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Because we, at Wellness Within,
are concerned with the health of our patients and their families,
we feel a responsibility to research and then inform, educate our
patients and especially our mothers who influence the health of their
families. It is in this spirit of awareness and education that we
share information we consider vital to current and future generations.
Microwave Ovens Reconsidered
James M. Haig, N.C.
They are unquestionably convenient and almost impossible to avoid,
but
microwave ovens have always been shadowed by controversy. Despite
the many serious health issues posed by microwaves, few people are
aware of their potential dangers.
One study that did recently receive national press coverage found
that broccoli cooked in a microwave oven lost almost all of its antioxidants
(a stunning 97% depletion), compared to 11% lost by conventional steaming.
Given that the antioxidants in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables
(cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and cabbage) are known to have powerful
anticancer effects (in part by modulating estrogen metabolism), this
is indeed a serious loss./ This reaffirms an earlier Russian study
showing a 60 -90% decrease in food value in microwaved foods.
Bad though this is, however, it may pale by comparison with some
of the
other problems conducted by Dr. Hans Hertel, which was suppressed
by several years of legal maneuvering by a powerful electrical appliance
trade organization, found a decreased number of red blood cells and
of their oxygen bearing hemoglobin content, in people eating microwaved
foods, along with increased cholesterol levels. Even more troubling
is the creation in these foods of radiolytic compounds hitherto unknown
in nature, the effects of which on the human body remain completely
unknown.
The piece de resistance of this same study, however, was its report
of an
increased number of leukocytes, or white blood cells, present in the
body after the ingestion of microwaved foods. White blood cells are
the foot soldiers of the immune system, so what this suggests is that
the body perceived the microwaved food as an invader, or toxin, rather
than as nourishment. Perhaps the reason for this may have to do with
the way microwaves restructure food molecules. The party line is that
microwave ovens produce a type of electromagnetic energy similar to
that naturally produced by the sun; but solar microwaves generate
direct current (DC) while microwave ovens rely on alternating current
(AC) to create heat by molecular friction or agitation.
Protein is made up of building blocks called amino acids. These amino
acids can be found in two forms: those with a levo or left-handed
molecular spin and those with a dextro or right-handed molecular spin.
Most amino acids are toxic in their dextro form, and are not generally
found this way in nature. But another study from earlier this year
reported that microwaving does indeed reverse the molecular spin on
at least one amino acid (the only one studied), changing it from the
benign levo form to the toxic dextro form. This may very well be the
reason behind the Swiss discovery of the immune response mounted by
the body following the ingestion of microwaved foods, as well as the
Russian report detailing the presence of numerous carcinogenic substances
in such food.
In addition to the worrisome concerns over how the microwaving process
alters food chemistry, microwave ovens also generate a large and powerful
electromagnetic field when in use. This field, which can extend as
far as six to eight feet from the appliance, has the potential to
damage the DNA of any biological system that it contacts, and at the
very least would be expected to set off a cascade of rampaging free
radicals, dangerous molecules missing an electron that steal electrons
from otherwise healthy tissues, damaging them, sometimes irreparably,
in the process. Because of this, it is extremely unwise to stand near
a microwave oven when it is in use, and children in particular should
be instructed in no uncertain terms to stay away from them. While
technology can indeed offer us tremendous
benefits, we would be foolish to ignore the very serious risks that
microwave
ovens pose to our health in favor of mere convenience. Plenty of other
alternatives exist, including quick-heating toaster ovens.
Follows is a note from another research center here in the states
that makes
published notice of problems with plastics in general and in particular
in relation to microwaves. I would add here that the soft plastics
that the small drinking bottles for water and sodas are known to off
gas causing xeno-estrogens in both men, women and children. The heating
of these plastics while stored in hot warehouses, while being transported
in metal trucks in summer heat, etc. causes greater off gassing of
these xeno-estrogens. The hard polymer plastics are not thought to
have this problem, so for now, better buy your good mineral water
in hard plastic or glass.
JOHNS HOPKINS CANCER INSTITUTE INFORMATION:
Johns Hopkins Hospital recently sent the following information in
their
newsletters.
Dioxin are carcinogens and are known to cause cancer, especially
breast
cancer. To avoid putting dioxin in your body, be aware of the following:
1. Don’t freeze your plastic water bottles with water as this
releases dioxin in the plastic into the water you drink.
2. Do not heat food in the microwave using plastic containers. This
applies
to foods that contain fat, since the combination of fat, high heat
and plastics
releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the
body.
3. When plastic wrap is placed over foods and then microwaved, it
actually
drips poisonous toxins into the food. Instead, it is recommended
that glass,
Corningware, or ceramic containers be used for heating food in microwave
ovens.
You get the same results, without the dioxin. (NOTE: Too bad researchers
at
Johns Hopkins are not also looking at the research on microwaves,
before making such a terrible suggestion)
So such things as:
TV dinners
instant ramen
soups
should be removed from the container and heated in something else.
Since
you don’t know what is in the paper containers, it is just safe
to use tempered glass, CorningWare, etc.
You might remember when some of the fast food restaurants moved
away
from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the
reasons.
(NOTE: Now if we could just get the public to move away from fast
food restaurants,Period!)
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