29.08.2023
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Is microwaved food healthy? Is microwave harmful to human health? How do microwaves affect humans?

Modern technologies make our life easier and more comfortable. Most people use microwaves. These devices will save time and effort when cooking. Before buying a microwave oven, many people think about whether these devices are safe for human health. After all, there are rumors that microwaves adversely affect the condition of the products that people eat. The harm of the microwave is not entirely proven. The opinions of scientists are divided.

Some research on the benefits of microwaves suggests that microwave ovens significantly reduce the number of diseases associated with the gastrointestinal tract. This is explained by the fact that people do not need to add oil when heating and cooking food.

Microwaved food is similar to steamed food. This method can be called safe for health.

Some experts believe that microwaves retain the most nutrients in foods that do not have time to break down in a short cooking time. Studies show that cooking on the stove causes food to lose more than 60% of its beneficial elements. But the use of microwaves for cooking retains almost 75% of nutrients.

Microwave Harm:

  • Food cooked in the microwave is a danger to human life.
  • Foods cooked in the microwave are destroyed, undergoing irreversible changes.
  • Microwave-cooked food contains microwave energy that is not present in conventionally cooked food.

The microwave oven and its effect on the human body is a matter of controversy. WHO assures that radiation from a microwave does not harm a person, and, therefore, it is safe to heat food on it. However, it is worth noting that an intense microwave flux affects the operation of implanted pacemakers. That is why it is better for people using pacemakers to avoid using microwaves and cell phones.

Harm of microwaves: myth or reality

Many people use microwaves, but at the same time they cannot decide on the answer to the question: “Are microwaves harmful to health?” The press is full of articles that the influence of microwaves is so dangerous that it can lead to illness and even death. Readers can be frightened by "molecular rot", "rupture of molecules" and other terrible terms. Some myths can be successfully debunked.

An insufficiently informed person can fall under the influence of myths, which all as one say about the undeniable harm of microwaves and the inadmissibility of eating food heated in a microwave.

You can, of course, cook in the microwave. Here everyone must determine for himself which of the arguments to believe. Before you make a purchase or get rid of a microwave, you should familiarize yourself with how it works.

Microwave device:

  • A magnetron is located in the furnace body, which emits electromagnetic waves having a certain frequency. The length is determined so that the microwave does not interfere with the operation of other appliances in the room.
  • Electromagnetic radiation is produced not only by a microwave oven, but by telephones, electric shavers, etc. But so far there has been no reliable information that there are victims of it.
  • The walls of the device are well insulated in order not to let the radiation out of it.

The conclusion may indicate that the device is quite safe for human use. But here it is worth clarifying one nuance - food should be cooked in a microwave oven, the service life of which has not expired. An old microwave oven model can be hazardous to human health. In the instructions for them, they usually wrote that it was not worth being at a distance of one and a half meters from her.

Scientific evidence of harm from microwaves

Many scientists look at the influence of the microwave in different ways. Some consider it safe for cooking and eating it inside, others argue that food warmed up in it carries an increased danger. Evidence is important here, otherwise opinions can be confused.

The whole truth about the dangers of a microwave oven can be told after the device of the microwave oven is thoroughly studied.

The appliance is used to heat, defrost or cook food using microwaves. Waves set molecules in motion, thanks to which food is heated. It has been scientifically proven that radiation does not penetrate products more than three centimeters.

Research scientists on the dangers of microwaves:

  • Microwave exposure leads to the breakdown of food.
  • During heating, carcinogens appear in food, which are dangerous to human health.
  • Food changes in composition, which leads to disruption of the gastrointestinal tract.
  • The growth of cancer cells begins to progress if you constantly eat food cooked in a microwave oven.
  • Food cooked in the microwave has a negative effect on the digestive system, which leads to its decomposition.

In old Soviet studies, it is written that it is extremely dangerous next to the device. Food subjected to microwave processing negatively affects the lymphatic system of the body, which leads to serious pathologies. However, modern scientists believe that it is safe to use the microwave today, since modern devices are reliably protected and will not release radiation to the outside.

Terms of use: is the microwave harmful

Modern scientists debunk myths about the dangers of microwaves. It has been proven that food heated in the microwave does not lose its beneficial properties, but retains them. For the safe operation of the microwave, it is important to follow the instructions for its use, to know how many years you can safely use the microwave.

An interesting fact is that carcinogens do not appear in foods if they are heated in a microwave. But how dangerous they are in food heated in oil is another question.

By heating food in the microwave, you can be sure that various E. coli and other microorganisms will die, as high-speed heating kills them. The microwave oven also cannot lead to the disintegration of molecules. And you can be close to modern devices, since the proportion of radiation is very small.

Rules for using the device:

  • The microwave must be properly installed.
  • Do not block the ventilation of the device.
  • No need to open the device during operation.
  • Do not use a microwave oven with broken glass.

You need to heat up a small amount of food at a time. You can not heat food in a metal dish. Reviews of doctors about the microwave are ambiguous. But many argue that food cooked in it is healthy, as it almost does not lose its qualities.

How do microwaves affect humans?

Studies have shown that microwaves change the structure of foods. In people who consumed such products, there was a change in the composition of the blood, an increase in cholesterol and a decrease in hemoglobin. When determining the harmfulness of a microwave oven, only real facts based on scientific evidence should be taken into account.

Microwaves are dangerous because, under the influence of waves, the body ceases to absorb elements useful for it.

