Microwaves and Your Health-Quick, Hot Food- But Is It Worth It?

I love my microwave (well not anymore since it blew up this weekend but I did) and to be honest have heard the whisperings that it was dangerous to use. I'm an on the go person and did not want to hear that using my microwave would cause any problems. Some people that I respect immensely and know just about everything there is to know about health warned me about my microwave a few months ago. I listened (in one ear and out the other) but didn't want to hear this. No, no, no! Since starting this blog and becoming more health conscious I kept thinking and thinking every time I used the microwave (like 5 times a day-I'm no cook). Finally, when my microwave blew up this weekend I decided to look into the whole microwave danger issue to decide what my next step would be.

I found several articles and most kept coming back to the same source so I will give you a quick rundown and it is up to you if you want to follow through and read the rest of the article at the end of my post.

Almost 90% of the U.S. population own microwaves. Apparently microwaves distort the molecular structure of the foods (don't know what that means but it doesn't sound good). They destroy much of the nutrients and cause many other problems with the immune system over a period of time (hmmm, this is getting sticky). Studies on the effects of microwaves have been quite controversial as microwave technology has evolved over the years. In 1976 Russia even banned the use of microwaves.

Microwaves have been shown to affect foods in these ways-

1.) Reduce levels of vitamin B 12. Vitamin B 12 is essential for red blood cell formation, preventing anemia, and a healthy nervous system.

2.) Decrease flavonoids by 97%! Flavonoids have anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-microbial properties.

3.)Break down bacteria-digesting enzymes in breast milk. Babies rely on enzymes from breast milk to establish a healthy inner ecosystem that digests food, absorbs nutrients and protects against pathogens.

4.)Lower levels of sinapic acid derivatives. Sinapic acids scavenge for and neutralize free radicals, cancer-causing agents in your body.

5.) Decrease antibody levels in breast milk. Antibodies in mother's milk protect babies from infections.

-

The article- Radiation Ovens: The Proven Dangers of Microwaves by Anthony Wayne and Lawrence Newell goes on to state the following-

Ten Reasons to Throw out your Microwave Oven

1.) Continually eating food processed from a microwave oven causes long term - permanent - brain damage by “shorting out” electrical impulses in the brain [de-polarizing or de-magnetizing the brain tissue].
2.) The human body cannot metabolize [break down] the unknown by-products created in microwaved food.
3.) Male and female hormone production is shut down and/or altered by continually eating microwaved foods.
4.) The effects of microwaved food by-products are residual [long term, permanent] within the human body.
5.) Minerals, vitamins, and nutrients of all microwaved food is reduced or altered so that the human body gets little or no benefit, or the human body absorbs altered compounds that cannot be broken down.
6.) The minerals in vegetables are altered into cancerous free radicals when cooked in microwave ovens.
7.) Microwaved foods cause stomach and intestinal cancerous growths [tumors]. This may explain the rapidly increased rate of colon cancer in America.
8.) The prolonged eating of microwaved foods causes cancerous cells to increase in human blood.
9.) Continual ingestion of microwaved food causes immune system deficiencies through lymph gland and blood serum alterations.
10.) Eating microwaved food causes loss of memory, concentration, emotional instability, and a decrease of intelligence (At least I now have a reason for forgetting everything).

Now, I am not telling anyone what to do but it is an interesting article and if you would like to read the full article then go here. I have decided that I am going to cut down and try to stop altogether using a microwave and actually (gasp) cook. I do think moderation is the key and if your not ready to give up your microwave don't-just use it less. I am going to purchase a small convection oven that is like a toaster oven but heats things more evenly and twice as fast as a regular oven. I'll let you know how it goes.

On a more cheery note and not related to health at all, I want to tell you about a fun contest that I am participating in and that you can participate in too if you feel so inclined. Being a new blogger I am realizing just how important back links are. You never know which link will bring you traffic or that may be the conversion you are looking for. Mcneri's Mcweb will be compiling a list of Blogs/Websites and their link phrase keywords to be displayed on his site at the beginning of every month (great way to possibly get traffic). You can earn entrecard credits and the top entries for the preceding month will get reviewed as featured blog in the Blogs of Focus for the month- free! It's really simple (It had to be or I could not have done it) so check out Mcneri's contest here. Also, in case you aren't looking to be in a contest but are interested in relevant and easy to comprehend blogging tips you will want to check out his site.

Best,

Heidi