Is microwave harmful to human health? Common myths about the dangers of microwaves and real facts

A microwave oven is a household appliance that allows you to heat-treat food using microwaves. These are conventional radio waves with a frequency of 2450 MHz. Microwaves, penetrating into the product, cause the molecules of the product to vibrate. To be more precise, not all molecules vibrate, but only water molecules. This results in heating food products, since water is contained in any of them. No significant changes occur in the product itself, so food from the microwave is not at all harmful, and even useful - unlike, for example, frying in oil, in which, under the action of high temperatures carcinogens are produced.

Is Microwave Food Harmful or Healthy?

The latest research by scientists and expert comments will help us figure this out.

When microwave ovens first appeared on Russian market, along with them immediately arose a horror story: "Microwave food causes cancer." There were also scarecrows that microwaves affect intrauterine development child, causing pathological changes. That food from the microwave is simply overflowing with carcinogens ...

According to the latest market research household appliances, every fifth family of Russians has microwave ovens. And in the US, only 10 people do not have microwave ovens. When buying, sales consultants assure that “this oven model” is shielded from radiation and is completely safe for health. So, is there still a danger?

Don't put your hands in the oven!

- Well, of course there is, - says the director of the test center TEST-BET Oleg DRONITSKY. - Putting your hand in the microwave will burn you. As, however, in a conventional oven. Only now you are unlikely to succeed in trying to fry in the microwave. Because everything modern models are equipped not only with a lock when the stove is in operation, but also with protection against children when the device is turned off.

The operation of a microwave oven uses radio waves, as in a conventional receiver, only much more powerful and of a different frequency. Every day we are exposed to radio waves of various frequencies - from cell phones, televisions, computers, etc. Waves in the microwave directed at food bind protein, which also happens when boiling. After the end of work, no residual radiation remains in the food. That is, in fact, food from the microwave is just as harmful as food cooked on a conventional stove.

Yes, microwave radiation in its pure form can affect a person, up to a serious burn. But microwaves are equipped with a special metal mesh through which the radiation does not pass. So the harm will be noticeable only if for eight hours every day the tester of this harm is at a distance of 5 cm from the microwave. Only at this distance can one partially catch the harmful microwaves breaking through from the microwave.

IMPORTANT!

In Russia, there are sanitary standards - "Maximum permissible levels of energy flux density generated by microwave ovens" (SN No. 2666-83). According to them, the value of the energy flux density of the electromagnetic field should not exceed 10 μW / cm2 at a distance of 50 cm from any point of the furnace body when 1 liter of water is heated. Almost all new modern microwave ovens meet this safety requirement by a large margin.

KO MENTARY GASTROENTEROLOGIST

Food is like steam

“I can’t say that microwave ovens are absolutely safe,” says gastroenterologist Galina SAMOILOVA. - But the fact that food from the microwave becomes carcinogenic is complete nonsense. It can be carcinogenic if it originally contained harmful substances. But in the process of cooking, they will not be able to form.

BY THE WAY

Microwaves will cure arrhythmia?

Australian scientists have developed a method that allows you to heat the desired parts of the heart to 55 degrees in a few seconds. The temperature destroys the damaged areas, blocking the propagation of the "wrong" heart impulses.

“The same way a microwave oven heats meat. Only in our case, the area of ​​action of microwaves is much more accurate, and local heating is recorded and controlled, the scientists explained.

Opinions of scientists: "for" and "against"

American scientists say that thanks to microwaves in America, the incidence of stomach cancer has decreased. This is because no oil is added to microwaved food. And the cooking method resembles the most gentle - steam.

Microwaves also retain vitamins and minerals in food twice as well due to the short cooking time. The Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Sciences calculated that when cooking on the stove, up to 60 vitamin C is destroyed. And under the influence of microwaves, only from 2 to 25 percent.

But Spanish scientists, on the contrary, argue with indignation that broccoli cooked in the microwave loses up to 98 percent of its vitamins and minerals.

In 1989, the Swiss biologist Hertel, together with Professor Bernard Blank, tried to investigate the effect of microwave food on humans. Since they were not given money for a full-scale study, the scientists limited themselves to one experimental person, who took turns eating food cooked on the stove, and then in the microwave. Scientists assured that after a microwave meal in the blood of the experimental subject, changes occurred that resembled the beginning of a pathological process, that is, cancer. In other words, the number of leukocytes increased. Therefore, regularly eating food from the microwave could lead to blood cancer, the scientists assured. But their words were not heeded.

