The Human Upgrade: Biohacking for Longevity & Performance

Episode 1426: Your Brain Is 0.5% Plastic (Here’s How to Flush It)
Host: Dave Asprey
Guest: Josephine Musco, Founder of Elixir T Strips
Date: March 5, 2026

Main Theme

This episode dives deep into the pervasive problem of microplastics in the human body, especially their infiltration into the brain and their role in cognitive decline, weight gain, and overall health. Featuring guest Josephine Musco, the founder of Elixir T Strips, Dave and Josephine explore the science behind microplastic contamination, their sources (with a particular focus on common household items like tea bags), and proven strategies for minimizing exposure and accelerating detoxification.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Microplastics: Ubiquity and Health Impacts

• Invisible Threat:

  • Microplastics (5mm to 1 micron) and nanoplastics (below 1 micron) are everywhere and impossible to see with the naked eye.
  • "People cannot see them. ...They are not really associating the health symptoms that they are having with microplastics..."
    — Josephine Musco [05:36]

• Accumulation in Human Tissue:

  • Studies find microplastics in organs, blood, reproductive tissues, and brain tissue — up to 0.5% of brain mass may be microplastics.
  • “Like half a percent of your brain could be made out of microplastics right now.”
    — Dave Asprey [00:16], reiterated several times [06:56], [07:01]
  • Microplastics accumulate toxins from the environment and embed them in human tissue, causing chronic inflammation and risk for Alzheimer's, dementia, hormonal disruption, and reproductive issues [07:23].

• Plastics and Chronic Disease:

  • Microplastics and the chemicals within (like BPA, BPS) act as endocrine disruptors, increasing risk for obesity, cognitive decline, infertility, and heart disease.
  • “They found that these subjects that had the microplastics in the plaque of their carotid arteries had 4.5 more likelihood of having a cardiac event.”
    — Josephine Musco [06:36]

2. Sources of Microplastics

• Everyday Consumables:

  • Tea bags: Steeping one bag releases ~11.6B microplastics and 3.1B nanoplastics into your cup [00:00], [11:07].
  • Coffee cups, plastic kitchenware, canned foods, water bottles, sea salt, seafood, even fitness and yoga apparel.
  • “240,000 particles of plastic per liter in water bottles. ...That's a crime, really.”
    — Josephine Musco [14:31]

• Manufacturing and Packaging:

  • Plastics in food and beverage packaging, personal care containers, clothing (esp. polyester/yoga wear), home goods, and kitchen utensils.
  • Even “BPA-free” alternatives may contain equally harmful substitutes [09:34].

3. Weight Gain & Endocrine Disruption

• Plastics and Fat Storage:
  • Microplastics and associated chemicals (BPA/BPS) act like estrogen, disrupting hormonal balance and promoting fat storage.
  • They often are stored in fat tissue, making it harder to lose weight:
    “So microplastics are hormone disruptors. ...our body is so smart. So when we get the microplastics in our body, ...it stores it in the fat tissue.”
    — Josephine Musco [12:43], [12:52]

4. Environmental Considerations & Solutions

• Insufficient Current Solutions:

  • Some mushrooms, bacteria, and other organisms digest microplastics but not at scalable levels yet [13:41].
  • Calls for policy measures (taxation on plastic packaging) and manufacturing innovation in sustainable packaging [14:17].

• Entrepreneurial Approach:

  • Josephine’s Elixir T Strips: Dissolvable tea strips made from tea powder and plant fiber, offering an alternative to plastic-laced tea bags [11:07], [12:12].

5. How to Reduce Exposure

• Practical Substitutions:

  • Use glass/metal containers wherever possible.
  • Avoid heating/consuming food and drinks in plastics, especially with hot liquids.
  • Prefer natural materials for clothing, bedding, and home textiles (avoid polyester, “vegan” plastics in fashion).
  • For kitchen: Switch to wood or bamboo cutting boards, avoid non-stick and black plastic utensils.

• Water and Food:

  • Choose bottled water in glass over plastic and avoid canned foods lined with plastics [08:39].
  • Beware “eco” branded products — check for hidden plastics in sealing or coatings [18:24].

6. Removing Microplastics from the Body (Detox Strategies)

• Dietary Approaches:

  • Increase intake of soluble fiber (inulin, mucilages, acacia gum) to bind microplastics and support their excretion [24:36], [25:00].
  • Probiotic-rich foods: Lactobacillus (yogurt) and specific strains (e.g., L. reuteri in kimchi) can reduce microplastics in blood up to 82% [25:00].
  • Polyphenol-rich herbs and foods (olive leaf, spices, teas, coffee, chocolate): serve as antioxidants and prebiotics, supporting gut flora and chelating toxins [28:19].
  • Chlorella, spirulina for additional chelation support [27:38].

