Microplastics are a thing that genuinely worry me. I went for a swim yesterday in the Mediterranean Sea and turned back after a few steps in. Waves and waves of microplastics, visible to my eyes, were washing all over me. Instead of a refreshing swim and positive ions from the sea, I felt like I was walking in a toxic soup. We’ve covered microplastics in water, from glass bottles, in the air, and in our bodies. Microplastics are everywhere.
But biohacker Bryan Johnson, who plans on living forever, believes he has found a way to remove bioplastics from his sperm. Using regular sauna therapies and measurements of bioplastics in his sperm he has declared his sperm to be microplastics free.
Johnson is a tech entrepreneur ow putting data and actions behind “living forever” in the the Blueprint longevity project. And now he is measuring everything he possibly can, in blood tests, sleep scores, organ scans, and even semen analysis have all become part of his quest to slow aging. He recently said that by removing microplastics from his body he now has the sperm of an 18-year-old.
One of the more unusual things he’s talked about recently is using saunas as a way to help his body get rid of environmental toxins, including microplastics. Johnson’s approach is pretty straightforward: sweat a lot. He uses regular sauna sessions as part of a broader detoxification strategy based on the theory that some unwanted compounds can leave the body through sweat, although researchers are still debating exactly how effective saunas are at removing microplastics specifically.
What is clear is that sauna use has been linked in studies to benefits such as improved cardiovascular health, reduced stress, and better recovery after exercise. I visited Helsinki 15 years ago and can attest that saunas used there regularly do make people at least “look” young and vibrant.
How to get your balls checked for microplastics
When Johnson talks about microplastics in sperm, he’s tapping into a growing area of scientific interest called biohacking. Researchers can detect microplastic particles in human semen samples, raising questions about fertility and reproductive health in the long-term. With egg-freezing and IVF becoming more popular and necessary, sperm health and microplastics will be an issue.
Whether it’s air filtration, careful food choices, or long sessions in a hot sauna, Johnson’s philosophy is to stack small advantages over time.
