Despite the comforts of modern life, we are facing a mental health crisis. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 1 in 5 adults live with a mental disorder. Young adults aged 18-25 have the highest rate of mental illness (36%), and those with serious mental illness experience functional impairment and interference with life activities.

A new publication in the journal Brain Medicine points to a possible link between microplastics and mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. Microplastics, which are tiny particles shed from the use and degradation of plastic products, have a reputation that precedes them. Researchers proclaimed a few years ago that we ingest a credit card’s worth of these plastic shards each week.

Recommended Stories

• Republicans are keeping their school choice promise
• Make children's snacks healthy again
• Parents, get your teenagers off Instagram

The recent paper hypothesizes that consumption of ultraprocessed foods (foods made from ingredients rarely found in kitchens, such as high-fructose corn syrup, artificial dyes, and flavor additives) has played a role in our current predicament. Over 50% of our energy intake comes from ultraprocessed foods, and microplastics find their way into our bodies through the manufacturing and packaging processes. Plastic containers used for reheating can also leach plastic particles within three minutes of being warmed in the microwave.

Microplastics negatively affect the endocrine system, exert carcinogenic effects, and can cross the blood-brain barrier. A cascade of symptoms, including oxidative stress (which occurs when there is an excess of free radicals in the body, leading to cell damage) and alteration of neurotransmitters (or chemical messengers), has implications for how brain cells communicate, thereby affecting psychological functioning and the risk of developing a brain disorder.

How did we get here? Plastic was originally developed to improve our lives, allowing humans to build as they wished without being constrained by the limitations of natural materials such as metal or wood. Not only was plastic lightweight, strong, and durable, but it could be shaped however a manufacturer wished and produced abundantly.

Fast-forward more than a century, and plastic is ubiquitous. Most of us live fast-paced lives that constantly demand more, faster, now. We spend most of our days sitting inside, no longer fearing starvation but the consequences of overindulgence.

Even those of us who are health-conscious find it truly impossible to rid plastic entirely from our lives. It’s not enough to eat clean foods, avoid bottled water, and transfer our skincare to glass containers because microplastics can be ingested by breathing in air. Bits of plastic have been found in the brains of cadavers, particularly those who had a diagnosis of dementia. So, even in death, we cannot escape microplastics’ legacy.

What can you do to mitigate harm? Prevention is generally the best approach. Swap processed foods for healthier options; use products made from glass or stainless steel to store anything that will be put in or on your body. Remarkably, one study found that patients with depression who replaced ultraprocessed foods in their diet with unprocessed, healthier alternatives were more likely to experience a remission of symptoms by 12 weeks.

Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to avoid inhaling microplastics lingering in dust. You can also purchase tests from companies online to determine the level of microplastics in your bloodstream or drinking water. If you have concerns about your fertility, research shows that antioxidants can help to protect the reproductive system from microplastics’ effects.

As for what this means for the future of human health, decades ago, young people could get away with terrible eating habits before their lifestyle caught up to them. It seems children growing up today aren’t afforded the same luxury, with regard to their emotional and physical health.

TRUMP ORDERS OVERHAUL OF SCIENCE FUNDING IN LATEST BLOW TO ESTABLISHMENT

Nutrient-poor food compromises the ability of our brains and bodies to function at their best. Even if you don’t personally use plastic, the fact that it is produced at such a high volume means that when it’s disposed of, there’s a good chance it will eventually end up in our water supply and soil, and thus our food.

Seemingly benign conveniences are costing us, whether we acknowledge it or not. Chasing ease and modernity comes with trade-offs we will eventually wish we hadn’t accepted.

Dr. Debra Soh is a sex neuroscientist and the author of The End of Gender. Follow her @DrDebraSoh and visit DrDebraSoh.com.