And this year, the World Health Organization issued a verdict: microwaves use radiation that does not harmful influence neither per person nor food. The only "but": implanted cardiac pacemakers can be sensitive to the intensity of the microwave flow. Therefore, WHO recommends that those who have pacemakers avoid cell phones and microwaves.

A microwave oven can do almost everything: defrost meat, bake fish, cook grilled chicken. It is very convenient - there is no dispute. But talk about the dangers of microwaves does not subside.

Microwave ovens have become indispensable helpers for many. Those who have children no longer have to worry about the child, who will now warm up his own dinner without turning on the stove. And it has become much easier and faster for very tired adults to warm up their dinner, returning from work late. Fast defrosting is another plus. With the help of a microwave, food can be thawed many times faster. Inner surface microwaves are made of stainless steel or ceramics. Both surfaces are easy to clean. In addition, the energy consumption of microwave ovens is almost half that of electric stoves. It is not necessary to buy special dishes for microwaves. The one you already have in your kitchen will do. The main thing is that it does not have any metal finish.

However, with the advent of microwaves in almost every home, endless debate began that such useful household appliances could be harmful to health. Naturally, it was about the dangers of the rays, with the help of which the stove heats food, for human health.

Here it is necessary to understand exactly what processes occur when the products are heated. The microwave emits conventional radio waves at a frequency of 2450 MHz, which penetrate the product and cause the water molecules it contains to vibrate. As a result of these vibrations, heat is created. After the end of the work, the waves cannot remain in the product itself. So food cooked in a microwave can't be harmful. And compared to food fried in oil, food cooked in the microwave is even healthy. Waves can harm the health of a person or any other creature only with a direct impact on some part of his body. Therefore, you will not find a microwave that can work with the door open. Also, the glass on the microwave oven doors is covered with a metal mesh, which absorbs the waves and prevents them from affecting anything outside the microwave oven. But experts still recommend buying the latest models of microwave ovens, and if you use a very old model, they recommend replacing it. So there is nothing to be afraid of - feel free to buy a microwave oven. It will save you a lot of time and help you prepare delicious meals quickly and conveniently.

There is a concern that cooking with microwaves is detrimental to health. This opinion is not without foundation. Need to figure out what's wrong microwave oven for human health, to separate truth from fiction and learn about the possibilities to neutralize this influence.

THE COMING OF THE MICROWAVE OVEN

The invention of the microwave oven belongs to the Germans. The device was invented in wartime and significantly saved the time for the Germans to feed the soldiers. Later studies of the influence of the microwave oven were discovered, documented by the Germans. After a thorough study of this information in the USSR, the use of microwave ovens was temporarily prohibited. The ban was related to the discovery hazardous substances formed as a result of the influence of microwaves. Other countries have introduced serious restrictions on the use of such ovens.

ESSENCE OF MICROWAVE RADIATION

The process of heat treatment of products is designed to break down complex organic compounds into more simple elements for better absorption by the human body. The microwave oven is very simple. In addition to the control system, it has a high-voltage transformer for generating voltage and a magnetron that converts electricity into ultra-high frequencies of the magnetic field.

Microwave radiation is one of the varieties of electromagnetic energy, which, by its effect on the product, causes it to heat up. The wavelength of microwave radiation is about 2450 mg (megahertz). This frequency allows the radiation to penetrate a few centimeters into the body. This is enough to get internal burns, to which the body is not adapted. The eyes and ovaries are especially affected due to low blood flow in these areas. After all, blood circulation plays a cooling function. The effects on the eyes are irreversible. Therefore, it is so important to observe safety precautions.

IMPACT ON FOOD

Microwaves affect the molecular structure of water, fat and sugar. The atoms of these substances under the influence of microwaves begin to rotate intensively, developing a frequency of millions of revolutions per second. At the same time, their polarity undergoes changes at a high rate, leading to a change in the structure of molecules. As a result of molecular friction, food is heated.

There is a violation of the molecular structure of food products with the formation of isomers. DNA is damaged, and the body does not recognize this food. There is a protective reaction in the form of enveloping it with fat cells, eliminating it. Altered amino acids are converted into toxic forms.

