Ditching Plastic Cutting Boards
A Small Change for a Healthier Kitchen
Today, I want to chat about a small but impactful change we're making in our kitchen: saying goodbye to plastic cutting boards. You might be wondering why such a simple item deserves a spotlight. Well, it turns out that our trusty plastic cutting boards could be sneaking tiny toxins into our meals, and it’s all thanks to microplastics.
The Microplastic Problem
Microplastics are minuscule plastic particles less than five millimeters in size. These tiny invaders are everywhere – in our oceans, our water supply, and, alarmingly, even in our food. When we chop, slice, and dice on plastic cutting boards, we unwittingly contribute to this problem. Each cut creates small grooves that harbor bacteria and shed tiny plastic particles, which can find their way into our food.
We may not be able to control all the toxins we’re exposed to, but reducing our intake of microplastics is a step we can take. Studies have shown that microplastics can cause health issues ranging from inflammation to more serious chronic conditions. It’s unsettling to think that every meal prepared on a plastic cutting board might come with an extra serving of microplastics. Researchers have found that cutting carrots on a plastic board can generate as much as 15 milligrams of microplastics per cut, or about 50 grams per year – roughly equivalent to the weight of ten plastic credit cards .
(Trust that we were just as shook when first finding this out as you probably are right now)
A Better Alternative: Bamboo and Wooden Cutting Boards
Switching to bamboo or wooden cutting boards is a simple yet effective way to minimize our microplastic exposure. Here’s why they’re a better choice:
Natural Material: Bamboo and wood are natural, renewable resources that don’t shed plastic particles.
Durability: They are sturdy and long-lasting. With proper care, they can last for years.
Bacteria Resistant: Wood, in particular, has natural antibacterial properties. Bamboo, being less porous than wood, resists knife scarring and is easy to clean.
Eco-Friendly: By choosing bamboo or wood, we reduce our reliance on plastic, which helps cut down on plastic pollution.
Making the Switch
The next time you’re prepping a meal, consider the impact your cutting board has on your food. It’s a small change, but knowing that you’re reducing the microplastics in your diet is a great incentive to switch. Bamboo and wooden cutting boards not only contribute to a healthier lifestyle but also add a touch of natural beauty to your kitchen.
So, let’s make a pact: let’s swap out our plastic cutting boards for bamboo or wooden ones. It’s an easy step towards a healthier home, and it’s one small way we can control the quality of what goes into our bodies. Your future self will thank you – and so will our planet