• Physical Approaches:

  • Activate lymphatic/glymphatic systems:
    • Rebounding (mini-trampoline) or whole body vibration for 10 minutes morning/evening [27:03].
    • Sauna (hot or infrared) for sweating out fat-stored toxins — see tailored caution advice below [41:13], [42:32].
    • Lymphatic massage/drainage, hydration, post-meal walks [27:20].

• Notable Quote:

  • “You don't need to stress about it. You just want to take action to move yourself in the right direction and at the same time become stronger, more vibrant, better at detoxing.”
    — Dave Asprey [00:49]; closing remarks [61:01]

7. Special Topics

• Fertility and Generational Impact:

  • Microplastics impact both male and female fertility, affecting hormonal development — particularly critical for boys during pregnancy and puberty [56:51], [57:20].
  • Advice: At least 3-6 months of detox and microplastic avoidance before conception for both parents [56:35].

• Skincare:

  • Avoid creams/serums in plastic containers, as microplastics absorb best in fats and can be absorbed transdermally [40:17].
  • Prefer minimal skincare, opt for oils in glass containers, and avoid fragrance and dyes [41:19].

• Fashion & Textiles:

  • Avoid synthetic fibers (“vegan furs,” polyester yoga/fitness clothes), especially in heated environments (hot yoga, etc.) [53:00].
  • Prefer natural leather, cotton, wool, or silk — these are less polluting overall and last longer [54:42].

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Microplastics in the Brain:

  • “They were even found in the brain, in postmortem brain tissue. ...0.5% of the brain tissue is made from microplastics.”
    — Josephine Musco [00:00], [06:45], [07:00]

• On BPA/BPS:

  • “Beware when you see BPA free. That doesn't mean it doesn't have some type of hormone disruptor.”
    — Josephine Musco [09:34]
  • “They're all petroleum byproducts. But BPA is a chemical that gets impregnated into the microplastics so they kind of ride together.”
    — Dave Asprey [09:13]

• On Detox & Sauna:

  • “If you're dumping that much fat, all the toxins have to go through your lymphatic system, your liver, your kidneys. And if you don't handle that, go into your brain.”
    — Dave Asprey [45:54]
  • “Drink the elixir lymphatic, and then do your sauna.”
    — Dave Asprey [47:03]

• On Tea Bag Industry Responsibility:

  • “Microplastics will be the next asbestos. ...It’s time to in your R&D department say, well, what would happen if we went back to maybe paper tea bags the way we used to?”
    — Dave Asprey [17:28]

Important Timestamps

• [00:00-01:06] — Opening: Microplastic stats from tea bags; Introduction to topic
• [03:32-05:27] — Dave’s overview on plastics and body systems
• [05:36-07:23] — Josephine explains microplastic and nanoplastic sizes; health links
• [08:03-09:03] — Sources: Heating plastics, canned foods, effect on BPA in urine
• [11:07-12:22] — Josephine’s Elixir T Strips as a microplastic-free tea alternative
• [13:20-14:52] — Microplastics, weight, and potential environmental solutions
• [18:24-19:09] — Why paper tea bags are also often problematic
• [24:36-27:38] — How to detox microplastics: fiber, probiotics, specific herbs, and lifestyle
• [33:30-34:49] — Olive leaf, patent process, history, and antioxidant content
• [41:13-42:32] — Sauna, individual protocols, detox caution
• [45:38-47:08] — How toxins stored in fat are released during rapid weight loss and sauna
• [48:27-50:08] — Practical household hacks: Water bottle, glass vs. plastic, rugs, bedding
• [53:00-54:29] — Synthetic yoga clothes in hot environments; alternatives in organic workout wear
• [56:35-57:20] — Microplastic impact on fertility, especially in boys and during pregnancy

Actionable Tips to Minimize Microplastic Harm

• Use glass or stainless steel for food and drinks—avoid plastic where possible, especially with heat
• Choose organic/natural fibers for clothes, sheets, and rugs
• Avoid canned foods, plastic-wrapped water/foods, nonstick cookware, and plastic kitchen utensils/cutting boards
• Increase fiber (especially acacia gum) and probiotic intake
• Support lymphatic/glymphatic movement: rebound, sauna, hydration, lymphatic teas, whole body vibration, massage
• For fertility or preconception, both parents should minimize exposure for several months prior

Conclusion

This episode offers a thorough look at the hidden threat of microplastics to human health and presents both urgent and practical ways to reduce exposure and support detoxification. The conversation combines research, environmental activism, and entrepreneurial solutions — all delivered in Dave Asprey’s direct, actionable style, and Josephine Musco’s evidence-based, passionate advocacy for both personal and planetary health. It finishes on a note of empowerment and calm: avoid paralysis or doom, make practical harm-reduction choices, and fortify your resilience for longevity and vitality.

Key memorable takeaway:
“You don't need to stress about it. ...Just take action to move yourself in the right direction and at the same time become stronger, more vibrant, better at detoxing...”
— Dave Asprey [61:01]