The first clinical study was conducted by Dr. Hertel. On the example of several volunteers, he obtained evidence of a change in the nutritional value of food after microwave treatment. A blood test was also done. After the experiment, it was found that cooking in the usual way does not cause negative changes in the blood. Volunteers eating microwaved food experienced a decrease in blood hemoglobin and an increase in cholesterol. In addition, the number of leukocytes increased.

The microwave oven forms new, non-natural compounds called radiolytic. They lead to the formation of molecular rot due to exposure to radiation. The human body has an electrochemical nature, so the concerns of scientists are justified.

As a result of research, Russian scientists came to the conclusion that all food products that passed through a microwave oven turned out to be carcinogens. Some of their research findings are:

• the carcinogen d Nitrosodienthanolamines has been formed in the meat;
• several types of amino acids in the composition of milk and grain products have been converted into carcinogens;
• when fruits are defrosted, glucoside galactoside is transformed into carcinogenic substances;
• alkaloids of vegetables that have undergone even minor microwave treatment are also converted into carcinogens;
• influence on vegetable products, in particular root crops, forms carcinogenic free radicals;
• the nutritional value of foods decreased from the influence of microwaves by sixty and even ninety percent.

Of the main consequences of eating food that has undergone heat treatment with microwaves, it should be noted the degeneration of the immune system. An increase in the proportion of cancer cells in the blood. The appearance of free radicals during microwave processing of vegetables provokes an increase in the risk of cancer. Problems of the digestive system, destruction of intestinal and peripheral tissues up to the development of cancer.

Even just being near a working microwave oven is a significant health hazard. There is a change in the electrical impulses of the brain, the destruction of cell membranes, the deterioration of the composition of the blood and lymphatic system, the weakening of the centers of the autonomic nervous system.

In genetic engineering, to penetrate inside the cell, it is irradiated with electromagnetic waves to weaken the membranes. Destroyed food cells create conditions for the penetration of fungi and viruses through the membranes. Minerals and vitamins change their structure under the influence of microwave radiation and are not absorbed by the body.

If you conduct a home experiment, you can clearly see the veracity of the above. It is enough to plant two identical plants in pots and water them with water. One of the plants should receive water boiled in a microwave oven, and the second should receive water boiled on the stove. A week later, the first plant dies. There is also a case that happened in the hospital with one of the nurses. She just did a blood warmer in the microwave for one of the patients. Transfusion of such blood resulted in death.

DANGER FOR CHILDREN

Mother's milk and infant formula contain some of the amino acids L-proline. Microwave irradiation converts them into d-isomers, which have neurotoxic and nephrotoxic effects. They can destroy the nervous system and kidneys. Today's children are increasingly fed artificial mother's milk substitutes, which do not benefit the child. And under the influence of a microwave oven, such food acquires completely toxic properties.

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES

If getting rid of the microwave oven is problematic, then you need to try to protect yourself by any possible ways. After all, the quality of furnace protection can be questionable, as well as compliance with established standards. When the microwave oven is in operation, it is recommended to leave the kitchen and not to stand next to the appliance. After the signal sounds that the food is ready, you can safely approach the microwave oven. Using the weak mode will reduce the level of radiation.

When the door is opened, a protection is usually activated that turns off the magnetron. But if there is a failure in the protection, then the radiation from the generator will bring significant harm to health. However, microwaves are also able to seep through any gap formed, for example, due to soot on the door. Therefore, the microwave oven requires attention and care.

Microwave oven manufacturers talk about the safety of their products. Therefore, there is no general opinion about the dangers of exposure to microwave radiation. However, the scientific evidence has actual evidence of the health risks of microwaves. The human body has an electrochemical nature, so the concerns of scientists are justified. What to choose, convenience or health, everyone has the right to decide independently. But at the same time, one should not forget that the health of children depends on the decisions of adults.

A microwave oven is a handy and compact device, thanks to which we heat up food quickly and easily, as well as cook food even without using oil.

For some reason, people have always been wary of all innovations, and since its inception, the microwave has been overgrown with speculation about the dangers to human health. Next, we'll see if it's dangerous Negative influence our kitchen helper on the body.

Myths and fiction around the microwave oven

Reference: in a microwave oven, heating occurs much faster, which means that less nutrients are lost.