Currently, numerous studies are being carried out on the effect of electromagnetic waves on human health, but the results so far do not indicate direct harm. It has been proven that many vitamins are preserved in foods when heated. When purchasing a microwave, it is important to know its pros and cons, why it is impossible to open it during operation, etc.

Adviсe:

  • Keep a safe distance when using the microwave.
  • Use only modern models from well-known and reliable manufacturers.

Modern analogues of microwaves are safe for human health. Even if the microwave is used every day, it does not pose a potential danger. Of course, you need to use the microwave correctly. And which microwaves to choose depends on the individual requirements of the consumer.

What is the harm of a microwave (video)

The thermo pot is very convenient to use, saves time and effort when preparing various dishes. In one of the episodes of the program, Elena Malysheva spoke about the dangers of a microwave oven. But whether it is harmful or not, it is still not possible to unequivocally answer. Therefore, before buying, it is important to study the opinion of experts and decide which one is more convincing.

Since the creation of microwave ovens between physicists and medical specialists, disputes have periodically flared up about the benefits and harms of this technical achievement. In fact, without certain knowledge about the effect of microwave oven radiation on the human body and the effect of microwaves on food cooked in it, many people are afraid to use it.

It is worth noting that these fears are not groundless: a useful invention for the kitchen can indeed become unsafe under certain conditions. But if the operation of the microwave oven is organized in accordance with all technical requirements, microwave waves will fulfill their culinary purpose without much harm to humans.

The principle of operation of the microwave oven

The process of heating products in a microwave oven is based on the effect of radiation generated by a magnetron on them. It is thanks to the ultra-high frequency of the microwave (2450 GHz - in contrast, for example, from 50 Hz of the current frequency in the industrial power supply network) that the heating is carried out almost instantly, which is the main advantage of the device.

The most important condition for successful heating of the product is the presence of dipoles in it - molecules with an uneven distribution of charges and a total electric charge equal to zero, due to the polar arrangement of positive and negative charges in the atom. The most prominent representatives of the dipoles are water molecules, which means that all products with high humidity will be more susceptible to the influence of microwaves. At the same time, vegetable oils do not have dipole molecules, so heating them in a microwave oven is not practical.

Thanks to the electromagnetic field created in the microwave oven, the dipoles inside the product turn 180 degrees about 6 billion times per second. This incredible speed brings the molecules of the substance into friction, which is why the internal temperature of the product rises. It is in this physically explicable transformation of electrical radiation into thermal energy that many see the harm of the microwave.

The harm and benefits of a microwave oven

Some people believe that the direct radiation from a microwave oven that is on can harm a person nearby. Many explain this risk by the fact that the human body consists of more than 70% water, that is, dipole molecules that are particularly sensitive to the effects of microwaves. Because of this influence, the structure of water allegedly changes, since it is ionized (the appearance of an additional electron in the water atom or the loss of the existing one). Therefore, the destruction and deformation of molecules occurs not only in the heated product, but also in the human body. However, this opinion is erroneous.

Science claims that the concept of “structurality” in relation to water (namely water, not ice) is not applicable, which means that it is impossible to destroy or change its structure.

The Internet is filled with such slogans

Is there any scientific evidence of the harm of a microwave oven?

A microwave oven is not always dangerous for a person, but only under specific circumstances. Its direct harm can be caused by the cumulative action of microwave radiation generated by the magnetron. This becomes possible only in two cases:

  1. If the shutdown mechanism does not work when opening or loosely closing the door. Manufacturers convince that the device has double guaranteed protection of the consumer from unwanted radiation, however, the automatic shutdown system occasionally fails.
  2. If, as a result of accumulation of soot or other reasons, the tightness of the door is broken. Microwaves are able to seep through the smallest holes or crevices. These outwardly imperceptible defects most often appear after prolonged use of the appliance.

Leakage of microwaves through imperceptible cracks, and even more so into an open door with the generator not turned off, can cause significant harm to a person, up to burns of internal organs.

Symptoms of microwave exposure

You can suspect that a person has been harmed by a microwave oven by the following signs:

  • dizziness;
  • the appearance of signs of heart failure;
  • clouding in the eyes;
  • drowsiness;
  • nervousness and unreasonable crying (in children).

If such symptoms were detected after being near a working electrical appliance, this is an almost 100% signal that its case has been depressurized.

Ways to Check Your Microwave Oven for Radiation Leakage

To check whether the operated microwave oven is dangerous, whether there is radiation leakage through gaps in the door invisible to the eye, you can use several popular methods. You can also use a special microwave detector.

Manual verification methods

These methods, in the absence of a special device, are quite simple, but some of them do not always give reliable results. However, if you have not yet been able to purchase a detector, you can check the oven as follows:


To conduct the most popular, but most unreliable method of testing for harmfulness, you need two mobile phones. You need to put one of them in the microwave and close it tightly, without turning it on. Then call him from another mobile. If it rings, then the waves pass freely through the protective door both from the outside and from the inside.

Experts consider the difference between the operating frequencies of microwave ovens and mobile phones to be a disadvantage of this method, so it is unlikely that it will be possible to establish the harm or benefit of the device in this way.

Checking with a detector

The most reliable and effective is the test using a special device called a microwave radiation detector. Necessary:

  1. Put a glass of cold water in the oven.
  2. Close the door, turn on the oven.
  3. Bring the detector closer to the door and move it slowly along the perimeter and diagonally of the door, stopping at the corners. In the absence of radiation, the instrument needle will be in the green zone, and the slightest leak will make it move into the red zone.

Recommendations for the safe use of the microwave

It is known that as you move away from the microwave, the power of microwave energy decreases rapidly, so it is most safe to stay at a certain distance from it during operation of the microwave oven.

