News India Live, Digital Desk: In modern lifestyle, plastic has become an integral part of our kitchen. But do you know that knowingly or unknowingly you are also eating tiny particles of plastic i.e. ‘microplastic’ with your food every day? Recent research has shown that microplastics have now reached our blood, lungs and even newborn babies. This is a serious warning for health. The good news is that you can reduce this risk to a great extent by making some small changes in your kitchen.1. Stop microwaving in plastic utensils: To save time, we often put food in plastic containers and heat them in the microwave. Even though ‘Microwave Safe’ is written on the box, as soon as it comes in contact with heat, the plastic molecules start breaking down and get mixed with the food. Remedy: Always use glass or ceramic utensils for heating food. 2. Find an alternative to non-stick utensils. When the ‘Teflon’ coating present on non-stick pans becomes old or gets scratched, it starts releasing microplastics and harmful chemicals into the food. Solution: Give preference to stainless steel, cast iron or earthen utensils for cooking. These are not only safe but also increase the nutrition of the food.3. Say ‘No’ to Plastic Cutting Boards Have you ever noticed that while cutting vegetables on a plastic chopping board, it gradually gets marks on it? Those small plastic particles reach your stomach through your chopped vegetables. Solution: Use a wooden or bamboo cutting board instead of plastic. These are also naturally anti-bacterial.4. Caution in using tea bags: Most of the premium looking tea bags are made of plastic mesh (Nylon or PET). A single tea bag can release billions of microplastic particles when put in boiling water. Solution: Use loose tea leaves instead of tea bags. If you must use a tea bag, make sure it is made entirely of paper-based.5. Use of glass or steel to store pulses, spices and leftover food We often use plastic containers. Prolonged exposure to plastic affects the quality of food. Remedy: Stainless steel cans or glass jars are the safest options for storage. Use steel, glass or copper bottles instead of plastic bottles even for drinking water. What are the health risks of microplastics? According to doctors, accumulation of microplastics in the body can cause diseases like hormonal imbalance, digestive problems, inflammation and in severe cases, cancer.