Expert opinion: "You can warm up!"

To the question: is a microwave oven harmful to human health, Oleg Dronisky, director of the TEST-BET test center, reacted with humor. He joked that this device is very dangerous if you stick your hand into it. And he immediately made a reservation that it would not work to get burned even in such an absurd case - modern technology is equipped with blocking protection against children even when the electrical appliance is turned off.

Oleg Dronitsky explains that food cooked or heated in the microwave, according to the degree harmful substances is no different from food from a regular frying pan or pan. The radiation of waves is really harmful for the body, however, if a person stands idle for 8 hours at a distance of 5 cm from the microwave. And then, harmful microwaves affect only partially.

On a note: under current sanitary standards in Russia, the density of radiated energy should not exceed 10 μW per 1 sq. cm at a distance of 50 cm from the microwave when heating 1 liter of water. All manufactured models fully comply with the required regulations with a large margin.

The opinions of scientists are divided - some trumpet the unacceptability of the use of microwaves, others, on the contrary, about its exceptional benefits. For example, American researchers believe that thanks to a gentle cooking method without oil, the percentage of cancer cases has decreased in the United States.

In contrast, in Sweden, biologist Hertel and Professor Bernard Blank tried to prove an increase in white blood cells through the use of microwaves. But their experience was incompetent, because due to the lack of money for research, scientists limited themselves to only one test subject.

The official WHO verdict has now been issued, based on scientific evidence: microwave ovens do not have a harmful effect on the human body and the food consumed.

Important: the only exception is people with pacemakers, since the flow of intense microwaves negatively affects the work of pacemakers.

What do nutritionists and doctors say?

Many diet experts believe that it is impossible to cook healthy food in the microwave. But nutritionists also consider it unacceptable to cook in a pan or in a saucepan. The best option cooking healthy food for nutritionists is using a slow cooker or steamer.

Compare microwave radiation with other household appliances

A microwave oven, of course, gives out a certain percentage of harmful effects on a person, but is it so dangerous compared to other irreplaceable technical attributes in the house? Let's look at a few examples:

• Fridge with NO FROST system. 10cm Compressor produces an intensity of a magnetic field that is much higher than the permissible level. Security is provided only at a distance of a meter from the door.
• electric stove. At a distance of 25 cm from the front panel - already high magnetic field intensity(1–3 μT). Cooking is recommended, moving away at least 50 cm from the stove.
• Electric kettles. Also publish high radiation within a radius of 20 cm - 0.6 μT.
• Irons. It is impossible not to succumb to the negative influence of radiation during ironing - appliances publish magnetic fields exceeding 0.2 μT if the hand is less than 25 cm from the iron.
• Washing machine. You should not approach such a working technique at all - (10 μT).
• Vacuum cleaner. This the most powerful harmful emitter. During operation, the intensity of magnetic fields exceeds 100 μT.

When using a microwave oven, harmful radiation is emitted (about 0.3 - 0.8 μT), comparable to the negative effect of a Wi-fi router or TV. But microwaves are equipped with a special protective barrier through which it is impossible to penetrate radioactive waves in excess of the allowable limits.

Harm or benefit

In use of the microwave much more pros than cons:

• deep heating in the oven - up to 2.5 cm from the surface;
• warming up is significant faster;
• uniform heating products;
• cooking food at a lower temperature(below 100 degrees);
• convenience and comfort.

The disadvantages include only the loss of some substances necessary for the treatment of oncology. In particular, it is better to add garlic after removing the dish from the microwave, as it loses its beneficial properties.

Problems with microwave leakage were observed in older models of microwaves. Modern designs have undergone improved modernization and are absolutely safe for health. The only exception is damaged devices Therefore, you should carefully consider the technical condition of the microwave oven. If the door is not sufficiently insulated, the percentage of radiation may increase several times, so it is recommended to exclude such devices from use.

must be adhered to the following rules to minimize possible harm from the microwave:

1. Install the device in a strictly horizontal position at a distance of a meter from the floor surface.
2. enjoy ventilation system.
3. Do not use the microwave oven to cook raw eggs in the shell.
4. Do not use utensils or containers containing metal.
5. Do not include without products.
6. Discard the faulty microwave.

