Dr. Noble Talks: What you need to know about Microplastics and your Toxic Load

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Have you been frustrated by the mixed health information circulating on the Internet and social media? Me too, and I’m ready to speak up about it. I’ll share what the science shows and reflect on what I have experienced with patients during my 28 years of practice to support your personal wellness goals.

Today’s Hot Topic:  Microplastics (Toxins)

Last month we learned how to create a happier, healthier you by supporting our mitochondria with NAD+ the right way. We learned the importance of these tiny but mighty organelles in supplying the body with its energy and improving your health. (Did you miss it? Click here.) Knowing what you know now, wouldn’t you do all you can to keep them healthy? I sure would.

When I first started my journey into functional medicine, I was laser-focused on hormones. I was personally struggling with a hormone imbalance that had influenced my ability to be the mother, wife, and friend I wanted to be.  Back then, very few practitioners truly understood hormone dysfunction. The protocol to address symptoms like mine was to prescribe birth control pills or rebranded antidepressants like “Sarafem” (Prozac).

Those treatments somewhat stabilized my mood, but I was becoming someone I did not recognize. Realizing that I did not have a Prozac deficiency, I searched further. That realization sparked a journey of discovery to uncover the deeper imbalance. Around that time, actress Suzanne Somers began speaking publicly about hormones, guided by her physician, Dr. Uzzi Reiss, who was one of the first diplomates of the then unofficial Board of Anti-Aging Medicine. I studied and implemented his guidelines using bioidentical hormones. It changed my life. I became 99.9% symptom free.

I felt so passionate about the field that I have served as an oral board examiner for this same board for the past 15 years. As the decades have gone by, I have learned more and more about the intricacies of hormone dysfunction. It’s rarely just about the transition to menopause. We must ask:

Why are the hormones imbalanced in the first place?

Often, the root cause lies in toxins–both environmental toxicants and biological toxins. Toxins can disrupt the enzymes and nutrients our bodies rely on for hormone regulation. For instance, in my case, it was not Prozac itself that caused worsening of my issues, but a genetic enzyme deficiency that impaired my body’s inherent detoxification pathways.

So, we cannot ignore toxins (man-made chemicals) or biotoxins (toxins of biological origin) as a potential culprit of our hormonal and health issues. With great delight, I have seen tons of influencers and wellness advocates trying to shed light on toxins, especially microplastics. These tiny plastic fragments (under 5mm) are an inescapable part of our modern world. They have been found in nearly every corner of the earth, from the top of our mountains to the depths of our oceans, and increasingly, in our bodies.

Growing evidence links microplastics to cardiovascular disease and arterial plaque progression. Even more disturbing, recent research shows they can cross the placenta during pregnancy and breach our blood-brain barrier. A 2019 Australian study estimated that we ingest a credit card’s worth of microplastics every week, through our food, air, water, and even skin.  These particles lodge in our lungs and intestines, disrupt our gut microbiome, travel to our liver, and circulate throughout the body. This ultimately causes inflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction.

microplastic clogging heart arteries

Microplastics are everywhere: in water bottles, food packaging, utensils, cosmetics, fragrances, equipment and toys. Recently, tea bags and chewing gum have been found to contain microplastics. A new French study even discovered plastic particles in glass-bottled water, due to the plastic-lined caps.

The chemicals used to manufacture plastics—like phthalates, which are used to make plastics pliable, and bisphenol A (BPA) used in its manufacturing—are linked to hormone disruption, infertility, obesity, cancer, and neurodegenerative disease. But most importantly, what matters is your individual toxic burden or load, which determines how your body will react.

I tell all my patients: we live in a toxic soup, and we all have different detoxification abilities based on our genetics, nutritional status, and lifestyle.

Our best bet is to reduce toxins in and help support toxins out. If the bucket of toxins is overloading our ability to detoxify them, we then get the damaging oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial insults as a result. I am seeing more and more Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) that has been linked to this. It’s estimated that teenagers are using up to 18 personal care products per day that are full of chemicals. If you are being bombarded by toxins and you are not doing anything to support detoxification, while your body is dealing with other infections or biotoxins, you can become hypersensitive to toxins resulting in a condition toxicant induced loss of tolerance (TILT). It is like post-traumatic stress disorder of the immune and nervous system, and it is much more difficult to treat.

