The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Microwaving Hazards
Posted by Kathy (the USA) on 03/21/2013
I would like some information about the harm of microwave use. Where has there been reliable testing? I thought I was getting better nutritional value from microwaving in a clear glass casserole with a lid. In addition, because our food has been genetically modified I thought the microwave cooking was "pre-digesting" the food that has become so hard to digest. I feel the massive weight-gain of so many is a result of this. Someone please advise.
Microwaving Hazards
Posted by Jong (San Jose, Ca) on 10/08/2012
I understand the concern you have. For those of you who are worry about cooking food that destroy nutrient, esp. the precious enzymes, I have a recipe with raw spinach, which as you well know, has full of nutritional value.
Clean them as usual. Immerse them in salt water (preferably sea salt), that has right amount of salt as you like. Leave them for few hours (depending on your preference from 30 mins to few hours). This will make spinach very soft exactly same as if you blanch them. (trust me you'll experience it as you eat them). Squeeze all salt water out, mix them with sesame oil (this is very important Asian recipe, they go together very nicely). Finally add some spices as you like. Now you have 100% raw, smooth, soft tasting spinach. From my experience, this taste exactly like one cooked/blanched. I'm relying on this for my pH alkaline balance every day. So easy to make, taste good, plenty of nutrition. Including the most precious ENZYMES intact.
Microwaving Hazards
Posted by Noelle (Elkhorn, Ne, USA) on 10/07/2012
If I had a green thumb, I would love to try the seed experiment. To me, it seems that the logical set of water trials and seeds would be:
at least TWO seeds in each pot (if you only used one seed, what if it was a bad seed? It would create a false negative result.)
- pot 1 - mineral water
- pot 2 - tap water
- pot 3 - boiled water
- pot 4 - microwaved water
- pot 5 - distilled water
- pot 6 - reverse osmosis water
I'm betting that the mineral water would win. Tap would come in 2nd. And all the others would not provide enough nutrients to keep up with the growth of 1 and 2 (but theyd still grow)
Just for fun, add pot 7 and 8. Use mineral water in both. And try the 'emotional water' experiment. If you have no idea what I'm referring to, Google 'Dr. Masaru Emoto'. Seemingly far-fetched, but very interesting experiments!
Microwaving Hazards
Posted by Goldy (Sydney, Australia) on 02/07/2012
I stopped using the microwave about 6 months ago to see if it helped my chronic fatigue. Well I can't say that not using it has helped me feel better, but today, stupidly I heated up my food in a microwave and I have been feeling so sick since eating it. This could be a coincidence, but I'm pretty sure I have reacted badly to the radiated food.
Microwaving Hazards
Posted by Francisca (Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France) on 08/11/2011
Sorry Jong, I have read a lot about the danger of microwave ovens and I don't use one, actually never have although there is one built in my kitchen! Even if you discard the dangers of the food cooked in them, think about the radiation that escapes and hits your body? I don't hear them talking about that.... Just think, it is a huge business because most people have one so why would they tell you the truth? Somehow it is something that never caught my interest, sorry, I can't even explain why because for a long time I wasn't even aware of any danger!
Microwaving Hazards
Posted by Debbie (Melbourne, Australia ) on 08/10/2011
I would not believe that microwaves are not killing off nutrients just because a New York Times article says so.
Our Prime Minister says Global Warming is real.... so does Al Gore and most of the global newspapers...
Does that mean that Global Warming is real? You have to reasearch it from reputable sources.
I would rather err on the side of caution.
Ask yourself, why are more people going grey early these days... It is because we are mineral and nutrient deficient. We have to look at our food and how we prepare it. Look at processing of food. My grandmother had all her natural coloured hair at 65 and so did her sister who died at 93??
Microwaving Hazards
Posted by Jong (San Jose, Ca ) on 08/10/2011
Infrared Cooking
Posted by Eva (Kitchener, Canada) on 05/06/2011
Hi' is infrared cooking safe for our health?
Microwaving Hazards
Posted by Francisca (Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France) on 05/05/2011
I would be a bit careful with microwaves. There is a lot of serious literature about them, not only Internet gossip!
Microwaving Hazards
Posted by Sheila (San Diego, Ca, Usa) on 05/05/2011
Just a note on one of many books to read about toxic materials in the home: "Slow Death By Rubber Duck" by Smith and Lourie. The two authors do cite studies and litigation regarding chemicals in plastics by manufacturers, like DuPont.
