The Link Between Dishwasher Soaps & Altered Gut Health

Chemicals present on dishware enter the human body and affect the overall gut health.

Is dishwasher liquid ruining your gut health?

A new study, published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, has said that commercial dishwashers and rinse agents can negatively affect gut health. According to the study, the residue from rinse agents is often left behind on dishes after they are cleaned in professional-grade dishwashers. This residue, further, damages the natural protective layer in the gut that can contribute to the onset of chronic diseases, as demonstrated by researchers working with organoids.

The study team used various biomolecular methods to investigate the effect that commercial detergents and rinse aids have on these cells. They diluted these substances to reflect the amounts that would be present on dry dishes (1:10,000 to 1:40,000).

When individual components of the rinse aid were investigated separately, the study noted that alcohol ethoxylates elicited a strong toxic and barrier-damaging effect. “RNA-sequencing transcriptome and proteomics data revealed upregulation in cell death, signaling and communication, development, metabolism, proliferation, and immune and inflammatory responses of epithelial cells.

The study further noted that a defect in the epithelial barrier of the gut is associated with conditions such as food allergies, gastritis, diabetes, obesity, cirrhosis of the liver, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, autism spectrum disorders, chronic depression, & Alzheimer’s disease.

The chemicals present on dishware enter the human body and affect overall gut health.

Rinse aid liquids that are usually used in the dishwasher “contain harmful chemicals”. “Most people are not able to identify, such as "Triclosan".

Beyond surfactants, triclosan is an ingredient included in antibacterial detergents (as well as antibacterial dish and hand soaps) that has been linked to colon inflammation and microbiota disruption.

Your intestines have a mucus layer that helps to protect the delicate, one-cell-thick lining from damage. If a dishwashing tablet can dissolve heavy grease and grime from your dishes with water pressure alone, there’s some concern over what its leftover residue may do to these delicate linings

For problems like these, a better alternative is to switch to green dishwashers with no or less amount of harmful chemicals formulas in it & going for “cleaning agents with natural ingredients from plants and minerals, and no artificial fragrances (if you opt for fragrance, it should come from essential oils. The best way to completely avoid these problems is by educating yourself about the harmful chemicals and always paying attention to the product labels.

It is essential to clean dishes & utensils properly and wipe them thoroughly with a clean cloth before use.

T&C Appliance/HVAC Repair Durham-Chapel Hill