I remember two things that were instilled in me at a very young age by my parents.  First, I was always reminded to NEVER stand in front of the microwave while it was on, and second, my father told me that if I ever disrespected my mother that he would give me away.  The second one scared the shit out of me literally (I seriously think I crapped my pants when he told me that). Regardless of this childhood threat, I can proudly say that I have the two greatest parents ever (just my own personal opinion).

Microwaves exist in over 90% of American households, and are probably the most frequently used appliance in most kitchens.  The microwave cooks, defrosts, and can even sterilize your bacteria-infested kitchen sponges.  Although microwaves are ubiquitous and extremely efficient they definitely have a dark-side (imagine Darth Vader’s Star-Wars anthem here).

Microwaves first popped on the scene during World War II when the Nazis used them to heat up meals during their invasion of the Soviet Union.  As the war came to an end, the Russians recovered some of these microwaves and began an extensive 20-year investigation into the safety and biological effects of using microwave ovens.  In 1976 the Russians placed a ban on microwave ovens, but unfortunately the ban was later lifted.[i]

Without getting too complex into how the radiation heats up and eventually cooks your food, I’ve copied a list as to why you shouldn’t use your microwave oven.

Ten Reasons not to Use Your Microwave Oven

Based on Swiss, Russian and German clinical studies[ii]

1. Continually eating food processed from a microwave oven causes long term, permanent, brain damage by “shorting out” electrical impulses in the brain [de-polarizing or de-magnetizing the brain tissue].
2. The human body cannot metabolize [break down] the unknown by-products created in micro-waved food.
3. Male and female hormone production is shut down and/or altered by continually eating micro-waved foods.
4. The effects of micro-waved food by-products are residual [long term, permanent] within the human body.
5. Minerals, vitamins, and nutrients of all micro-waved food is reduced or altered so that the human body gets little or no benefit, or the human body absorbs altered compounds that cannot be broken down.
6. The minerals in vegetables are altered into cancerous free radicals when cooked in a microwave oven.
7. Micro-waved foods cause stomach and intestinal cancerous growths [tumors]. This has been a primary contributor to the rapidly increased rate of colon cancer in the United States.
8. The prolonged eating of micro-waved foods causes cancerous cells to increase in human blood.
9. Continual ingestion of micro-waved food causes immune system deficiencies through lymph gland and blood serum alterations.
10. Eating micro-waved food causes loss of memory, concentration, emotional instability, and a decrease of intelligence.

It was also discovered that microwaving baby formulas converted certain amino-acids into their toxic form, which would be poisonous to the nervous system and kidneys of a developing child.

The first scientist to study the effects of micro waved foods was Swiss scientist Dr. Hans Hertel. He found that micro-waved food resulted in the following.

• Increase in cholesterol levels
• Decrease in white blood cells, which can be an indicator of poisoning
• Decrease in red blood cells
• Decrease in hemoglobin levels, which could indicate anemia
• Production of radiolytic compounds, which are “new” compounds that are nowhere to be found in humans or in nature.  This is a scary thought because we have yet to discover how these compounds affect our biology and what the long-term consequences are.

Dr. Hertel went on to explain; “There are no atoms, molecules, or cells of any organic system able to withstand such a violent, destructive power for any period of time.  This will happen even given the microwave oven’s low power range of milliwatts.”[iii]

Another interesting fact that everyone should be aware of is how microwaving your vegetables destroys 97% of their antioxidants and active nutrients.  Most people aren’t eating a plate full of vegetables because they genuinely crave them or love the taste.  Most people consume vegetables because of the numerous health benefits that vegetables contain.  NEVER cook or re-heat your vegetables in the microwave unless you’re eating the vegetables simply to make your plate more colorful.  It doesn’t matter if you heat them 60 seconds or 6 minutes, the 2.4 GHz radiation will zap the nutrients right out of your vegetables.  Also, most people will agree that micro-waved vegetables taste like shit compared to steamed or grilled.  Always go with steaming or grilling when preparing cooked vegetables, not just because of taste, but to preserve the nutrients as well.

Lastly, if you’re going to be stubborn and still use that nutrient-destroying, carcinogen-creating microwave, never use plastic or paper plates because the carcinogenic toxins from the plastic and paper WILL be leached into your food.  That means all those frozen microwavable foods that people heat up on their lunch break, are actually flooding their body with cancer-causing toxins.  Now they have frozen vegetables you plop into the microwave and cook right in their own little plastic bag.  Not only is this non-nutritious, but it’s actually detrimental to your health!  Food is supposed to supply nutrition to your body, not break it down.

I personally haven’t used a microwave for about 6 years and have developed the habit of eating previously prepared foods cold.  It’s actually not bad at all, and if you have to re-heat your foods always choose a conventional oven or a toaster oven.  It may take 20 more minutes of planning, but your body will definitely appreciate it.  If you haven’t observed it yet, there is a direct correlation between the health of people who consistently use a microwave to cook their foods and people that don’t.  Some of the fattest and unhealthiest people I know are the ones that live off the frozen-foods section of grocery stores.  If you don’t believe me, start being aware of this in your own lives and start observing the people around you.

History was never my subject of interest, but one question I do have, is has anything good ever come from the Nazis?