and yep, even in our tea.

And they don’t just pass through the body harmlessly. Studies show they can accumulate in your blood, liver, kidneys, reproductive organs, lungs… even your brain.

Some types of plastics mimic hormones, potentially messing with your fertility, metabolism, immune function, and more.

Big yikes.

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So where does tea come into play?

A recent study found that billions of plastic particles can be released from just one tea bag - especially if it’s made from nylon, polypropylene, or cellulose.

Here’s what the researchers found:

• Polypropylene tea bags: ~1.2 billion particles/mL
• Cellulose tea bags: ~135 million particles/mL
• Nylon tea bags: ~8 million particles/mL

Different plastics also seem to interact differently with gut cells.

In lab tests:

• Polypropylene was absorbed by mucus-producing cells
• Nylon was taken up by cells that protect the gut lining
• Cellulose interacted with multiple mucus cell types

Long story short: our gut lining is coming into direct contact with these particles, and we’re still learning how that might affect gut health over time. But the early data isn’t sounding good…

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What can you do instead?

Here’s what I personally recommend (and what I practice myself):

✔️ Switch to loose-leaf tea - It’s a super easy swap. Use a stainless steel or glass strainer instead of tea bags.
✔️ Avoid plastic-based tea bags - Especially those that look silky or mesh-like (e.g. the pyramid-shaped bags). See better brands below!
✔️ Drink from glass or stainless steel - For tea, water, and coffee.
✔️ Filter your water - A reverse osmosis filter can remove up to 99.9% of microplastics.
✔️ Don’t heat food in plastic - This ramps up chemical leaching like crazy (by as much as 55%).

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Want to stick with bagged tea? These brands are safer bets:

I love the convenience of tea bags, and you can still use them! The following companies use plastic-free materials like unbleached hemp, abaca, cotton string, and plant-based fibers:

• Traditional Medicinals
• Pukka Herbs
• Numi Organic Tea
• The Republic of Tea
• Stash Tea
• Yogi Tea

You can usually find this info on their websites or packaging. Look for words like plastic-free, compostable, non-GMO, or cotton string.

I know it can feel overwhelming when it seems like everything is trying to sneak chemicals into our bodies. But small, sustainable swaps really do add up - and this one is a no-brainer if you're a regular tea drinker.

Got questions about other sneaky plastic exposures? Just reply - I’m happy to help!

In health,

-Daina

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P.S. This is just one of the things we dig into during client sessions - especially for those dealing with hormonal imbalances, gut issues, or chronic inflammation. If that’s you, book a Discovery Call here!​

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