Near the operating device (about 2 cm from the outer wall), the level of permissible radiation should not exceed 5 mW per 1 sq. cm.

A microwave oven, the harm and benefits of which depend on compliance with the rules of operation, with such radiation is absolutely safe for the human body. However, there are other reasons why this kitchen appliance can be harmful. Therefore, you should consider the rules for handling it:

  • Stay away from the appliance when operating.
  • Do not place the microwave oven near the stove or at the dining table.
  • Use only for quick defrosting and reheating of food.
  • Food to be reheated should be placed open and not hermetically sealed (this applies even to sausages in a dense cling film).
  • Do not put metal utensils and ceramic containers with a border of metallic paint inside - this contributes to the occurrence of an arc that threatens the integrity of the magnetron and the protective casing.
  • Monitor the cleanliness of the protective door, prevent the appearance of soot on it, which contributes to depressurization of the housing.

People who have a pacemaker implanted should not use the microwave device.

Which dishes are not suitable for the microwave and why

When using the microwave oven, it is forbidden to use the following types of utensils:

  1. From metal. Any of its types - cast iron, steel, brass, copper - reflect microwaves, preventing them from penetrating into the product. In addition, being electrically conductive, they can cause sparks and electromagnetic fields that are dangerous for microwave ovens.
  2. From glass and porcelain, if such dishes have a pattern applied with golden or other paint, which may include metals. Even a half-erased design may contain metal particles, which, under the influence of a microwave, can spark and create a field.
  3. From crystal. Its complex structure may contain particles of silver, lead and other metals, in addition to this, an obstacle to its use is the inhomogeneity of the thickness (faceted surface), due to which such dishes under the influence of microwaves can shatter into pieces.
  4. It is not recommended to use disposable tableware made of thin plastic or waxed cardboard, unglazed ceramic, or plastic that is not resistant to high temperatures.

Even in a second, microwaves cause dipole molecules to rotate “around their axis” billions of times. Therefore, it is better not to risk either the dishes or the serviceability of the microwave oven itself, so that it works in the kitchen for a long time and safely.

Is the microwave harmful and how does it affect food - you probably asked this question more than once. Did you know that microwaved food retains more vitamins and minerals than conventionally cooked food? So, during laboratory studies, vegetables retained about 85% of vitamin C when cooked in a microwave oven, while no more than 30% of the vitamin remains in boiled vegetables. Of course, there is harm from a microwave oven, but how does it manifest itself? Is a microwave oven harmful to human health - we will consider in this article.

How it all began

The harm and benefits of a microwave oven have been the subject of discussion by scientists for more than a dozen years. In order to understand exactly how the microwave oven works, let's look at how and where it was invented. The microwave oven was invented in Germany during World War II. The fast cooker and reheater was designed to optimize the work of the army so that cooking took as little time as possible.

Over time, the Nazis found that microwave ovens did not affect health in the best way, and they had to abandon its use. In 1943, research on the construction of a microwave oven fell into the hands of the Americans and Russians. The Americans classified the materials, and Russian scientists at several research institutes in the Urals, as well as at the Radio Technology Institute in Belarus, carefully studied the outlandish invention. In particular, scientists devoted their work to the effect of a microwave oven on human health.

The research of Russian scientists ended with the fact that in the USSR they issued a law prohibiting the use of this kind of furnace, due to the fact that they represented a biological hazard. Also in the Soviet Union, a warning was issued, which was sent to all major countries, that devices made in a similar way to microwave ovens are dangerous not only for the health of living beings, but also for the environment as a whole.

Scientists did not stop there and studied several thousand people who worked near the radar installations, which also emitted waves. The results obtained during the study were so serious that special restrictions were set in the Soviet Union on the number of microwatts per person. We will find out the myth or reality of harm from microwaves a little further.

Principle of operation

The microwave oven radiates energy. So, it emits electromagnetic radiation at super frequencies. These radiations consist of both millimeter and centimeter radio waves, the length of which is from 1 mm to 30 cm.

Microwaves are similar to light waves and radio waves in terms of their effects on humans. Microwaves travel at about 300 km/sec. So, if we talk about modern technologies, then microwaves are used not only for microwave ovens, but also for telephone communications, television and radio broadcasting, as well as for the operation of the Internet via satellites.

A microwave oven is made up of some dangerous elements, chief among which is the magnetron, a device that converts electricity into microwave radiation that impacts food molecules. So, microwaves literally "throw" on the water molecules in the food and the water begins to rotate so quickly that the food itself heats up due to the friction created.

The friction between the water molecules and the rest of the molecules in the food tears and deforms the food from the inside out. In scientific language, this process is called structural isometry. In simple terms, then microwave causes changes in food at the molecular level, which has been scientifically confirmed in a variety of laboratory tests.

Why is the microwave harmful?

Surely you have heard about the influence of a mobile phone on the human brain. Just like a microwave oven, it works at micro frequencies. So, why is the microwave so dangerous and is it harmful to warm up food in it?

Information component of microwave ovens

The information component is scientifically called a torsion field. So, the main factor due to which scientists came to the conclusion that microwave ovens are dangerous to human health is precisely the torsion component of radiation. According to experts from France, Russia and Switzerland, it is precisely because of this component that many people begin to have a headache, insomnia, and a tendency to irritability.