If you feel your mood is labile, your brain is foggy, your weight and sugars are going up, you are having fertility issues, you are super sensitive to foods, fragrances, tobacco smoke, cleaning supplies and new carpet, and antibiotics and vaccines make you sick, or you are just “feeling off,” then your body’s inability to handle your burden of toxins and microplastics may be the culprit or root cause. You can take the Quick Environmental Exposure and Sensitivity Inventory (QEESI) at https://tiltresearch.org, and visit http://iseai.org/ to find a clinician trained in environmental medicine who can assist you in the proper testing and support.

How can I lower my toxic load?

The best tool is prevention! Here are a few practical steps you can take:

Reduce “Toxins In”

  • Use stainless steel bottles with filtered tap water
  • Eat organic foods (Check the EWG’s Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen guides)
  • Use reusable cloth or paper bags to shop
  • Limit consumption of certain high-mercury seafood
  • Use loose tea instead of tea bags
  • Avoid microwaving or heating foods in plastic containers
  • Avoid polyester, nylon and acrylic in your clothing
  • Avoid chewing gum
  • Choose fragrance-free, clean beauty products and reading labels

Support “Toxins Out”

  • Optimize your gut health and nutritional status
  • Exercise regularly and get good sleep
  • Practice mindfulness and stress reduction
  • Use sauna therapy (safely and under guidance)
  • Consider supporting detox with nutrients like:
    • Glutathione (IV, topical, intranasal, nebulized, or liposomal forms)
    • NAC, Vitamin C, alpha-lipoic acid, milk thistle, SAM-e, and whey protein

Other therapies are being investigated. More studies are needed before I can recommend them, as some therapies can be more damaging than good. Plasmapheresis seems promising, but it is expensive and not yet readily available. As always, please check the credentials of who is advising you, and don’t make yourself crazy over it.

Focus on what you can control to keep those good energy cells thriving: eat well, stay calm, sleep deeply, and move your body to support your health.

Wishing you wellness,
Dr. Anjali Noble

 

P.S. Let me know what you’d like me to cover next!

Recommended Reading

Good Energy
by Casey Means, MD

This is another trusted source of information backed by science. She too is trying to shift the paradigm of medicine to a more preventive model. Chapter 8 speaks on all the environmental toxins that impede our mitochondrial health and more ways to support them. I love her quote by Dhru Purohit on water, “Either you have a filter, or you become the filter.”

– Dr. Anjali Noble

https://www.caseymeans.com/goodenergy

 

