The first time I ever heard that using a microwave was “bad for you” was a few years ago, in a little health food shop.
I was explaining to the store clerk how I make a certain recipe, and when I got to the part about using the microwave, she turned white as a ghost and literally screamed: “DO NOT use the microwave! It is the devil! It can kill you!”
While this didn’t cause me to stop using a microwave, it did open my eyes to the possibility that microwaves might not be as safe as I’d thought.
So are microwaves harmful?
Some studies say they are. However, some studies say coffee is bad, some studies say soy is bad, some studies say using cell phones causes cancer. Then there are other “some studies” that say all of this isn’t true.
People use microwaves every day—people like my great grandmother who lived to be over 100. (Then again, my grandma only used microwaves for a very short period of her life, as they obviously hadn’t yet been invented when she was a young girl.)
What to believe?
One could drive oneself crazy trying to figure it all out! And that’s not healthy either.
So until there is conclusive evidence that microwaves are dangerous, I’m going to look out for my mental health/sanity first and keep using mine.
What are your thoughts on the safety of microwaves?
Debate me, debate each other, debate yourself if you wish… just keep it respectful.
I have really mixed emotions when it comes to microwaves. When my Mom was diagnosed with brain cancer and going for chemo they told us no microwaves no margarine. The specialists said that the micro waves that make microwaves work kill the nutrients in the food so that it was just empty calories and that wasn’t what she needed. However, for me when I am up for eating something I can’t wait or I will talk myself right out of it so I do have squash from the microwave and cauliflower and popcorn (though I have a bowl I cook it in and not the other kind)
I’m pretty much always a no-nuke girl. I’ve always thought microwaved food tastes kind of funny, even as a kid. My parents thought it was weird that I didn’t want my food reheated in the microwave – and this was long before I knew anything about “healthy eating.” So, that being said, we don’t own a microwave. The only time I use one is when we’re traveling and need to heat something up in the hotel room.
I like what Cassie said above me, though, and I agree. I think it’s often stressing about things that makes people sick, not necessarily the things themselves.
Microwaves hmm. I threw my parents out when I moved in with them after graduating from college because I thought they were the devil. Did not use one for MANY years, I just moved into a new apartment and that came with a microwave, and I use it now in moderation. To each their own 🙂
I use it as little as possible, just because I think food tastes better from a pot, a pan, the oven, or the grill (which is also supposed to cause cancer…sigh). However, if I’m just making myself a snack of frozen veggies or heating up some leftovers at work/need to eat quick, I’ll use it. It’s actually in an awkward place in the kitchen right now so I have to think twice about it, hehe.
there are some things that I’ve learned to accept that I will never know the truth behind them – so I choose not to care (microwave and coffee being too of those things) and just use/drink ’em anyways. I couldn’t survive without my micro. Afterall, how on earth would I be able to make my melted bananas? those are crucial 🙂
p.s. can I ask Gingie if he wants to joy the “Ginger Boy” band 😉 ?
Microwaves, just like everything else is fine in moderation. if everything you ever eat and ever do revolves around the microwave you will have serious problems. But if you heat something once in awhile in there you are likely going to be just fine. I have a degree in nutrition and public health and at no point in time have I ever learned in school or read from a scholarly source that the microwave will harm you. You may lose some nutrients, but you will likely loose more boiling. Steaming and the micro are good as you will loose less this way.
I love my microwave. I live off leftovers since I’m always cooking big meals for little ole me. And I microwave in (gasp) plastic containers all the time. I’ve considered that I should at least switch to glass containers, so the plastic doesn’t leech chemicals into my food in the hot microwave…but haven’t made that switch yet.
I am weary of those 1970s microwave recipes, where you cook an entire meal in the microwave. When I was kid, my mom would occasionally break out the Microwave Cookbooks and while the food tastes fine, that kinda weirds me out. But I think they’re fine for re-heating.
interesting topic for sure. Im on the fence. I mean honestly I use my micro everyday. I do it for convience. And when im at work there is just the micro to heat things up. I try to eliminate as much toxins from my life as possible but I think you can go waaay overboard. Listening to all these studies can make ya go crazy! So i just pick and choose. I choose to not use harmful cleaners in my house and choose greener and more natural products, i eat organic, i wear organic and all natural lotions and perfumes but yes I still use my microwave. So well I do what I can. Although, I’m still not convinced that using the microwave will cause harm. I just don’t microwave my stuff in plastic. Just glass. But I dont really see anything wrong with it. I think the air pollution where i live is a way bigger problem than my micorwave! 😉
I had a conversation about microwaves with my Chem professor when I was an undergrad. An oven (or other traditional heat based cooking/heating source) conducts heat into the food. A microwave causes the object itself to produce heat. The waves produced by the microwave enter the food and excite the water molecules already present in it. This is also why metal is bad for your microwave since the molecular structure of metals is much more densely packed with electrons (which reflect the waves) and were the waves able to enter, there wouldn’t be sufficient water molecules to excite. Basically, microwaves work by directly altering the food structure on a molecular level…which is actually quite disconcerting. That being said, I add so much soymilk to my coffee that I end up reheating it most mornings. In the microwave. *sigh*
My Mom always told us to ‘nuke’ something to eat when she was not going to be home to cook for us. In my mind, nuke leads to nuclear, like nuclear weapons, like atomic bombs, like radioactive waste. Scary! The only purpose a microwave serves in my home is as a counter-space-waster. I can’t remember the last time I used it! I will occasionally use the one at work, only because we don’t have an oven or stovetop! I try to bring foods that don’t require heating for lunch, but sometimes, I want something hot for lunch and it’s all I’ve got to work with.