Heat

Among other things, do not forget that the microwave emits super high frequencies. Frequent and prolonged influence of these frequencies adversely affects those human organs in which there are no vessels. So, if the body heats up, then the blood helps to reduce heat by distributing heat throughout the body and cooling it. In some organs, for example, in the lens, there are no vessels, and such heating contributes to a decrease in the functioning of these parts of the body. So, for example, the lens darkens, and this process cannot be reversed.

Effect on food

We have already mentioned that the structure of food molecules changes under the influence of microwave radiation. Atoms gain or lose electrons, due to which they are ionized, and this completely changes the structural composition of food.

A microwave oven can easily be called a "creator" of new food, because it completely destroys food at the cellular level. The microwave oven creates so-called radiolytic compounds, which contribute to the formation of molecular rot. Yes, yes, the same molecular rot that occurs due to increased radiation.

Let's take a look at a few examples of the effects of microwave exposure on food:

  • meat acquires several new carcinogens;
  • milk and cereals (for example, oatmeal) are also saturated with carcinogens;
  • if you defrost vegetables and fruits in the microwave, then be prepared for the fact that instead of useful elements you will get glucosides and galactosides, exactly those particles that contain carcinogenic elements;
  • When plants are defrosted, glucosides, galactosides and nitrilosides disintegrate in them;

Even simple cow or even human milk is negatively affected by microwaves. So, amino acids useful for feeding a child turn into isomers that cause irreparable harm to the nervous system, as well as to some organs of the gastrointestinal tract.

Microwave creates new compounds unknown to science, i.e., has the same effect as radiation.

What is harmful microwave oven for humans

It's time to sort out the harm of microwaves to human health. Just imagine: all your headaches, nervousness, decrease or increase in blood pressure, and even oncology can be the result of an ordinary microwave! What else can cause this invention?

  • Vision problems. We have already found out that the microwave emits "hot" waves that adversely affect those organs in which there are no vessels. Thus, radiation affects the lens of the eye: it becomes cloudy, and a person develops a cataract. Accordingly, microwave radiation has an extremely negative effect on humans.
  • Nervous disorders, insomnia, irritability.
  • Hair loss, deterioration of nails and other "adversities" associated with the loss of the natural beauty of the body. All these problems are the consequences of radiation.
  • Appendicitis, gastritis, ulcers and other problems with the gastrointestinal tract just because we eat food, the structure of which simply does not exist in a natural, non-radioactive nature.
  • Reproductive problems due to exposure to radiation.
  • Foods with a modified structure increase the risk of cancer cells.

Of course, the harm of a microwave oven depends entirely on how often you eat food cooked in it, how often you are near it during work. According to scientists, a person begins to notice the negative impact of this technique only after 12-15 years after daily use. Thus, you can use the microwave without harm for up to 10 years. Accordingly, the harm of a microwave oven for a person who is 20 years old today will manifest itself only when he is 32-35.

Let's give a few more examples in order to demonstrate the harm of microwave ovens.

radiation and hemoglobin

A few years ago, an extensive study was conducted that showed that people who prefer to eat vegetables and fruits that have undergone primary processing in the microwave have a slightly different blood composition than those who do not have a microwave oven at home.

So, first of all, microwave radiation affects the hemoglobin content in the blood: in the experimental group, it was significantly lower than in those people who prefer not to deal with a microwave oven. Also, microwave radiation increases cholesterol, which is fraught with the occurrence of plaques and blood clots.

Proteins and microwave radiation

We all know that proteins are the basis of all living things. Without protein there was nothing in the world. As we have already found out, microwaves change atoms, including atoms in amino acids, which are literally built into proteins when food is eaten. Thus, microwaves indirectly affect every protein that is in our body.

Weakening of the body

Genetics in its development has already reached a fairly high level. To make it easier for the substance to penetrate the cell membrane, it is preliminarily irradiated with wave radiation. The membrane weakens and in some cases even breaks, and the substance we need quietly penetrates inside the cell. Just imagine that all the cells in your body are weakened due to microwave radiation. So, they are easier to pass inside viruses and bacteria, as well as other microorganisms that cause many unpleasant diseases.

How to test a microwave oven for radiation

There are several ways to help you determine how much harm you are doing to your body using a microwave oven. Of course, the effectiveness of some methods is questionable, but you can use several methods sequentially for the purity of the experiment:

  1. For the first method, you will need two ordinary mobile phones. Put one of them inside the microwave, use the second to call the first phone. If it rings, it means that the microwave perfectly transmits waves both in and out, that is, the risk of harm from this device is quite high.
  2. Take a glass of cold water. Set the power in the region of 700-800 W and heat the water for 2 minutes. In theory, the water should boil during this time. If this happens, then everything is in order: the microwave does not let radiation out and you can be near it during its operation. If the water is not warm enough to boil, this means that the waves break out, thereby harming people standing nearby.
  3. Turn off the lights in the kitchen. Turn on an empty microwave and bring a fluorescent lamp to it. If it lights up, then your microwave is emitting too many waves.
  4. If the microwave oven door becomes very hot during its operation, this may indicate that the waves are leaking out.

The most effective way to check if there is a radiation leak is to check with a microwave detector. You need to put a glass of cold water in the microwave and turn it on. Gently move the detector along the perimeter of the device, paying special attention to the corners. So, if there is no leak, then the detector arrow will not move from the green mark. If there is radiation and it propagates strongly enough outside the microwave oven, then the detector arrow will go into its red half. This method is the most reliable, but the most difficult to implement.

Using the microwave correctly

What to do if you are used to a microwave oven and cannot imagine life without it? There are several rules, following which you, if you cannot completely negate the harm caused to you by a microwave oven, but reduce it to an acceptable minimum.

