Try This – A Test for Microplastics, Visceral Fat Masterclass, and Banning Food Dyes

Today, I’m excited to share five things I’m loving and paying attention to this week!

Let’s get into it…

Product: PlasticTox Microplastics Test (Splurge) 

Everyone has been talking about microplastics recently, and for a good reason—they impact every aspect of our health. If you’re concerned about microplastics in your body, you might be interested in this splurge. My friend Kayla Barnes recently told me about this first-of-a-kind test to detect microplastics in the blood. I was so curious that I sent in my own test and will report back soon with the results.

Two quick notes: 1) This test doesn’t capture microplastic exposure in organs, which is the most problematic and concerning aspect of microplastics, but it does give you a sense of whether you have recent elevated exposure to microplastics. Check out my previous newsletter on microplastics to learn more and get some tips on reducing your exposure. 2) This test is a total splurge. This test is $150 which means it's not the first step to take in reducing microplastic exposure. If someone is on a budget, I’d much rather have them invest in a high-quality water filter like AquaTru than splurge on this test.

Masterclass: The Science-Based Way to Lose Visceral Fat

Here’s an inconvenient truth: most people who set out to lose weight often gain it back. It’s not because they lack willpower; it’s because they haven’t implemented four essential things that make a huge impact. In a recent episode of my podcast, Dr. Rupy Aujla talked about the unhealthy ways that people lose weight and why your goal might not actually be weight loss—it might be fat loss! We discuss the importance of muscle for being a glucose sink, how to implement successful calorie restriction, the quality elements of a diet that help with fat loss, how much fiber you need to support fat loss, the best breakfast to support your goals, and so much more. If you want to go on much deeper dive after listening to this podcast, check out Dr. Rupy’s masterclass on YouTube: The Science-Based Way to Lose Visceral Fat.

Nutrition News: Newsom Signs Bill to Remove Food Dyes from School 

Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill recently to ban six potentially harmful food dyes from California schools starting Dec. 31, 2027. These dyes are found in ultra-processed foods like candy, chips, drinks, and more. While this will not cure our childhood disease and obesity epidemic, I believe it’s a huge step in the right direction. Dyes like red 40 have been linked to inflammation, gut dysbiosis, and potentially even behavioral problems.

If something like this can go into effect, it means that we have the ability to make even more meaningful changes in schools to promote a healthier environment for kids. I believe this is just the beginning! Of course, a lot of this wouldn’t be possible without the advocacy of people like Food Babe Vani Hari, Calley Means, Casey Means, Jason Karp, and all the people who are raising awareness about this important topic, including many of you!

Quick Read: 9 Lessons From 9 Years of Marriage

This is a short and beautiful read about nine lessons my friend Yung Pueblo has learned in nine years of marriage. I wanted to talk about one of the lessons/reminders a little more today. In his article, he says one of the most important questions you can ask your significant other is, “How can I support your happiness?” This is something I regularly ask my wife Yasmin, and it's a big part of how I get clarity on how to best support her goals and dreams. 

You and your partner are beings of change, and your preferences will shift over time. Staying informed about your partner’s goals, likes, and desires can be so helpful for both parties. 

Not only do I ask my wife this question, but I also ask the people who are closest to me. You might be surprised how seldom people are asked this question. It reminds me of a story from relationship expert John Gottman about an executive who finally asked his wife a version of this question and was blown away by her answer:

Here’s a snippet from the story: 

“Several years ago, Gottman was pitching his book idea to the publisher Random House. He found himself in New York City, describing his book proposal to a room full of executives. Everyone in the room seemed to be on board with the book proposal…everyone except for a marketing executive, who sat quietly throughout the presentation. Toward the end of the meeting, the marketing executive finally spoke up and said, “In the next 30 seconds, tell me one thing I can do to improve my marriage.” Gottman thought for a few seconds, and then said, “Honor your spouse’s dreams.”

The marketing exec stood up, walked out of the room, and left the building. Gottman later learned that the exec caught the subway to his home in Brooklyn, walked into his home, found his wife, and blurted out, “What are your hopes and dreams?” The man’s wife responded, “I thought you’d never ask.”

Podcast: Are Boys Being Left Behind?

This recommendation comes from my sister, Kaya, who recently had her first baby boy. The idea of having a boy made her think a lot about the ways in which boys and girls are different—not better or worse, just different. She loved this podcast from Emily Oster that asks the question, “Are boys being left behind?” It focuses on the differences in learning between boys and girls and how schools are not particularly set up for the extra physical energy that boys might need to exert, which I can 1000% relate to as a kid who had a lot of extra energy growing up. Today, concerningly, fewer and fewer boys and men are pursuing higher education, and more men are out of the workforce than ever before, which becomes a problem for everyone. When the quality of men goes down, all sorts of bad things go up, like addiction, crime, lack of productivity, and lack of quality mates/spouses. This is a big and complex issue, and Emily does a great job of going into the weeds on this subject. 

I hope you enjoyed these recommendations as much as I did! 

Here’s to your health, 

Dhru Purohit