Hazards (?) of Microwave Cooking

[Don Cuevas]

A friend on another forum pointed to an article on the hazards of Microwave cooking.
I'd mentioned earlier that I used the microwave oven to heat water for beverages.

Here's the article, and below, my somwhat sarky reply:

The Hidden Hazards Of Microwave Cooking
www.mercola.com/article/microwave/hazards.htm

Thanks for pointing us to that report. It seems fairly free of crackpot (I almost wrote "crockpot") claims, but neither is cooking on an electric or gas range "natural". Maybe on a wood fire, but I'm doubtful.
(Wait!—that's very hazardous due to the carcinogens in wood smoke and from burning fat.)
What to do, what to do?

Food was meant to be consumed raw, as God intended. And preferably, within one hour after harvesting or killing. But wait, again! Raw food is potentially hazardous as the bacteria have not been killed by cooking.
What to do, what to do?

I will say that I'm giving up pressing my forehead against the microwave oven door while my coffee water heats up for 125 seconds on High setting. :-)

More seriously, I almost never cook in a microwave oven. To me, it's a reheating device. So far, I've noticed no difference in taste from food or beverage warmed on a stove. Of course, all that exposure to microwave radiation may have dulled my senses.

Pues, ni modo. En fin, estamos chin%ados.

Saludos cordiales,
"Don Cuevas"

[bazfaz]

Interesting article but of course I am totally unqualified to judge its merits. It needs to be subject to peer review - has it?

There is a slight air of conspiracy theory about it - how that Swiss trade body tried to stifle an adverse report. But the author quotes plenty of other studies so it is not much of a conspiracy.
The Russian research seems damaging but think about Chernobyl - not just the radiation cloud that sretched as far as Wales but the way they pushed in people to clear up the mess improperly protected. There is something selective about the Russian view of safety and life.

I was thinking what I use ours for. Not much: baking eggs, cooking aubergines I am going to puree and cooking salmon for making fishcakes.

I boil vegetables and lose their vitamins and minerals the oldfashioned way.

[bixaorellana]

I only gave that article a quick glance, partly because of that hokey helpful presentation, when it's all about selling something. The other reason I didn't read it is because I think microwave ovens are stupid. They really suck electricity, take up way too much space not only where they're setting, but for their doors to open. And overwhelmingly their main use seems to be for reheating coffee. Yes, they can be handy for things like melting butter & boiling water, but so what? If you boil lots of water in your home, either get a whistling tea kettle or an electric kettle. Both of them do the job quickly and take up little space.

[Deleted]

I actually plowed through all the way to the end of that article, but my bullshit alarm went off quite quickly.

I really enjoyed the summary of microwave danger at the end, however:

Ten Reasons to Throw out your Microwave Oven

From the conclusions of the Swiss, Russian and German scientific clinical studies, we can no longer ignore the microwave oven sitting in our kitchens. Based on this research, we will conclude this article with the following:

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.

[Don Cuevas]

"10). Eating microwaved food causes loss of memory, concentration, emotional instability, and a decrease of intelligence."

And all this time, I thought it was wanking (can I say that here?) that caused those things.

[bazfaz]

That causes blindness.

[Don Cuevas]

And hair on the palms, so they say.

I just woke up and realized that there are probable radiation hazards, sitting in front of computer. Besides, Internet forums tend to make the brain go soft. ;-)

Yikes! Read what I just found out: tinyurl.com/78arzq
Fortunately, I instinctively had a cup of fresh mint tea before sitting down in font of my laptop. But what can undo years of damage while I was so benighted?

Food related: tea and bananas:
"For those who have to use a computer regularly while at work or at home, their eyes may get tired and pain easily after spending longer hours looking at the screen, so it is advisable to eat some bananas. The potassium in the banana helps easing the eyes disorders. Therefore, when your eyes feel dry, pain, irritated and dull, eat some bananas to relieve these eyes symptoms. Not only it eases eyestrain but also avoid premature aging of your eyes."

[bixaorellana]

Thanks for that! Recently I have spent too much time in front of the computer, & my eyes have felt dry & scratchy. Coincidentally, I just got sent this via email:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to arecent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, nmany felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B 6 it contains re gulates blood glucose
levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so
helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making itperfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action,
helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of th e honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snackingon bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the
inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood
sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft
texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born wita cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferer s because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking &Tobacco Use:
Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the
brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to
research in The New En gland Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part
of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a
piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around.

p.s. Want a quick shine on your shoes? Take the INSIDE of the banana
skin, and rub directly on the shoe ... polish with dry cloth. Amazing

[Don Cuevas]

Geez, I didn't take the radiation article seriously!
However, I DO like bananas.

[Jazz]

Once a friend gave me a microwave as a gift, but it sat forlorn and mostly unused on my tiny counter top...I gave it to my brother for his cottage. I never quite understood why people wanted to prepare dinner in five minutes or less, since I enjoy the preparation. Even though I spent 25 years working 12-18 hours/day, when I came home I needed to 'come down'. If I was going to bake, I would put it in the oven and enjoy a glass of wine and relax. I tend to steam or saute most of the time and the microwave isn't necessary. For some reason, I disliked it 'pinging' at me peremptorily. The thoughts of abnormally high heat, especially with processed food, is not inspiring.

[Don Cuevas]

I appreciate your POV and that of Bixa @ #2, re: microwaves, I, too, enjoy preparing food, and I. do. not. cook. with. one.

It's almost always used in a warming up or defrosting situation.

[gringalais]

I have one. I use it to defrost a lot and heat up leftovers. It is handy for those things, but that is it, I don't think I have ever prepared a meal using the microwave. I have read things similar to that article, seems overly alarmist to me.

[Deleted]

I have used the same old microwave for more than 20 years, which makes it one of my more faithful appliances. Or else it doesn't get tired from overuse.

[bazfaz]

Most people (like for instance Sky) use a microwave because it requires no skill and is quick. These are the same people who consider it a waste of time to cook food and a double waste of time to sit at table. I remember back in the 60s my office colleagues shaking their heads in incomprehension that I thought a proper meal with wine every evening was the correct way to live. They used to repeat that old stupid division about eating to live or living to eat. This is a false dichotomy, dividing life into just two choices.