Scientists have officially confirmed that a low dose of radiation is safe enough for humans. Harm to human health will be minimal if the radiation of the microwave oven does not exceed 5 milliwatts 2-3 cm from its front wall. Of course, as you move away from the microwave oven, the radiation should weaken.

In no case do not open the door of a working microwave: in this way, you will release radiation outside and endanger once again. Read the instructions carefully before using this appliance for the first time, and never break its tightness for no apparent reason.

  1. Do not place the appliance near a place where you are accustomed to have lunch or spend a lot of time preparing food. It is best to put the microwave oven where you do not appear unnecessarily.
  2. Never put metal utensils into the oven. Even paint that contains metal elements can harm the operation of the magnetron, and the microwave oven will not work properly, emitting more and more waves harmful to the human body.
  3. Do not use the oven for cooking. The main function of the microwave should be to warm up food, as well as to defrost food.
  4. If you have implanted stimulators in your body (for example, a pacemaker), then you should refrain from using this device.
  5. Keep your microwave clean.

So, if you follow all the above rules, then you significantly reduce the risk of negative effects of microwave radiation on your body. Try to use this appliance only in extremely rare cases, or better, avoid the microwave altogether. Even if it does not transmit radiation to the outside, microwaves penetrate your food, breaking its structure, and it, in turn, can cause irreversible diseases in your body.

Many people today prefer the microwave oven, not realizing that it can be dangerous. In media sources, you can hear that the microwave, on which the operation of the device is based, is harmful. First of all, the harm of a microwave oven can be assessed by its impact on health. Are there validated studies on this topic? Of course, only their results are often contradictory and point to diametrically opposed things. Let's try to figure out whether it is possible to heat up food in devices of this type, and whether there are any unpleasant consequences from eating such food.

The question of whether a microwave oven is harmful can be answered in different ways, depending on what position a person takes. The fact is that the same phenomena (the effect of microwaves on the body) have an individual effect on each organism. It is enough for one test subject to heat food in the microwave for a week in order for him to have problems with digestion. The second can eat such food for several years, and the question of harm will not be so acute.

This lack of clear separation raises the age-old question: is it possible to use a microwave? Is the food cooked in it harmful to humans? In fairness, it should be noted that food from the microwave, in itself - not the healthiest food, and the point here is not the effect of ultrashort waves, but the very principle of cooking. Microwave ovens are mainly used for preparing “fast food”, which refers to conditionally non-healthy food (for example, popcorn, hot dogs, quick-defrost products).

If you neglect proper nutrition, then you can quickly get problems with the gastrointestinal tract and peristalsis, and it will not be at all the “harmful effect” of the radiation emanating from the microwave oven.

Unhealthy food cooked in a microwave oven can lead to to weight gain, which can also be attributed to a harmful effect, but the point here is in malnutrition, and not in the direct and clearly negative effects of microwaves. It is rather difficult to draw a line where harm begins from the device and a person’s non-compliance with elementary rules of food hygiene.

Some researchers believe that heating food in the microwave is not harmful at all, another thing is the full cycle of cooking in a microwave oven. Of the recent sensational revelations, many may remember the experiment set by one schoolgirl, who for seven days watered the plant with water heated in a microwave oven. The result was impressive: the plant died. However, this proves little, because tens of millions of people cook food in these devices every day and do not have any obvious health problems. That is why the question of whether a microwave oven is harmful to health still remains. open.

The negative impact of the microwave

Since no unified classification of impact has yet been formed, we will try to do it on our own. Data obtained from several sources (including studies that are known to have been conducted in hospitals, clinics, at home and at work with different workloads and degrees of involvement) allow us to draw several preliminary conclusions. So , The dangers of a microwave oven for human health are as follows:

  1. Brain. Controversial studies by Russian and Swiss doctors have shown that microwave radiation causes irreversible changes in the cerebral cortex. The impulses sent by neurons become shorter and undergo depolarization.
  2. Digestive system. A microwave-cooked product is incorrectly identified by the gastrointestinal (gastrointestinal) system. Simply put, our body is not able to recognize such food, and does not attribute it to food. Such dissonance leads to improper digestion of food and the quickest desire of the body to remove it as soon as possible, without extracting useful and nutritious substances. In other words, even having a hearty dinner with food from the microwave, you can leave the body hungry, because it simply will not know how to act correctly.
  3. Hormonal system. Here everything is no better than with the previous paragraph. Firstly, the frequent use of products exposed to microwaves adversely affects the production of male and female hormones. According to scientists, this is due to the fact that the human body has not yet learned how to properly respond to products that are obtained as a result of microwave processing. By consuming such food, a person, thereby, knocks down the settings of his own body, making it difficult for the digestive organs to work, and in some cases even making it impossible.
  4. irreversibility. Alas, but all of the above impacts tend to accumulate like a snowball. Doubly unpleasant is the fact that these consequences are irreversible (simply because a method has not been worked out how to counter them).
  5. Difficulty in learning vitamins, minerals and other substances useful to the human body. In this case, the microwave is no less hazardous to health. The heating process in the apparatus changes the properties of vitamins and minerals so that the human body simply cannot absorb them properly. The danger also lies in the fact that, once in the body, such “altered” minerals and vitamins are not only not absorbed, but also not excreted, lingering inside, creating deposits in the vessels and joints.
  6. This hypothesis is still from the field of theory, but it also has the right to publicity. The fact is that carcinogens (in particular, free radicals) enter the human body after heat treatment of food in the microwave. In particular, if you heat vegetables, then part of the minerals contained in them will turn into into carcinogens.
  7. Risk of developing gastrointestinal cancer. The harm of microwaves also lies in the fact that products cooked in them indirectly and directly can contribute to the development of cancer. As a confirmation of this hypothesis, the researchers give a vivid example: an outbreak of cancer in America, which occurred just at the time of the spread of microwaves.
  8. Another disappointing prognosis from long-term use of the device is a multiply increasing risk of developing blood cancer. According to numerous clinical studies, eating from a microwave oven significantly increases the chance of this deadly disease.
  9. Impact on immunity. Bad news for our immunity. It's unfortunate, but it's been clinically proven that eating microwaved foods affects the function of the lymph nodes and lymph glands. Hence the slowdown of the lymph flow throughout the body, and, as a result, the accelerated aging of the whole organism. In addition, blood clotting is significantly reduced, which leads to slow wound healing.
  10. Negative impact for concentration and attention(memory, thinking, images). Surprisingly, food from the microwave even negatively affects our way of thinking, which once again confirms the correctness of the saying “we are what we eat.” Swiss scientists managed to conduct an experiment, as a result of which it turned out that experimental subjects who consumed food from a microwave oven for a long time showed themselves much worse intellectually. It was more difficult for them to concentrate on work, they could not concentrate their attention for a long time and showed a general decrease in cognitive activity.