The microwave oven has a large list of advantages. Of the shortcomings, only the unproven effect of radiation can be identified, as well as the loss of some useful vitamins. The main advantage is the economical use of time will allow the microwave to remain at the peak of popularity among household appliances for heating and cooking for a long time.

The benefits and harms of a microwave oven lie in the microwaves that it emits during operation. Electromagnetic waves are emitted by all objects powered by mains voltage. Refrigerators and microwave ovens are considered the most powerful in terms of radiation.

The opinions of scientists regarding the harm of a microwave oven are divided.

The history of the microwave

The microwave oven was invented in 1946. An American scientist named Percy Spencer worked on microwave radar. Once he experimented on a magnetron. After the experiment, he found a melted piece of chocolate in his pocket.

He repeated the experiment on food, putting a sandwich on the magnetron. The product has warmed up. In 1947 he patented his invention. Useful properties of electromagnetic radiation have been discovered. This is a quick reheat meal.

The first microwave ovens were released in the same year. They did not go into mass production, but were used to defrost food in the soldiers' canteens.

The first household stoves weighed 350 kg and reached a height of 1.8 meters. Power up to 3000 W, they worked on water cooling.

The first domestic microwave oven was produced in 1955 by the Tappan Company. Demand for such furnaces was weak. In the USSR, microwave ovens began to be produced after 1980 by the ZIL and Elektropribor companies.

How does a microwave oven work

Microwave ovens use the useful properties of the 2450 MHz wave, which is set by international standards. It does not interfere with the operation of other devices that operate due to microwaves.

From the course of physics it is known that electromagnetic waves tend to propagate at a speed of 300 thousand km / s. Based on the data, we can calculate that the wavelength of the microwave is 12.25 cm. This will be the first refutation of the theory that the waves from the microwave oven hit 1.5 km, irradiating everything in its path.

Now about the waves that affect the heating of food.

Food, be it pieces of meat, fish, contains dipole molecules. Food molecules have a positive charge on one end and a negative charge on the other. When acting on them electric field they line up strictly in the direction of the field lines of force. When the poles of an electric field change, dipole molecules change poles.

1 MHz is a million oscillations per second. That is, dipole molecules, like the electromagnetic field in the microwave, will change their poles so many times. At a microwave frequency of 2450 MHz, the microwave oven is turned on, the molecules endlessly change poles, rub against each other. Friction heats up.

Is a microwave useful?

Microwave ovens have useful properties giving them huge advantages over gas stoves:

• reheat food quickly
• cook, defrost semi-finished products;
• small sizes;
• ease of use;
• safety for children.

Interestingly, radiation of this frequency is used in the treatment of human diseases, helping:

• heal wounds;
• give an anti-inflammatory effect.

In addition, microwaves do not have any radioactive effect on a person in the vicinity of the device. Proponents of the fact that the microwave oven is not hazardous to health argue that the radiation created in it cannot escape due to the shell in which the oven is dressed.

The opinions of scientists about the benefits and harms of heating food in the microwave also differ.

Food from the microwave: benefit or harm

Before talking about the dangers and health benefits of a microwave oven, about the properties of food cooked in it, it is necessary to understand how food is heated.

On a regular fire, food is heated from below. In the microwave, it heats up on both sides. The movement of molecules becomes chaotic with prolonged heating.

With strong heating, vitamins are destroyed, proteins are denatured. Protein denaturation is not harmful to the body: it is the purpose of heat treatment.

Some bacteria, such as Salmonella, which has high survivability properties, are not killed at a heating temperature that rarely reaches 100 degrees.

The harm of heating in the microwave will only be inflicted on health if the food is in plastic. When the temperature rises, the properties of plastic are released into the atmosphere chemical substances can be harmful if ingested.

Is microwave harmful to human health?

Useful properties of the microwave were listed earlier. But there are some signs that indicate the properties of the furnace that have a negative effect on the body.

Effect on blood composition

Electromagnetic waves affect the human body through cooking and eating food from the microwave. They change the composition of the blood:

• reducing hemoglobin;
• increasing the number of white blood cells;
• by changing the composition of “good” high-density cholesterol (HDL) to “bad” low-density cholesterol (LDL), which contributes to the formation of plaque in the vessels.

