EP 1409

1409. How to Get Microplastics Out of Your Body | Mara Labs

Dr. John Gildea, a Johns Hopkins-trained PhD with 60 scientific publications and over 20 NIH-funded studies, and David Roberts, co-founder of Mara Labs, join Host Dave Asprey to break down why microplastics are accumulating inside your lysosomes and clogging the cellular incinerators your body depends on to stay clean, why sulforaphane is shown to trigger lysosomal surface translocation and release trapped microplastics for excretion, and how an in-house Mara Labs study confirmed that microplastics leave the body through feces after taking BrocElite. They also cover why most broccoli supplements contain only the precursor to sulforaphane and never actually activate the Nrf2 pathway, how sulforaphane simultaneously hits all three detox pathways including glutathione, glucuronidation, and sulfation to remove every major class of toxin from microplastics and heavy metals to BPA and benzene, why toxic estrogen metabolites form and how sulforaphane reroutes them down safer pathways before they cause DNA cross-linking, how berberine blocks the cancer growth target c-Myc that most pharmaceutical drugs cannot touch while also outperforming Valium as a sleep optimization tool and driving the body toward ketosis, what a 2014 Johns Hopkins study revealed about sulforaphane producing a 30 percent improvement in autism scores and why the effect disappeared completely when subjects stopped taking it, how sulforaphane boosts BDNF and neuroplasticity with roughly a quarter of users reporting vivid dreams as a measurable sign it is working, and why losing fat releases stored toxins into the bloodstream making detox support a critical and overlooked part of any weight loss protocol. Essential listening for anyone serious about biohacking, microplastics, detox, anti-aging, longevity, brain optimization, human performance, supplements, functional medicine, metabolism, sleep optimization, neuroplasticity, and taking full control of your cellular biology with the most research-backed tools available today. 

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In this Episode of The Human Upgrade™...

Subtitle: Sulforaphane, Detox Pathways, and the Science of Microplastic Removal 

Microplastics are building up inside your brain, blood, and reproductive tissue, and most detox protocols do nothing to remove them. This episode gives you the cellular science behind why toxins accumulate, which three detox pathways control your ability to excrete them, and what the latest research shows actually moves microplastics, heavy metals, BPA, and benzene out of your body.. 

 

-Watch this episode on YouTube for the full video experience: https://www.youtube.com/@DaveAspreyBPR 

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Host Dave Asprey sits down with Dr. John Gildea, a Johns Hopkins-trained PhD with 60 scientific publications and over 20 NIH-funded studies, and David Roberts, co-founder of Mara Labs and co-creator of BrocElite, the only naturally derived stable form of sulforaphane available in a capsule. Together they bring decades of research-backed biohacking and functional medicine insight into one of the most pressing longevity conversations of our time. 

 

They break down the lysosome, your cell’s built-in incinerator, and explain exactly why it gets clogged with microplastics, advanced glycation end products, and other toxins that won’t break down. New research shows that sulforaphane triggers a process called lysosomal surface translocation, which releases those trapped particles so your body can finally excrete them. An in-house Mara Labs study confirmed the excretion pathway: microplastics come out in feces. In the original study, the individual measured the highest microplastic levels ever recorded, and a repeat study a year later showed dramatically lower baseline microplastic levels, suggesting consistent use compounds the benefit over time. 

 

You’ll Learn: 

  • Why microplastics accumulate inside lysosomes and what sulforaphane does to release them 
  • How the three detox pathways, glutathione, glucuronidation, and sulfation, work together to remove every major class of toxin 
  • What an in-house study revealed about how and where microplastics actually leave the body 
  • How toxic estrogen metabolites form and why sulforaphane is the most effective natural tool to reroute them 
  • Why berberine supports sleep optimization, ketosis, and blocks a cancer growth pathway most drugs cannot touch 
  • How sulforaphane boosts BDNF and neuroplasticity at the cellular level 
  • What microplastic sources in your home, including your dryer, rugs, and receipts, are doing to your toxin load daily 
  • Why losing weight releases stored toxins and what to take to protect your brain and metabolism during fat loss 
  • How sulforaphane activates the same AMPK longevity pathways triggered by fasting without restricting food 

 

 

 

Keywords: Dr. John Gildea, David Roberts, Mara Labs, BrocElite, sulforaphane, microplastics, microplastic removal, lysosome, lysosomal surface translocation, detox pathways, glutathione, glucuronidation, sulfation, Nrf2 pathway, AMPK, TFEB1, BDNF, neuroplasticity, heavy metals, BPA, benzene, estrogen metabolism, toxic estrogen, xenoestrogens, berberine, BerbaLite, ResveraLite, c-Myc, cancer and estrogen, sleep optimization, ketosis, broccoli sprouts, isothiocyanates, PEITC, watercress, phase two detox, microplastic excretion, indoor air quality, HEPA filter, dryer lint microplastics, BPA receipts, endocrine disruptors, fat loss and toxins, autism and sulforaphane, ADHD and focus, vivid dreams and BDNF, fasting mimicry, anti-aging, biohacking, longevity, functional medicine, supplements, human performance, brain optimization, metabolism, cellular detox 

 

Resources:    

“Our supplements work and people typically notice it."

David Roberts

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0:00 – Trailer 

A quick preview of what’s ahead in this episode on microplastics, detox pathways, and the science behind sulforaphane. 

1:55 – Intro & Context 

Host Dave Asprey sets the stage by explaining why modern toxin exposure demands more than a clean diet, and introduces guests Dr. John Gildea and David Roberts of Mara Labs. 

4:48 – Microplastics & Sulforaphane 

New research reveals that sulforaphane triggers lysosomal surface translocation, releasing trapped microplastics from cells so the body can finally excrete them through feces. 

12:39 – Broccoli Sprouts & BrocElite Formulation 

Dave and the guests break down why most broccoli supplements contain only the precursor to sulforaphane, how BrocElite stabilizes the active molecule, and why growing your own sprouts is a crapshoot. 

15:20 – Mara Labs Origin Story 

David Roberts shares the deeply personal story of his wife Mara’s breast cancer diagnosis in 2012, how it launched a years-long research mission, and how Dr. Gildea eventually stabilized sulforaphane in a capsule. 

26:01 – Reducing Toxin Exposure 

Dave and his guests cover the biggest hidden sources of microplastic exposure in your home, including your dryer, rugs, furniture foam, and BPA-coated receipts, and what to do about them. 

37:06 – Estrogen, Hormones & Berberine 

The conversation digs into toxic estrogen metabolites, why men need estrogen too, how sulforaphane reroutes estrogen down safer pathways, and how berberine blocks cancer growth targets while supporting sleep and ketosis. 

52:46 – Autism, ADHD & Brain Health 

A 2014 Johns Hopkins study showed a 30 percent improvement in autism scores with sulforaphane, and Dave and the guests explore the connection between toxin load, BDNF, neuroplasticity, and focus. 

59:01 – Weight Loss, Toxins & Wrap-Up 

As you lose fat, stored toxins release into the bloodstream, and Dave explains why high-dose BrocElite is a critical missing piece in any fat loss protocol, along with a look at GL Perfect for muscle preservation. 

 

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