As you can understand from the list above, the debate about whether the use of microwaves is good or bad is still going on and has a lot of supporters on both sides. Perhaps the effect of microwaves on health is detrimental, only the degree of this harm is leveled from strong to insignificant.

Myth or reality

There is still no unequivocal answer to the question of whether food from the microwave is harmful. Why, if there is so much evidence of clear harm to the human body, are these devices still quietly on the shelves of all major retail stores of household appliances? After all, no one in their right mind would sell equipment that causes irreparable damage to human health, and in the most extreme case, kills him.

Most likely, everything is not so bad, the truth will be somewhere in between. Indeed, in addition to obvious shortcomings, microwaves have many pluses. These include their speed, versatility and reliability due to the simplicity of their design. The consumer definitely liked this product, and he is not going to refuse it so easily, despite the numerous warnings of various initiative groups.

Is it safe to heat food in the microwave? Or is its effect on the human body somewhat exaggerated? After all, manufacturers of this type of household appliances have all the necessary certifications, which are very difficult to obtain. By the way, technological innovations that in one way or another negatively affect the health of the consumer do not find their way to the mass market, or, once in stores, just as quickly disappear from the shelves if any complaints are received. So it’s hardly worth talking about some kind of intentional harm due to the collusion of manufacturers, many different organizations deal with these issues.

When wondering whether the harm of microwaves is a myth or a reality, one should remain impartial and be aware that any technological device, one way or another, has an impact on the human body.

Just in one case, such an influence may become apparent in the very near future, and in the second case it will not manifest itself in any way for many years and even decades, after which it will be difficult to say what exactly caused and catalyzed such changes.


Most likely, the harm and benefit of a microwave oven will be about the same, varying from one user to another, because no one has canceled the individual characteristics of the body. Often, the use of a microwave leads to the so-called "nutritional licentiousness", when a person begins to neglect healthy and healthy food, rich in all the necessary substances. This is precisely the harm, but it is not caused by the device itself.

Of course, if you eat only food from the microwave, you may encounter certain problems, but the same statement applies to any type of household appliances, moderation should be observed everywhere, this will help maintain health for many years.

Conclusion

It should be remembered that, despite the available data on the harm of microwaves to human health, there are facts that refute a number of criticisms. Research teams are conducting tests to dispel the myth that microwaves are only harmful. This is done primarily in order to avoid mass panic and prioritize without unnecessary emotions. Of course, the device is not without design flaws that make its use controversial. This is not an “absolute good”, however, you should not write it off ahead of time, because microwaves have firmly entered our lives and make it more comfortable and convenient.

At the moment it is very difficult to say who exactly invented the microwave oven. In different sources you can see completely different information. P. B. Spencer, an engineer from the United States of America, who was engaged in the study of a microwave emitter - a magnetron, is usually named as the official creator. As a result of the experiments he made quite specific conclusions. A certain frequency of radiation causes intense heat release. On December 6, 1945, a scientist received a patent for the use of microwaves for cooking. In 1949, in the United States, under this patent, the production of microwave ovens, which were intended for the rapid defrosting of strategic food stocks, had already begun. The whole world celebrates the birthday of microwave ovens on December 6th.

Controversy surrounding the invention

Since this device was created, disputes about its benefits and harms have not subsided. Until now, many do not understand how the microwave oven works, which is why it is believed that products that have undergone such processing can be dangerous to human health. When this device first appeared on the Russian market, many began to hear that food cooked or heated in this way causes cancer. They often talked about the effect of microwaves on the prenatal development of children, the ability to cause various pathologies. Dishes from such an oven are full of carcinogens.

Recent studies of the household appliances market have shown that every fifth family in Russia has a microwave oven, and in the United States of America only 10% of the population has not yet acquired this unit. When buying from sales consultants, you can often hear that this particular model is completely safe for health and shielded from radiation. And then the thought of the presence of some harmful factors creeps in.