Studies have proven the harm of microwave oven radiation on milk mixtures heated in them. Electromagnetic vibrations change the composition of milk. L-proline acids are converted to d-isomers. The latter are toxic, destroy the nervous system, and are poisonous to the kidneys.

Effect on protein

The radiation deforms the protein and changes its properties. Meat after cooking in a microwave oven contains carcinogens. Some dairy products and cereals also become rich in carcinogens when heated.

Microwave radiation denatures the protein. Leads to loss of solubility and hydrophilicity.

Weakening of the body

When food is heated in the microwave, the cell membrane of the food pieces is weakened. Food is easily contaminated with viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms. This can lead to the formation of rot, which is harmful to our body.

When exposed to a person, radiation suppresses the natural mechanism of cell repair, suppressing the immune system. Therefore, you should not stay near the operating microwave ovens for a long time.

The harm from food from a microwave oven that a person receives does not act instantly. It can accumulate in the body for up to fifteen years, and then manifest itself in various diseases.

The benefits and harms of a microwave oven according to scientists

Opinions on the benefits of food from the microwave among scientists differed: some consider the data on the dangers of the microwave unproven, others are closely studying all the harmful properties of the oven radiation. So, the journal "Earthletter" provides scientific facts about the properties of the microwave that can cause harm, according to studies conducted in 1991:

• deterioration in the quality of food;
• conversion of amino acids and other compounds into carcinogenic and toxic substances;
• reduction in the nutritional value of root crops.

Russian scientists also found that the nutritional value of food is reduced by 80%. According to scientists Russian Federation, heating food with a microwave, defrosting meat with its help leads to the following problems:

• violation of the composition of the blood and the functioning of the human lymphatic system;
• violation of the stability of cell membranes;
• slowing down the flow of signals from the nerves to the brain;
• disintegration of nerve cells, leading to a loss of energy of the central and autonomic nervous system.

Researchers note that microwave-cooked food has a low pH, which upsets the acid-base balance towards acidification of the internal environment of the body.

Is it possible to heat food in the microwave for a child

Quick heating of food baby food not in the microwave can destroy all of its useful and necessary vitamins and minerals for the child. Milk mixtures, which are similar in composition to mother's breast milk, should not be exposed to electromagnetic radiation, which destroys the structure of the mixture and destroys vitamins.

Reasonable precautions must be taken, considering that:

• the final conclusion of scientists that the microwave oven causes cancer is not made;
• electromagnetic waves cause food molecules to rotate at a high speed, therefore it is recommended to heat baby food correctly: do not turn it on at full power and heat it up in short stages: heat it up, mix it up and heat it up again;
• too frequent use of the microwave is not recommended.

How to test a microwave for radiation

There will be no benefit from microwave ovens if there are holes in the protective shell of the device, which will undoubtedly harm the burn.

Radiation escaping from under the device's shell can seriously burn the owner who is nearby. Therefore, those microwaves that last more than three years should be tested for radiation. And with microwave ovens older than 9 years, it’s better to say goodbye altogether.

Radiation test steps (this can be done at home):

1. Find a fluorescent lamp or neon light bulb "NE-2". You can use special home tests.
2. Put out the lights everywhere. Test at night.
3. Put a glass of water inside and turn it on for 2 minutes.
4. During operation, drive a light bulb along the body of the device at a distance of 5 centimeters above the surface.
5. When radiation breaks through the case, the luminescent dump will glow, while the neon one will light up with a bright light.

Important! A microwave with radiation leakage is best disposed of.

How to use the microwave

People do not think about how to properly use electrical appliances. But their lives, as well as those of their household and neighbors, depend on it. Therefore, before using the microwave, it is useful to follow the safety rules:

1. Read the instructions for using the microwave oven.
2. Before turning on the purchased oven, install it on level ground.
3. Connect to network. Put only the dishes that are recommended by the instructions.
4. Unplug the appliance before leaving home.
5. The useful life of microwaves: expensive ones will last from five to 10 years, cheap ones - up to 3 years.
6. Regularly clean the inside and outside of the microwave, after unplugging it from the mains.
7. Wash warm water with liquid soap.
8. Turn on only after natural drying.

Microwave utensils

Not all utensils are suitable for use in the microwave. metal utensils does not pass waves, because of which the furnace may fail.