Microwaving Hazards
Posted by Rick In Nh (Concord, Nh) on 05/05/2011
I LOVE this site and with your help have regained my health after cancer surgery and COPD.
But ...
For all of those who will just believe blindly what they read:
There are 3 reasons why Drs warn women about microwaves: 1 -- Bottle may feel mildly warm on the outside, but be very hot internally. 2 -- steam pressure from overheating may cause bottle to explode. 3 -- some vitamins in FORMULA may be altered due to heat if overheated, but the same could be said about any method of heating.
AND, when you try to post scare tactics on the site, do REAL research. I read one article that said the nazis invented the microwave oven, when it was actually Percy Spencer (an acquaintance when I was a teen) who invented it after accidentally melting his chocolate bar in his pocket while working on a magnetron.
Please, research the facts and don't just use old wives' tales to just try and scare everyone. Just because you can find "Microwave Dangers" on the internet doesn't make it "fact. " I found 34,000,000 articles related to "flying monkey attacks" Should I start wearing a protective suit? I still use a microwave occaisonally to thaw some foods... and I promise, I am far from "insane."
Microwaving Hazards
Posted by Carmen (Nova Scotia, Canada) on 01/30/2010
I read it here on EC first. I then did a little research and removed the appliance from my house. We are now 7 months microwave free. :) We do not miss it at all. As my kids watched the microwave go out the door I told them the story of the microwaved water and the seeds that would NOT grow. I think I planted a seed of distrust in their heads as they no longer use the microwaves at school for lunch, it was only my intention to eliminate it's use at home.:)
Microwaving Hazards
Posted by Suzi (Missoula, Mt) on 01/29/2010
Oh yes, Jac....I haven't had a microwave for almost 8 years now. Most people really look at me weird when I mention that I wouldn't have a mini-nuclear power plant in my apartment....folks aren't "insane", just uneducated and for that we can't blame them, only by example is my family slowly making the change...bad habits are hard to break.
Microwaving Hazards
Posted by Jac (Baltimore, Maryland, Usa ) on 01/29/2010
I just got rid of my microwaves. Just google 'microwave dangers', and if the things you learn don't terrify, sicken, & anger you, you're INSANE.
Microwaving Hazards
Posted by Suzi (Missoula, Mt) on 09/29/2009
Kudos to you and your family...why risk it?
Microwaving Hazards
Posted by Carmen (Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia, canada) on 09/29/2009
For me, the flag has been raised too many times on this issue. Just last month I packed up my microwave and took it out of my home. I do not avoid microwaved food at all costs but, less can only be better. Meals now take a little more time to plan (thawing meat), but I have no regrets. We purchased a toaster oven and are having sooo much fun with it and meat thaws quite quickly in a sink of cold water(depending on the cut).
Microwaving Hazards
Posted by Azg (Toronto, On) on 09/28/2009
Theo, try the experiment again with seeds. And ask your doctor why they don't recommend that women heat up breastmilk in the microwave.
Microwaving Hazards
Posted by Theo (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) on 09/28/2009
This is totally not true. I read something similar a couple of years ago about a high school experiment where plants died on microwaved water. Naturally, I was a little freaked out. So at work I decided to reproduce the experiment. I bought a bunch of plants and separated them into 3 groups: tap water, boiled water, microwaved water. All of the waters were cooled to room temperature before feeding. None of the plants died over the next 3 months. All of my co-workers witnessed this experiment.
Although afterwards I figured my experiment could have been done a little better. I should have picked plants that were water only because the soil might have been a big confounding variable. Also, I could have picked plants that died easier as my particular plant species seemed quite resilient.
In any case, there was no death in the plants. Or any vitality lost.
Microwaving Hazards
Posted by Azg (Toronto, On) on 09/28/2009
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
I wanted to point out that one should NEVER use the MICROWAVE in holistic healing practises. The Microwave KILLS ENZYMES and any VITALITY in foods. This is why even Doctors tell women to NEVER heat Breastmilk in the microwave for their babies.
Vitality doesn't have to be enzymes or beneficial vitamins...think about water, which has neither enzymes or vitamins...
In highschool we did an experiment where we tried to sprout seeds. One group of seeds were watered with filtered water, one group of seeds were watered with tap water, and the last group of seeds were watered with water that was previously microwaved (but brought back to room temperature before putting on the seeds).
The group of seeds that were watered with microwaved water NEVER SPROUTED. The Microwave removed ALL VITALITY from the water.
Please post this somewhere on your website where many people can find this information...I've found a number of comments where people are heating teas and such with the microwave - BAD IDEA!
