5 health hazards of microwave ovens

Taking a frozen meal out of the freezer, reading the cooking instructions and reheating it in the microwave can take exactly three minutes.

This is a modern comfort used in many households. According to The Southwest Museum of Engineering, Communication and Computation (SMECC), more than 95 percent of American homes own a microwave because it is viewed as an appliance that is nearly impossible to live without.< /p>

It is important to know that although frozen food is healthy, low in calories, rich in fiber, vitamins and trace elements, the way in which it is cooked has a direct impact on the amount of nutrients that your body swallows.

The microwave oven can not only halve the nutritional value of meals, but it also predisposes you to developing health complications due to the continuous use of this modern appliance.

The question must be asked: is it worth sacrificing your health for this convenience? Reheating food in the microwave often strips the food of its natural nutrients. Its transformation into “dead food” is due to the influence of microwaves.

They are absorbed from food placed in the oven, says Dr. Joseph M. Mercola, a licensed physician and surgeon. Water molecules spin rapidly in the microwave and in the food at high frequencies, which creates molecular friction and heats the food.

This leads to changes in the molecular structure of the food and as a result reduces the content of nutrients in it.

Here are five of the biggest health hazards that microwave ovens cause.

Microwaves destroy vitamin B-12

The health benefits of vitamin B-12 are well known, but it is destroyed after heating in a microwave. In a study published in the journal Agricultural and Food Chemistry, researchers decided to study the effects of microwave heating on the loss of vitamin B-12 in foods such as raw beef, pork, and milk. The results of the study show that 30-40 percent of the vitamins are lost as a result of the microwave exposure.

Microwaves destroy breast milk

The powerful antibacterial properties of breast milk are also lost after heating in a microwave oven. Findings published in the journal Pediatrics examine the common practice of using a microwave oven to rewarm frozen breast milk for the convenience of young mothers.

Researchers tested 22 fresh frozen breast milk samples by heating them for 30 seconds. Microwaved breast milk was found to have over 18 times the Escherichia coli bacteria content. In addition, breast milk reheated in this way had much more bacteria harmful to young babies.

Microwaves form carcinogenic substances in food

When you reheat food wrapped in plastic film in the microwave, you create the conditions for the formation of carcinogens in the food. Based on Russian research and German studies, the Russian government has issued a warning about the health risks that microwave ovens can have on the human body and the environment.

When processing products packaged in plastic film, toxic chemicals such as bisphenol A, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), benzene, toluene and xylene are released. These substances are released in the food, and then absorbed by the body.

Microwaves can change blood composition

A Swiss clinical study found that the blood composition of people who consumed microwaved milk and vegetables changed. The eight study participants ate a series of foods prepared in a variety of ways, including food heated in a microwave oven.

The results of the study showed that their red blood cell count decreased, while their white blood cell count increased, along with their cholesterol levels.

Microwaves change heart rhythm

Non-ionizing microwave radiation can also affect heart rate. Microwaves affect the body because of 2.4 GHz radiation – the frequency of radiation emitted by microwave ovens. A study conducted by Dr. Magda Havash of Trent University found that levels of radiation emitted by microwave ovens directly affect heart rate.

They cause immediate and drastic changes in heart rhythm. If you experience an irregular pulse or chest pain and regularly eat foods cooked or reheated in a microwave oven, it is best to forget about using it.