Dishes that are not suitable for the microwave oven:

• Cast iron, copper, brass. Spark discharges formed when electric waves strike metal surface, damage the inside of the microwave;
• Porcelain or glass with a pattern. The paint contains metal impurities, so electromagnetic waves, touching the drawing, will create sparks, which can also damage the oven;
• Crystal also contains particles of lead, silver, its surface is inhomogeneous, which can lead to an explosion of dishes inside the microwave;
• Plastic and cardboard. Waxed cardboard does not transmit electromagnetic waves;
• Aluminum utensils.

• porcelain without drawing;
• faience, without drawing;
• ceramic, if glazed.

How to choose a microwave for your home

When choosing a microwave for your home, you need to decide on the volume:

• ovens up to 20 l are suitable for defrosting, heating products;
• from 20 to 25 liters - for a family of about 4 people: this oven has a grill function;
• from 25 liters are suitable for large families.

The next guideline should be power:

• less than 800 watts is suitable for heating food;
• over 800 watts up to 1500 watts - for grilling, cooking.

Microwave control can be push-button, touch, mechanical. Mechanical - the easiest way to control the furnace.

In addition to heating and defrosting food in the microwave, there may be various functions:

• protection from children;
• steam cleaning;
• odor removal;
• keeping food warm.

The choice depends on the desires and requests of the future owner.

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of a microwave oven are a topic that is controversial due to the lack of an official conclusion about the health hazards of the device. From the available information, it can be concluded that the microwave oven is conditionally useful for quickly heating food. It has been proven that cooking certain foods in microwave ovens can harm the body. Therefore, the choice in favor of microwave cooking lies with consumers.

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Microwave ovens have become a staple in the kitchen. However, during their entire existence, many questions have arisen about the dangers of food from the microwave. Every now and then, the results of research by scientists from different countries, which claim that food heated or cooked in a microwave oven causes irreparable harm to the human body. True, there is an opposite opinion that all these "horror stories" about the harm of microwaves are nothing more than rumors and speculation.

Instruction

1. Microwave ovens were invented in Nazi Germany. After the end of the war, the Allies found recordings of microwave research and they were transferred to the US for further study and development. In the Soviet Union, the biological effects of microwaves were also studied. The result is a temporary ban on their use. Eastern European partners also imposed a ban on the production and operation of microwave ovens.
2. Microwaves are a form of electromagnetic energy, just like light or radio waves. They move through space at the speed of light. The microwave oven causes decay and changes in the molecular structure of products during the radiation process. In the modern world, microwaves are used not only in ovens, but also in the transmission of a television signal, ensure the operation of the Internet and telephone communications.
3. Interesting fact. During the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, the inhabitants of Belgrade, on the recommendation of Russian scientists, shot down cruise missiles using microwave ovens. During the air raid signal, they carried the included microwaves to the balconies, opened the doors, squeezed out the blocking terminal with their finger and directed it at the rocket. As a result - a failure in the electronics, and the rocket fell. One can imagine what will happen in an apartment where a microwave oven works even with very small cracks in the case. By the way, the microwave beam shoots for 1.5 km and can pass through the walls of the house.
4. There are scientific studies that products under the influence of microwaves change their structure at the molecular level and turn food into a powerful carcinogen. Frequent consumption of food from microwave ovens increases the risk of cancer.
5. In 1989, Swiss biologist Hertel and Professor Blank investigated the effects of microwaved food on humans. The subject took turns eating food from the microwave oven and cooked on a conventional stove. During the study, it turned out that after a microwave meal, changes began to occur in the blood of this person, which resembled the onset of cancer.
6. In 1991, Earthletter magazine published an article by Dr. Lita Lee, which stated that absolutely all microwaves have leakage of magnetic radiation, degrade the quality of food and make it unhealthy.
7. In traditional cooking, food is heated in the usual way - from the outside to the inside. When using a microwave, everything happens unnaturally: the heating process occurs from the inside. As a result, food that has been exposed to microwaves is devoid of natural energy. By the way, and it cools somehow strange.
8. Another danger when using a microwave occurs when choosing the wrong dishes for the microwave. It must necessarily be made of special heat-resistant glass, which best transmits the radiation of the oven and cooks faster. Under no circumstances should plastic containers be used. Under the influence of waves, plastic begins to release dangerous toxins that can even cause acute food poisoning.
9. It is better to buy a microwave oven from reputable manufacturers. Large companies strictly monitor safety parameters and control the level of radiation.
10. A microwave oven is a source of radiation, so when it is turned on, you should not be at the end of the stove, especially pregnant women and people with heart disease.
11. It is risky to feed babies with breast milk or formula heated in the microwave. Some of the acids that make up milk under the influence of microwaves are converted into compounds that deform the nervous system and are poisonous to the kidneys.
12. The harm from the microwave oven is not fully confirmed by the scientific community. Massively, people began to use microwave ovens relatively recently, and so far there are no time-proven results.
13. In order to protect yourself and your loved ones as much as possible, you need to use the microwave oven only in exceptional cases, strictly according to the instructions and do not forget about safety measures.