References

  1. Zhang T, et al. Tiny Trouble: Microplastics, Nanoplastics, and their Heartfelt Impact on Cardiovascular Health. Cardiovascular Research. 2025 April 18: cvaff068.doi:10.1093/cvr/cvaf068. PMID: 40147666
  2. Ziani, K et al. Microplastics: A Real Global Threat for Environmental and Food Safety: A State of the Art Review, Nutrients 2023 Jan 25: 15 (3):617. doi:10 .3390/mu15030617
  3. McBrady, Rachel. “Birds on Remote Island Make Gut-Wrenching Crunching Sounds Because They Are Full of Littered Plastics,” com.
  4. Miller, CS, Prihoda, T. J. , The Environmental Exposure and Sensitivity Inventory (EESI): a standardized approach for measuring chemical intolerance for research and clinical applications. Toxicology and Industrial Health 15:370-385 (1999)
  5. Palmer, RF et al, Validation of a Brief Screening Instrument for Chemical Intolerance in a Large U.S. National Sample. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Aug 18; 18 (16):8714. doi:10.3390/ijerph18168714.PMID:34444461.
  6. Chaïb, S. et al. Microplastic contaminations in a set of beverages sold in France. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 2025,144, pp.107719. �10.1016/j.jfca.2025.107719
  7. Melnick, R.L. & Schiller, C. M. Mitochondrial toxicity of phthalate esters. Environmental Health Perspective, 45, 51-56. Pubmed. PMID:7140696
  8. Cirillo T, Latini G, Castaldi MA, et al. Exposure to Di-2-Ethylhexyl Phthalate, Di-N-Butyl Phthalate and Bisphenol A Through Infant Formulas. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2015;63(12):3303-10. doi:10.1021/jf505563k.
  9. Tumu K, Vorst K, Curtzwiler G. Endocrine Modulating Chemicals in Food Packaging: A Review of Phthalates and Bisphenols. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety. 2023;22(2):1337-1359. doi:10.1111/1541-4337.13113.
  10. Baneshi M, Tonney-Gagne J, Halilu F, et al. Unpacking Phthalates From Obscurity in the Environment. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland). 2023;29(1):106. doi:10.3390/molecules29010106.
  11. Woodruff TJ. Health Effects of Fossil Fuel-Derived Endocrine Disruptors. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2024;390(10):922-933. doi:10.1056/NEJMra2300476.
  12. Banaderakhshan R, Kemp P, Breul L, et al. Bisphenol a and Its Alternatives in Austrian Thermal Paper Receipts, and the Migration From Reusable Plastic Drinking Bottles Into Water and Artificial Saliva Using UHPLC-MS/MS. Chemosphere. 2022;286(Pt 3):131842. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131842.
  13. Palsania P, Singhal K, Dar MA, Kaushik G. Food Grade Plastics and Bisphenol A: Associated Risks, Toxicity, and Bioremediation Approaches. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 2024;466:133474. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133474.
  14. Martínez-Ibarra A, Martínez-Razo LD, MacDonald-Ramos K, et al. Multisystemic Alterations in Humans Induced by Bisphenol a and Phthalates: Experimental, Epidemiological and Clinical Studies Reveal the Need to Change Health Policies. Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987). 2021;271:116380. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116380.
  15. Singh S, Li SS. Bisphenol a and Phthalates Exhibit Similar Toxicogenomics and Health Effects. Gene. 2012;494(1):85-91. doi:10.1016/j.gene.2011.11.035.
  16. Callaghan MA, Alatorre-Hinojosa S, Connors LT, Singh RD, Thompson JA. Plasticizers and Cardiovascular Health: Role of Adipose Tissue Dysfunction. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2020;11:626448. doi:10.3389/fphar.2020.626448.

Dr. Noble Talks: Is NAD+ really the “Miracle Molecule” influencers say it is?

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Have you been frustrated by the mixed health information circulating on the Internet and social media? Me too, and I’m ready to speak up about it. I’ll share what the science shows, and reflect on what I have experienced with patients during my 28 years of practice to support your personal wellness goals.

Today’s Hot Topic: NAD+

If you have scrolled social media recently, you’ve probably heard the buzz about NAD+, the “miracle molecule” that influencers claim will reverse aging, boost energy, and extend your lifespan overnight. I have seen so much mixed information on its benefits and proper usage, it makes even my medically trained brain spin. Some claim daily NAD+ drips are essential for energy and to treat addiction. Others say it’s best absorbed when injected daily or every other day. Then you have some promoting NR (nicotinamide riboside), while voices like Harvard trained David Sinclair champion the oral peptide NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide).

With all this buzz, it’s important we pause and really understand the role of NAD+ in our bodies — and answer the critical question: is more actually better?

I hope to clear up this debate and share why NAD matters, what the science actually says, and how too much of it might not be the answer. Most importantly, I’ll share how NAD can be used thoughtfully and effectively to support long-term health and the goal of Longevity Medicine.

Why is NAD+ so important?

The answer lies in our mighty mitochondria cells. These organelles are responsible for generating the energy that fuels virtually every function in our body. However, we now know that mitochondria even play a role in turning on or off genes (field of epigenetics), influencing how our bodies respond to aging, stress, and disease. When our mitochondria are not functioning properly, we can feel lifeless, age rapidly, and become susceptible to developing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

That is where NAD+ comes in. It is a coenzyme that helps these amazing mitochondrial cells produce energy from our food. But everyday life takes a toll — oxidative stress and inflammation from things like poor diet, sedentary lifestyles, alcohol, environmental toxins, mold exposure, emotional stress, surgeries, over drinking, and even over exercising can damage our mitochondria and NAD+ supply. As life goes on, we continue to deplete this essential coenzyme. Luckily, we are able to rejuvenate our NAD+ supply so our mitochondria can once again do their jobs. In fact, numerous studies have shown that good levels of NAD+ can improve body composition, better skin, brain, heart and just an overall better sense of well-being. So, as you see, supporting the mitochondria with NAD+ is crucial to a happy healthier life.

