Kimchi May Flush Microplastics from the Body, Thanks to This Probiotic

Microplastics and their potentially harmful effects on human health (and the world) have been top-of-mind for the last few years. Now, a new study may have found a mechanism to remove them from our bodies, hiding in a popular fermented food: kimchi.

The study, ran by the World Institute of Kimchi in South Korea, found that a probiotic bacterium found in kimchi may help the body get rid of microplastics naturally. The bacteria binds to the particles inside the intestine and moves them out of the body via stool. Could it be that simple?

Well, maybe not quite. There is a lot we still don’t know, says Avery Zenker, a registered dietitian with MyHealthTeam who was not involved in the study. “It’s important to keep in mind that this study was conducted in a lab on a bacteria derived from kimchi,” she explained, “which does not necessarily translate to direct effects in the human gut.” However, she says, the results show real promise.

The scientists looked at one strain of lactic acid bacteria which was isolated from kimchi. They found that, under laboratory conditions, this strain of bacteria removed 87 percent of microplastics. Under conditions that mimicked a human gut, that number dropped to 57 percent—still significantly better than a different strain of bacteria tested for reference, which dropped from 85 percent to 3 percent.

A few more words of caution: this study wasn’t performed directly on humans (rather, using bacteria in a lab and under conditions similar to a human gut), and it didn’t find that kimchi itself reduces microplastic absorption, as Zenker points out. Instead, it focused on “a bacterial strain commonly found in kimchi that showed potential,” she explains. “More research is needed to uncover the impact of kimchi consumption specifically.”

Still, she says there’s potential here—and it’s welcome news for many of us who are concerned about the effects of microplastic on our health. These tiny particles of plastic—less than one micrometer long—have been found in our brains, hearts, stomachs, placentas, and genitals. They’ve been detected in urine, breast milk, semen, and even meconium, a newborn’s first stool, per Stanford Medicine. Research is ongoing into how exactly microplastics play into health issues, but studies have linked them to inflammation, abnormal organ development, cell damage, and cancer.

So, hearing that a bacteria found in a common food could help the body get rid of these tiny bits of plastic? Very exciting. “The degree to which this probiotic strain was able to bind to microplastics is quite profound,” Zenker agrees.

And the fact that it’s found in kimchi is also a positive, because we know that kimchi, along with other fermented foods like sauerkraut and kefir, are great for your health to begin with. “Research suggests fermented foods may support microbial diversity, digestion, immune function, and overall gut health,” says Zenker. Fermented foods contribute “good” bacteria (aka probiotics) to our gut microbiome, which “impacts every body system, including brain, heart, bone, immune, and metabolism.”

Eating fiber (found in fruits, veggies, nuts, and beans) and especially prebiotic fiber (found in foods like asparagus, leeks, onion, and garlic) is also good for your microbiome, as it feeds those healthy bacteria.

While we still have a lot to learn about how probiotics, kimchi, and other fermented foods interact with microplastics, it may be worth adding more of them to your — and your family’s — diets. “Many health experts encourage adults and children to eat fermented foods regularly, even daily,” Zenker says.

She recommends starting with small amounts at time, like mixing a bit of sauerkraut into stew, making a smoothie popsicle with kefir, or adding minced kimchi to scrambled eggs. And keep including probiotic-rich foods that your kids already enjoy, Zenker adds, like yogurt, kefir, or fermented pickles. While we wait for more research on probiotics and microplastics, you’ll at least be doing your family’s microbiomes a world of good.