This device uses radio waves similar to a conventional receiver, only they differ in frequency and are characterized by greater power. Every day we experience the action of radio waves of different frequencies - we are affected by our mobile phones, computers, televisions and other types of equipment. It is necessary to consider in more detail what a microwave oven is. Harm or benefit is obtained from its use, what is its effect? The cooking process goes like this: Microwaves bombard the water molecules in the food, causing them to rotate at an incredible frequency, which creates molecular friction that heats the food. It is this process that causes severe damage to food molecules, as it leads to their ruptures and deformation. It turns out that the microwave oven leads to the decay and changes in the structure of products under the influence of radiation.

After the war, medical research was discovered that the Germans were doing with microwaves. All these documents, along with several working models, were transferred to the United States of America for further research. The Russians received a number of models with which they conducted many experiments. In the course of the study, it was revealed that when exposed to microwaves, substances of an ecological and biological nature that are harmful to health are obtained. A regulation was created to severely restrict the use of microwave waves.

The harm and benefits of a microwave oven according to scientists

American researchers say that this device has reduced the incidence of stomach cancer in America. This is attributed to the fact that no oil is required during microwave cooking. And according to the method of preparation, this option is very similar to steam, which is considered the safest. A short cooking time allows you to save twice as many nutrients in food: minerals and vitamins. At the Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, it was calculated that the process of cooking on the stove leads to the loss of 60% of useful elements, in particular vitamin C. And microwaves destroy only 2-25%. However, scientists from Spain claim that broccoli, which is prepared in this way, loses up to 98% of the minerals and vitamins contained in it, and the microwave oven is to blame for this.

The harm of this method of cooking is more and more confirmed every day. A lot of information has appeared that food prepared in this way causes irreparable harm to human health. Microwaves break down food at the molecular level, causing irreversible changes that cause ordinary food to become saturated with substances that can cause cancer.

In 1992, a comparative study was published in the United States, stating that the introduction of molecules exposed to microwaves into the human body leads to more harm than good. In this processed food, the molecules contain microwave energy that is not present in foods that are prepared in traditional ways.

The microwave oven, the harm of which has been studied for more than a year, changes the structure of products. A short-term study showed that people who consumed vegetables and milk prepared in this way had changes in blood composition, increased cholesterol, and decreased hemoglobin. At the same time, the use of the same products, but prepared traditionally, did not lead to any changes in the body.

Question without an answer

Microwave oven manufacturers unanimously claim that food from a microwave oven does not differ in composition from that which is processed in the traditional way. However, no public university in the United States of America has conducted research on how food altered in this way affects the human body. But at the same time, there is a huge amount of research on what happens if the device door is not closed. Common sense dictates that issues related to food itself are quite important. Therefore, at the moment it is a complete mystery what a microwave oven does with products, whether it brings harm or benefit to them.

Other important points

Quite often you can hear that these devices harm children. The composition of mother's milk and milk formulas includes such amino acids that, when exposed to this radiation, are converted into d-isomers, and they are considered neurotoxic, that is, they lead to deformation of the nervous system, as well as nephrotoxic, that is, they are poison for the kidneys. Now, when many children are fed with artificial mixtures, there are more and more dangers, because they are heated in microwave ovens.

The World Health Organization issued a verdict that the radiation used in the microwave does not harm food or humans at all. But the intensity of the microwave flow can affect implanted pacemakers. That is why people with pacemakers are advised to give up microwaves and cell phones.

Other Features

However, until now, under the gun of many, it is the microwave oven. Whether it is harmful or not is not clear. Therefore, a final verdict has not yet been issued on this issue. Many scientists are working to study its effect on the human body. In the meantime, the harm and benefits of a microwave oven remain a big question, you should use it only for heating and defrosting food, but not for cooking. You should not be near the switched on stove yourself, especially you should not let children near it. A defective device should not be used. Doors should close as securely as possible without being damaged. And if you have a microwave oven, the instruction manual will help you use it correctly. Always have this appliance repaired by a qualified technician and never do it yourself.

Unusual use of microwave

A microwave oven, whose characteristics depend on many factors, can be used for various purposes that are not considered traditional for it. You can use it for drying vegetables, herbs, nuts for the winter, as well as crackers. If spices and seasonings are sent to the microwave for 30 seconds, then you can refresh their aroma. Bread can be refreshed by wrapping it in a napkin and placing it in the device for 1 minute at the most intense radiation.

You can peel almonds by putting them in boiling water and then heating them for half a minute in the oven at full power. The microwave oven, the harm of which is being intensively studied, is also useful for peeling walnuts. They need to be heated in water at full power for 4-5 minutes. You can easily get rid of the white pulp on lemons or oranges. To do this, citruses should be heated at full power for 30 seconds. After that, the white pulp can be separated from the slices quite simply.

The zest of a lemon or orange can be dried fairly quickly if you heat it for two minutes at full power. The same time will be enough to melt the candied honey.

You can rid cutting boards of unpleasant odors. To do this, you need to wash them, grate with lemon juice, and then fry them in the microwave for a couple of minutes. In this case, even the sharpest stubborn smell will disappear.

To squeeze juice from citrus fruits to the last drop, it is enough to warm them up for several minutes in the microwave, and then let them cool.

What's wrong with a microwave?

If you are interested in a microwave oven, the harm of which is confirmed by many studies, then it is worth noting that the frequency of this device coincides with the frequency of a mobile phone. At the moment, there are four main factors that speak in favor of the harm of this unit.

First of all, it should be noted that electromagnetic radiation, more precisely, its informational component, is harmful. In science, it is customary to call it a torsion field. Experiments have shown that electromagnetic radiation has a torsion component. It is these fields, according to most scientists, that pose a danger and harm to human health. The torsion field transmits to a person all negative information, from which irritations, headaches and insomnia, as well as other ailments, can begin.