How much is too much?

While NAD+ is praised for its potential benefits, emerging research suggests that “excessive” supplementation may do more harm than good. Overloading our bodies with NAD+ can upregulate enzymes that degrade it, potentially tipping the scales towards unintended consequences that can predispose us to cancer and cardiovascular issues instead of doing the good we intended to take it for.

Let me break this down from a scientific perspective. NAD+ is not directly obtained from the diet. Rather, it is synthesized in the body from forms of vitamin B3, such as niacin, nicotinamide, and nicotinamide riboside. It plays a vital role in cellular energy production, which is more specifically called the electron transport chain that occurs in the mitochondrial cell’s membrane. This electron transport chain generates our cell’s energy (known as ATP).

Think of it like a car battery: without enough charge, nothing runs.

Our bodies are in a constant equilibrium known as redox balance, which can be disrupted in disease states. While most of us have heard of oxidative stress (often described as “rusting from within”), fewer are aware of its counterpart: reductive stress. Overloading on NAD+ can throw us into this state, increasing levels of its end products NADH, NADPH and glutathione. Ironically, we then end up undoing our intended benefit from NAD+, leading to mitochondrial disruption, more free radicals instead of less, increased risk of heart disease, neurodegeneration, and even cancer.

Instead of overloading our bodies with NAD+, it is essential to address the root cause of NAD+ depletion.

One key enzyme, NNMT (nicotinamide N Methyltransferase), becomes overactive when excess NAD+ is introduced. This enzyme plays a role in recycling NAD+ but also reduces our methylation reserves, which are critical for detoxification, hormone balance, cardiovascular health, and longevity. This is why it is essential to assess your methylation status before or during NAD+ supplementation. One indirect way to check is by measuring your homocysteine level through a simple blood test. If found to be high (optimal is around 6), then adding nutrients that support methylation can be helpful while you are supplementing NAD+.

Dosing methods… what really works?

Despite the buzz, there actually is limited data on the benefits of high dose IV NAD+ outside of addiction treatment. If used, it must be dripped very slowly – over several hours – to avoid side effects like stomach cramps, headaches, and heart palpitations. NAD+ is a large molecule; therefore, it cannot be absorbed in the skin or taken orally. If you hear someone saying something different, please shut that down!

Subcutaneous injections (into the fat under the skin) are widely shown online, but injecting right near the belly button is a fast track to a large, black bruise from hitting the vessels. Low dose (less than 100 mg) subcutaneous injections, 2-3 days a week can be helpful, though some of my patients report a jittery, adrenaline rush-like response.

My preferred method of NAD+ replacement is through the precursors, nicotinamide riboside (NR, marketed as NIAGEN+) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN). NMN is a nucleotide, while NR is a form of vitamin B3. Both are integral to the biosynthesis of NAD+ and tend to produce fewer side effects than direct NAD+ administration. NR is often praised for its excellent bioavailability, meaning it is readily absorbed and used throughout the body. The difference between them is in the way they are taken up by the cell: NMN’s conversion happens “outside” the cell before being taken up by the cell and NR is “directly” taken up by the cells. While no strong evidence favors one over the other, emerging studies have shown that they can potentially improve hormone balance, fertility, and relieve symptoms of other inflammatory states like long Covid or mold toxicity.

When our body responds to increased NAD+ supplementation in our system, it can lead to a increase in enzymes (CD38and PARP) and harmful byproducts like 4 pyridone-3 carboxamide-1-Beta-D-ribonoside (4PYR) which is linked to cardiovascular damage. So, to combat this, combining NAD+ or its precursors with an antioxidant like apigenin is a smart strategy. Apigenin is a flavonoid that has numerous beneficial effects on our body’s metabolism – mitigating inflammation, supporting brain health, and aiding cellular repair. If used together, you can address the root cause of the issue and can prevent buildup of other metabolites that can cause more damage than benefit.