Microwave oven: harm. Microwave ovens: reviews, specifications

On this 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, the 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 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.

Harm similar way 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 food that has undergone such processing, the molecules contain microwave energy, which is not present in products 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, none State University in the United States of America did not conduct a study on how food modified 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 the almonds if you put them in boiling water, and then warm them for half a minute in the oven for 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.

Can be spared cutting boards from bad smell. 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 design solutions You can choose the 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, and more advanced options suggest that directional microwave radiation is used, and the product is located on a special rotating tray.

Microwave oven, the scheme of which may include a grill and forced circulation air, 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

Despite the fact that a microwave oven, reviews of which you may like, can completely replace the traditional cooker, 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 entirely 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.

Microwave oven - the harm and benefits of a household appliance

Compact, practical and easy to use, the microwave oven has long been a familiar kitchen appliance for us, along with a refrigerator, oven or TV. Moreover, it is so familiar that in its absence, for example, in the country, we often wonder how to defrost this or that product, cook a dish without oil, or simply warm up the food brought from home.

It would seem that the benefits of a microwave oven are enormous. Convenient and functional device greatly facilitates everyday life modern hostess, and any person who does not have a lot of free time in his stock and who wants to spend any minute on something more interesting than standing by the stove and a long cooking process. However, the debate of scientists regarding the effect of a microwave oven on the human body has not subsided for many years. And their reason lies in the principle of operation of the device and the effect that the waves emitted by the device have on food.

Let's see what the work of these kitchen assistants is based on, what rules must be followed during their operation, and what are the basis for the assertions that the harm they cause to our body is simply enormous?

The benefits of a microwave oven

We already mentioned the benefits of a microwave oven at the very beginning of our article. Those who constantly use this unit loudly claim that it is fast and convenient. Take, for example, a simple heating of food - on the stove it will take two or three times longer, and it will not be possible to do it without oil. But it is the heat-treated oil that is the source of carcinogens that cause great harm to the gastrointestinal tract of any person.

In addition, spending less time on heating food, save useful material and vitamins, it would seem, is not so difficult. But can there be any benefit in food that has changed its molecular structure and turned into completely new compounds unknown to our body? Transforming into unnatural forms, food loses all useful components, and the body simply stops absorbing it. Why? You can answer this question by understanding the principle of the microwave oven.

The operation of the furnace is based on the action of a powerful magnetron, which allows you to convert ordinary electricity into powerful electric field, which has an ultra-high frequency - 2450 MHz. It is thanks to this field that the products placed in the microwave are quickly heated. Reflected from the inner, made of metal, coating of the device body, the waves emitted by it evenly affect the food from all sides. Their speed is comparable to the speed of light, and the periodicity of the charge is changed by a magnetron, which is a prerequisite for the contact of microfrequencies and water molecules in food.

Upon encountering these molecules, the microwaves cause them to rotate at a tremendous frequency - millions of times per second, creating molecular friction and at the same time causing great damage to the food molecules, deforming and tearing them. In other words, microwave (super high frequency) waves change the structure of food at the molecular level, thereby causing irreparable harm to our already weakened by negative external factors body.

What is the harm of microwave radiation

Radiation is also considered dangerous because powerful waves can affect a person who is near a working device, especially if for some reason it is faulty or has damage to the case. Of course, the developers of microwave ovens claim that these kitchen helpers are absolutely safe, and the hermetic case and the door with a special mesh protect people from the damaging effects of microwave rays, but even microcracks, not to mention more serious violations of the integrity of the unit, do not prevent waves from coming out.

Microwave food. Benefit or harm?