It is important to remember the temperature, but this applies to a long time period with constant use of the microwave oven.

If the target is a microwave oven, the harm or benefit of which we are so interested in, then from the point of view of biology, it is the high-frequency radiation of the centimeter range that is most harmful to humans. Since it is from him that the electromagnetic radiation of the greatest intensity is obtained.

Microwaves lead to direct heating of the body, while only blood flow can reduce the degree of exposure. But there are organs, for example, the lens, in which there is not a single vessel. Therefore, exposure to microwave waves causes clouding of the lens and its destruction. Such changes are irreversible.

Since we do not see or hear electromagnetic radiation, and we do not clearly feel it, we cannot determine whether it was it that caused this or that human disease. The influence of such radiation does not appear immediately, but only when it accumulates, which makes it difficult to blame some device that a person has come into contact with for this.

So, if a microwave oven is considered, the characteristics of which are completely unimportant in this matter, then its effect on food should be studied. Electromagnetic radiation can cause the ionization of the molecules of a substance, that is, as a result of this, an electron can appear or be lost from an atom, which leads to a change in the structure of the substance itself.

Radiation causes the destruction of food molecules and their deformation. The microwave oven (whether or not its use is harmful to health is still being actively studied) creates new compounds that do not exist in nature. They are called radiolytics. And they, in turn, create molecular rot, which is a direct consequence of radiation.

Here are just a few facts to think about if you are interested in operating a microwave oven:

Meat cooked this way contains Nitrosodienthanolamines, which is a carcinogen;

In milk and cereal, many acids are converted into carcinogens;

When defrosting fruits in this way, their galactioids and glucosides turn into carcinogens;

Vegetable alkaloils, even with slight exposure, become carcinogens;

When processing plants, especially root crops, in a microwave oven, carcinogenic free radicals are formed;

The value of food is sometimes reduced by 90%;

Many vitamins lose their biological activity.

A microwave oven, reviews of which can be interesting and informative, is able to weaken the cells of our body with its microwave radiation. There is such a method of genetic engineering, when a cell is lightly irradiated with electromagnetic waves in order to penetrate it, and this leads to a weakening of the membranes. Since the cells can be said to be broken, the membranes no longer serve as an obstacle to viruses, fungi and other microorganisms, while the natural mechanism of self-healing is also suppressed.

The health risks of a microwave oven are the same as exposure to radiation. In this case, the radioactive decay of molecules occurs, after which new alloys are formed, unknown to nature.

The impact of microwave radiation on human health

Eating food that is cooked in a microwave oven leads to a gradual decrease in heart rate and pressure. This is followed by a period of nervousness and high blood pressure, headaches, eye pain, dizziness, irritability, insomnia, stomach pain, hair loss, inability to concentrate, reproductive problems. Sometimes even cancerous tumors appear. With heart disease and stress, all these symptoms are exacerbated.

What does the market offer?

The microwave oven, reviews of which you might like, is designed to provide maximum comfort, convenience and complete safety during use. On the Russian market there are devices of different brands and sizes. Thanks to the abundance of design solutions, you can choose a model that best suits your taste preferences. There are both simple solutions and multifunctional large-sized specimens.

Any microwave oven that suits your needs works on the same principle. The heating of the product evenly occurs due to its irradiation from all sides. Simple models are characterized by the fact that the product is in one place, and a microwave source rotates around it, while more advanced options suggest that directional microwave radiation is used, and the product is located on a special rotating tray.

A microwave oven, which may include a grill and forced air circulation, is a more complex device. In this case, the fan is usually placed behind the wall of the chamber. Grills are equipped with tubular heating elements. For steam cooking, the appliance can be equipped with special dishes. All models have a backlight that allows you to observe the cooking process.

Subtleties of choice and characteristics

While the microwave oven, which you may like reviews, can completely replace the traditional stove, it is usually purchased as an addition to existing equipment. Before choosing, you should determine your needs and capabilities. You need to decide what tasks you need to solve and how often: cook first courses, bake meat and poultry, defrost food, reheat, and so on. Do you need a traditional inexpensive appliance or a modern and elegant one? And all this is important when considering microwave ovens. How to choose one or another model is completely up to you.

Many customers prefer to use this appliance to defrost food and reheat food. These goals are easily achieved in simple microwave ovens, where only microwave radiation is used. Such equipment is usually purchased as an addition to a stove with an oven. So you can meet the requirements of dietary and fast food.

The size and design of the microwave oven will affect the amount of food and dishes that can be cooked at one time. The greatest demand is for appliances that are characterized by medium and small dimensions, as well as the presence of a grill. With the help of this option, food is not only heated, but also brought to condition. Such solutions meet the needs of small families with a limited budget.

An important parameter is the volume of the chamber. Usually, the more functions a device has, the larger it is. Microwave power is another point to keep in mind. It is she who affects the speed of cooking. Management should be clear, but at the same time functional enough.

It is desirable that the kit includes a set of necessary accessories. Then working with the device will be much easier. The choice of a particular brand is a personal matter for everyone, and it all depends on preferences.

If we talk about reviews of microwave ovens, then here, as elsewhere, you can find different opinions. But most agree on the usefulness of such a kitchen appliance as an assistant if you need to reheat, defrost, and also quickly cook something. Grill models are more popular, as the food in them turns out to be more appetizing in appearance.

In general, a microwave oven, the photo of which you can take yourself, should be the way you want it. In the sense that the choice of a particular model depends entirely on your preferences.