THE SCIENCE BEHIND WINNOW™
GOOD IN.
BAD OUT.
A few rare probiotics have the remarkable ability to bind to plastics.
Winnow combines these naturally adhesive microbes into a daily capsule that helps your body capture and clear microplastics before they cross the gut barrier.
HOW PROBIOTICS STICK TO PLASTICS.
A new use for a natural mechanism.
Use the slider to see how even nearly identical strains can differ in their plastic-binding ability. On the left, a strain that barely interacts with nanoplastics. On the right, a strain with strong binding ability. Probiotics shown in purple, nanoplastics in blue [1].
Binding is biology, not magic.
Bacteria are continuously learning how to interact with their surroundings.
They stick to food, the gut wall, even to each other.
This ability to sense, grip, and build communities is one of the main reasons they survive in complex environments like the gut.
For a few rare probiotics, those same surface traits that help them attach to food or gut cells also allow them to stick to micro- and nanoplastics [1-4].
Their outer layers are coated with proteins and sugars that naturally bind to other materials — including the surfaces of plastics.
It isn’t magic. It’s biology.
FINDING THE RIGHT PROBIOTICS FOR THE JOB.
Unlike conventional probiotics designed purely for digestive support, Winnow’s patent-pending formulation is designed to help bind and trap ingested microplastics and nanoplastics.
But finding the right probiotics for Winnow is like finding a needle in a haystack. There are dozens of species and thousands of strains of safe probiotic bacteria to choose from. Even different strains from the same species vary wildly in plastic-binding effectiveness, making careful testing of each strain an important task.
In testing, Winnow’s probiotics bound roughly 70% of a blended microplastic sample in a simulated gut environment.
PET
PE
PS
PP
PVC
Blend
Winnow Consortia
Binding Probiotic A
Binding Probiotic B
Typical Probiotic C
Typical Probiotic D
Binds 60-100%
Binds 40-60%
Binds 20-40%
Binds 0-20%
Winnow is built around strains with the strongest and most consistent binding to the plastics most commonly found in human samples.
The most frequently detected polymers are PE (polyethylene) and PET (polyethylene terephthalate), which show up through bottles, textiles, food packaging, and plastic bags.
Next are polystyrene (PS) and polypropylene (PP), common in food containers, straws, and lightweight packaging.
Then polyvinyl chloride (PVC), found in pipes, flooring, and many medical supplies.
Winnow mirrors this same hierarchy, prioritizing binding strength against the plastics people encounter most.
WHY MICROPLASTICS MATTER
STRONGER TOGETHER:
THE POWER OF A CONSORTIA
The probiotics in Winnow don’t just coexist. They collaborate. Each playing a role.
In nature, bacteria rarely act alone. They form communities, share information and resources, and build biofilms that extend their reach and resilience.
Winnow follows those same principles. While Winnow’s plastic-binding probiotics each show strong plastic-binding abilities, their combined performance exceeds the sum of their parts.
In testing, Winnow’s consortium bound 30-50% more plastic across all plastic types than any individual strain alone. This is especially true for PE and PVC. Their diverse surface chemistries — different proteins, charges, and hydrophobic regions — create a broader “net” capable of capturing a wider range of plastics.
Winnow is designed as a team of living allies, each reinforcing the others to create stronger, more complete protection.
EXPLORE OUR COLLECTION
BENEFITS OF A HEALTHY MICROBIOME
Microplastics are now found in the placenta, lungs, blood, and brain. Their small size and chemical coatings allow them to cross biological barriers and enter the body [5].
Winnow supports your first line of defense — the gut — by capturing these microscopic plastic particles.
Operating entirely within the digestive system, Winnow uses living probiotic cells to physically bind plastics and escort the bound plastics out.
A healthier microbiome is protection in itself [6]. Each strain in Winnow’s formulation was selected to restore balance and build resilience:
Supports smoother digestion and regularity
Enhances nutrient absorption
Fortify the gut lining to resist toxins
Reinforce immune defenses
Promote a calm gut–brain connection for steadier mood and energy
A resilient gut is the body’s best defense.
Get Winnow
THE WINNOW DIFFERENCE
Unlike inert or inactivated formulas, Winnow’s live strains interact dynamically with their environment — forming networks that capture plastic particles while supporting overall gut resilience.
Winnow is a daily probiotic built for balance, digestion, and gut health — plus something entirely new: microplastic binding.
Unlike conventional probiotics for short-term digestive relief, Winnow was designed for the world we live in today — where invisible pollutants find their way into what we eat, drink, and breathe.
Winnow represents a new category in human health: Environmental Gut Armor™.
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SOURCES, RESOURCES, AND REFERENCES
[1] Teng, X., Zhang, T. & Rao, C. Novel probiotics adsorbing and excreting microplastics in vivo show potential gut health benefits. Frontiers in Microbiology. 15, 1522794 (2025).
[2] Shi, L. et al. Lactic acid bacteria reduce polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics-induced toxicity through their bio-binding capacity and gut environment repair ability. Environmental Pollution. 366, 125288 (2025).
[3] Shi, L. et al. Lactobacillus plantarum reduces polystyrene microplastic induced toxicity via multiple pathways: A potentially effective and safe dietary strategy to counteract microplastic harm. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 489, 137669 (2025).
[4] Bazeli, J., Banikazemi, Z., Hamblin, M. R. & Chaleshtori, R. S. Could probiotics protect against human toxicity caused by polystyrene nanoplastics and microplastics? Frontiers in Nutrition. 10, 1186724 (2023).
[5] Sofield, C. E., Anderton, R. S. & Gorecki, A. M. Mind over Microplastics: Exploring Microplastic-Induced Gut Disruption and Gut-Brain-Axis Consequences. Current Issues in Molecular Biology. 46, 4186–4202 (2024).
[6] Latif, A. et al. Probiotics: mechanism of action, health benefits and their application in food industries. Frontiers in Microbiology. 14, 1216674 (2023).