The Inconvenient Truth About Microwaves
I know that this subject will chaff some. Practicality and convenience definitely conflict more often than not.
The FDA claims that domestic microwaves do leak some radiation, but they allow this because it's below the level known to harm people.
According to research by Magda Havas, Ph.D., of Trent University: found "unequivocal evidence" that microwave frequency radiation affects the heart at non-thermal levels that are well below federal safety guidelines. It documented
immediate and dramatic changes in both heart rate and heart rate variability.
According to Dr. Mercola: Microwaves heat food by causing water molecules to vibrate 2.5 billion times per second, eventually turning to steam that heats your food.
While the microwave can rapidly heat a dish, it also alters the food's chemical structure.
Structures of the water molecules are torn apart and forcefully deformed.
He also states "every time you turn on your microwave oven, you are exposing yourself to microwave radiation densities thousands of times higher than your cellphone. The closer you are to the oven, the higher the energy density and the worse the damage will be."
Professor Emeritus Martin Pall, Ph.D has done research showing that the radiation, from microwave exposure does not cause thermal damage, but does cause massive biological damage.
Pall documents how microwave EMFs produce widespread neuropsychiatric effects including depression. Microwave radiation can actually cause more DNA damage than ionizing radiation as a byproduct of the increased hydroxyl free radical production.
This lowers the body's immune strength to fight pathogens and remove toxins, leaving one vulnerable to infections and disease.
Lita Lee, Ph.D., cites research from the Atlantis Rising Educational Center in Oregon in her 1989 book, "Microwaves and Microwave Ovens," which showed carcinogens form in nearly all types of food during microwaving.
In 1992, Swiss food scientists Hans Hertel and Bernard Blanc conducted a very thorough study on healthy volunteers.
They found through consistent blood testing before and after meals, that microwave cooking changed the nutrients so that changes took place in the participants' blood - decreased hemoglobin levels, increased cholesterol levels, decreased white and red blood cells, and decreased lymphocyte levels,
the latter of which suggests increased infection or tissue damage. These indicators point in a direction away from robust health and toward degeneration.
As soon as these scientists published their findings, they were quickly sued by the Swiss Association of Dealers for Electroapparatuses for Households and Industry - FEA. This trade organization influenced the court to issue a gag order on their findings.
Here are more examples from scientific data that has been gathered regarding the detrimental effects of microwaves on the nutrients in your food:
The Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 2003 found that broccoli "zapped" in the microwave with a little water lost up to 97 percent of its beneficial antioxidants.
By comparison, steamed broccoli lost 11 percent or fewer of its antioxidants.
Journal of Nutrition, 2001 found as little as 60 seconds of microwave heating was enough to inactivate the allinase in garlic, which is the active ingredient against cancer.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 1998 found that six minutes of microwave heating turned 30 to 40 % of the B-12 in milk into an inert (dead) form.
Pediatrics, 1992 found microwaving has also been shown to destroy the essential disease-fighting agents in breast milk that offer protection for your baby. This study found microwaved breast milk lost lysozyme activity, antibodies, and fostered the growth of more potentially pathogenic bacteria. According to the author, more damage was done to the milk by microwaving than by other methods of heating.
Microwaving foods leads to the release of dioxins (known carcinogens) as well as polyethylene terpthalate (PET).
There is also the concern of cancer-causing compounds from plastic containers and plastic wrap that can leach into your food.
Life is not difficult to live without a microwave.
1. Use a stainless steel tea kettle or a simple pot to heat water up in for tea.
2. Use a thermos for hot drinks and foods for work.
3. Resolve yourself to have a healthier diet with raw foods, which are full of
nutrients and essential enzymes. Your energy levels will increase and possible digestion and inflammation issues can be addressed more effectively.
4. Take a day to spend several hours in the kitchen and prepare several soups
and entrees and divide them up into the portions that you need for future
meals and freeze them. Then pull out 2 days in advance and place in the refrigerator to thaw. I prep entrees such as lasagna (no precooking required), meatloaf, meatballs, enchiladas, sloppy joes, freeze raw burgers (grill from frozen state), and cooked chicken (divided in baggies).
5. A crock pot goes a long way in providing savory, nutritional meals with
little effort involved. Just putting a chicken (skinless) in the crock pot with
a little water and nothing else, will provide you moist, tender delicious meat
that falls off the bone. It doesn't take much to add a few more items and have soup for several meals. **I have done the research and found that Hamilton Beach does not use lead in their paint or glaze in their crock pots.**
You really need to be concerned about lead in "glazes or paints" that are used in kitchen ware items (as well as, children's toys). Especially anything from Asia. The US gov't doesn't prevent lead from being used in imported products to the US. If you have colored dishes from China or other countries, you should have them checked.
6. Buy a toaster oven or convection oven (that sit on counter top) that is stainless steel or enameled on the inside (as well as the pans). Heating food up in aluminum is hazardous to your health. You should not be preparing food in aluminum pans or using aluminum foil.
** The way to check it to make sure it is not aluminum is to use a magnet.
Magnets will not stick to aluminum. **
Also you should check the inside of your bread toaster.
Toaster ovens and convection ovens toast bread fine.
A big plus - toaster and convection ovens are also easier on the electric bill.
Some additional help:
Oster has a large convection that is more than enough for a large casserole dish to fit. It also has 2 racks. I have this oven and am very pleased with it.
One's health should not be checked at the door for convenience. A continuous dripping of rain drops will eventually add up to a lot of rain.
I hope this was beneficial to you. My goal is to help provide the information that you need to make wise lifestyle choices.
Ramona