Microwave Ovens and the Healthfulness of Microwaved Food

Microwave ovens do have benefits. They areimmediately after eating microwaved food
certainly convenient. Theyrevealed, among other
are more energy-efficient than other cookingthings, an increase in the number of white blood
methods. But are theycells--often a sign of
safe? And do they produce food that contributespoisoning.Safety tips for using microwave ovensI
to the health of ourpersonally have never had a microwave oven in
bodies?While there is not enough evidence tomy own kitchen and
require warning labels onam finding that it had been difficult to get people
microwave ovens, or to remove them from theto give up their
market, there is concernmicrowave ovens. Some of the generation who
both about the safety of our exposure togrew up with microwave
microwaves and theovens apparently don't know any other way to
healthfulness of microwaved food.THE DANGERSheat food (really!).If you choose to use a
OF MICROWAVESEven microwave ovens thatmicrowave oven, Consumer Reports magazine
are functioning perfectly emit microwaves.suggests you stay as far as possible from the
Safety standards set by the US Food and Drugoven while it is in
Administration (FDA)operation.In addition, operate and maintain the
allow microwave emissions of up to one milliwattoven in ways that minimize
per square centimeterleakage:* make sure the oven door closes
(1mW/cm2) when the oven is purchased, and upproperly* prevent damage to hinges, latches,
to 5mW/cm2 after thesealing surfaces and the door
oven has been in use. Studies on industrialitself, and make sure these are in good working
exposure recommend thatorder* make sure no soil or food residues
daily exposure should not exceed one milliwattaccumulate around the door seal* avoid placing
for more than oneobjects between the sealing surfaces.For peace
minute. Average home use of microwave ovensof mind, test your oven for leakage. Testers can
far exceed this.Workers who are exposed tobe purchased
microwaves on the job experienceonline.When cooking in a microwave, use
headaches, fatigue, irritability, sleep disturbancesheat-resistant glass, not plastic. The
and other symptoms.HOW MICROWAVESFood Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) of the
AFFECT FOODAdvocates of microwaved foodUSDA warns against using
claim that it is healthier because itfoam trays, plastic wraps, and cold-storage
retains vitamins, but the University of Minnesotacontainers such as
disagrees:"Microwaves ... are not recommendedmargarine tubs, whipped-topping bowls and
for heating a baby'scottage cheese cartons.
bottle...Heating the bottle in a microwave canAccording to the FSIS flyer "A Microwave
cause slight changes inHandbook," these containers
the milk. In infant formulas, there may be a loss"are not heat stable at high temperatures. They
of some vitamins. Incan melt or warp from
expressed breast milk, some protectivethe food's heat, possible causing chemicals to
properties may be destroyed....migrate into the food."Read more about
Warming a bottle by holding it under tap watermicrowave ovens, the healthfulness of
or by setting it in a bowlmicrowaved
of warm water...is much safer".If heating formulafood, and where to purchase microwave oven
in a microwave can cause it to lose vitamins andtesters at
protective properties in breast milk to beas "The Queen of Green" by the New York
destroyed, then it can do theTimes,
same to the foods we eat. While the effectsDebra Lynn Dadd has been a leading consumer
may not be immediatelyadvocate for products
observable, a regular diet of microwaved foodand lifestyle choices that are better for health
may have long-termand the
health consequences.Two Swiss researchersenvironment since 1982. Visit her website -
found that microwave cooking changes food- for 100s of links to 1000s of nontoxic,
nutrients significantly. Blood samples taken fromnatural and earthwise products, and to
eight individualssign up for her free email newsletters.