As you can see, supporting our mitochondria is not something to take lightly — especially with all the buzz around NAD+ supplementation and the real possibility of doing more harm than good if it’s not approached thoughtfully.

When done correctly, enhancing mitochondrial function can lead to healthier aging, better skin, improved body composition, and a greater sense of vitality and well-being.

Simply put, mitochondria power how we look, feel, and function. Therefore, whatever we can do to support our mighty mitochondria is crucial to a happier, healthier life. Healthy habits like better sleep, good gut health, hormone balance, good nutrition, exercise, and less stress all do this. Still, in certain situations, we may need some extra support, and carefully increasing NAD+ through its precursors can help us get there.

More is not always better.

I hope my message now is clear: Overloading the system can backfire, triggering unwanted side effects and disrupting your body’s natural balance. If you choose to supplement, consider cycling it with your NAD+ precursors, and pairing them with supportive antioxidants like apigenin and methylation aids such as SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine) or methylated B vitamins. This balanced approach honors the body’s built-in feedback systems while giving your cells the support they need to thrive.

Supporting your mitochondria isn’t just about energy — it’s about vitality, resilience, and aging well. Do it wisely!

Wishing you wellness,
Dr. Anjali Noble

How Chelation Therapy Can Help You

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There is much debate, dating back to the 1950s, regarding chelation and improving cardiovascular disease. Smaller studies have shown its benefit in the past and many still believe the risk to outweigh the benefit. However, in review of the literature, the risks occurred mainly when too large of a dose or too fast of an infusion of medication (Disodium EDTA) was used… Read More »

I Can’t Lose Weight

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Everyone is searching for a quick fix for weight loss and there are so many proposed diets out there: Body for Life, The Macrobiotic Diet, The Abs Diet, Eating for your Blood type, The SouthBeach Diet, The 17 Day Diet, Nutri-Systems, and the new Dukan Diet, to name a few. With so many options, it can get confusing… Read More »

A Healthy Diet is the New Prescription Without the Side Effects

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This week on NBC news they spoke about Pfizer and the known side effects of Bextra, a Cox 2 Inhibitor, that is similar to Vioxx (Merck and Co.) and Celebrex. It was shown to cause heart attack and stroke in preliminary studies and could cause Steven Johnson Syndrome. It has also been found at times be fatal and very painful skin disorder that can cause skin blisters and sloughs off… Read More »

Peel Treatments

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Peel Treatment are a category of advanced clinical skin rejuvenation treatments that aid in reversing damaged skin due to factors such as aging, sun exposure, and acne.

Noble Center for Healthy Aging offers gentle, light to medium range peels, and physician supervised medical grade peels… Read More »

Anti-Aging Treatments

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Noble Center provides a diverse and result-oriented treatments for anti-aging. Customized for your skin care needs and to minimize the appearance of wrinkles our Anti-Aging Treatment can use IPL, Dermapen, Hydrafacial, LED Light Therapy, Peels, Botox and Fillers among others. Dr. Noble also recommends as part of the treatment the Noble Natural Skincare line which will bring to your skin youngness an increase of collagen and elastin… Read More »

A Healthy Diet is the New Prescription Without the Side Effects

Posted on

This week on NBC news they spoke about Pfizer and the known side effects of Bextra, a Cox 2 Inhibitor, that is similar to Vioxx (Merck and Co.) and Celebrex. It was shown to cause heart attack and stroke in preliminary studies and could cause Steven Johnson Syndrome. It has also been found at times be fatal and very painful skin disorder that can cause skin blisters and sloughs off. Vioxx was taken off the market in 2004 after a study confirmed that it raises heart problems… Read More »

Feel Great with our Myers IV Therapy

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Myers’ Cocktail is an intravenous blend of vitamins and minerals. The Myers Cocktail consists of magnesium, calcium, B12, B6, B complex, and vitamin C. These nutrients are injected directly into the bloodstream to improve energy capacity and cell function. This blend facilitates cell functionality allowing patients to be more likely to recover from acute and chronic conditions such as fatigue, depression, asthma and more… Read More »