Let’s talk tea. How many cups do you sip in a day? A black tea first thing? Coffee mid-morning? A gentle chamomile in the evening? Maybe a zesty lemon and ginger after lunch? It all adds up. But have you ever stopped to think about what’s in your teabag?
Not the herbs but the actual bag.
That little sachet you dunk into boiling water every day? It’s not always the innocent, old-fashioned “paper” we think it is. Give it a feel, that’s not traditional paper. Many teabags today are treated with plastic polymers like polypropylene to stop them from falling apart in hot water. Some of the fancier silky ones are even made from nylon or PET (polyethylene terephthalate).
And when you steep them in boiling water? They can release billions, yes, billions, of microplastic particles straight into your comforting cup.
It’s not just an environmental issue. These microplastics are tiny, but the effects can be huge. Research shows they can mess with your hormones, disrupt digestion, and potentially impact metabolism. And because hot water accelerates breakdown, your tea, your soothing, nourishing, “me-time” tea, is actually one of the worst offenders.
So what can we do?
Here’s what I do in my kitchen: whenever possible, I switch to loose leaf tea. It’s simple and beautiful. Or, if I’m craving that lemon and ginger teabag, I just snip the bag open and pour the contents straight into the water. Tiny change, big win.
Small shifts like these matter, they add up.
Another one from my household: shampoo. I tried the solid bars. Really did. But they crumble, they break, and suddenly I’m chasing soap slivers around the shower. So instead, I now pour my regular liquid shampoo into a lovely glass bottle. Same shampoo, same results, just no more plastic clutter in the bathroom. It’s not perfect, but it’s progress.
Now before I go, one final tip from my kitchen to yours.
Take one of our apple cider vinegar capsules before your next meal. They’ve been shown to reduce insulin spikes by up to 30%. That means fewer crashes, more stable energy, and smoother fat metabolism.
Stay kind to yourself. Drink smarter, not just sweeter.
-- Written by Hala Ali, founder of Dietapplements
