How many years have microwave ovens existed, the same number of years articles about the terrible harm of a microwave appear in the press. At the same time, the reader is bombarded with a whole sea of ​​frightening terms like "molecular rot", "rupture of molecules" and other pseudoscientific horror stories, which, in fact, do not exist, and cannot exist.

Of course, after all, many of us have forgotten even the information about physics that was obtained from the school textbook, not to mention deeper knowledge.

It is easy to manipulate the consciousness in conditions of insufficient awareness of the audience, referring to some studies conducted no one knows where and by whom, and declaring that a microwave oven causes great and undeniable harm, that its use is unacceptable for human health, and that the food cooked in it is not very good. useful. Solid "no".

No, it is also impossible to talk about the complete and absolute safety of a microwave oven. But the word "harm" is inappropriate here, otherwise no one would cook in it. Everything in life has both positive and negative qualities, the microwave oven is no exception. A reasonable person finds the most rational way, taking into account real facts and not thinking that household appliances (in particular a microwave oven) can cause irreparable harm to his health.

Unfortunately, in reality, research into the microwave oven, whether there is a benefit or harm from a microwave oven, has been done little and for a long time. But one thing is clear, cooking with a microwave oven is not harmful or dangerous.

Let's look at how real the harm of a microwave oven to human health is and whether it exists at all, whether there is any benefit from this device, whether it is possible to cook in an oven. To do this, you have to remember something from physics.

How a microwave oven works

A magnetron is built into the microwave housing, emitting electromagnetic waves of a certain frequency. Certain, because electromagnetic radiation with a different wavelength is used in many industries, and some devices should not interfere with the work of others. In particular, mobile phones, radars, etc.

The world is riddled with electromagnetic radiation, and yet there is still no evidence that anyone has suffered from it.

This means that the harm is not so significant, and food heated in a microwave does not become poisonous (it is harmful in the same way as cooked on a stove). Studies aimed at elucidating the effect of electromagnetic radiation on humans are being carried out, but their results rarely become sensational.

Since the wavelength generated by the magnetron of the microwave oven is large enough, the radiation does not penetrate outside through the insulated walls of the device and does not cause harm. Food is perfectly prepared in such conditions. Of course, if the insulating layer of the microwave oven is not damaged (otherwise, there may be harm to human health, but it is not the device itself that is to blame, but the fact that the oven has expired).

When cooking in modern models, perfectly protected, you can even bury your nose in the glass of the door during the process, and no harm will be done. And it's time to get rid of the old stoves, and not only because they are morally obsolete.

In older models, protection was not so perfect, as stated in the instructions for each of them: it was not recommended to be near a working microwave oven at a distance closer than 1.5 meters when food was being prepared there. There was harm to health, and the manufacturers did not hide this.

Regarding horror stories about whether the microwave is harmful as a way to process food, we can say the following. When you cook food on an electric stove or on a fire, the process goes like this:

  • First, the bottom and walls of the dishes are heated, and then the temperature of the products in the dishes also rises (the food begins to cook). When heated, water molecules begin to move more actively, the higher the temperature, the faster the movement. The movement is chaotic.
  • If the food is very hot, vitamins are destroyed, proteins are denatured. This is not harmful - the denaturation of proteins is the purpose of heat treatment. It is not worth arguing about how great the benefits of thermally processed foods are, or whether everyone should switch to a raw food diet. Everyone is free to decide for himself what to eat and how to cook.

If you use a microwave oven, the above process will differ in two ways:

  • Heating does not occur from the walls of the dishes, but in the product itself. Microwaves act on the water molecules contained in any product, causing them to rotate at high speed. The rotation of molecules creates molecular friction, due to which heating occurs. More rapidly rotating water molecules closer to the surface transfer energy to molecules located deeper. Thus, the products are heated throughout the volume, and not just at the walls of the dishes. The same movement of molecules occurs, only it is more ordered.
  • Heating rarely exceeds 100°C, as only the water is heated. That is why without the additional function of the grill on the surface of the product in the microwave it is impossible to get a crispy crust. But due to the fact that the products are heated immediately throughout the volume, much less time is spent on cooking. This is a definite benefit: much more vitamins are stored in an easily digestible form.

However, you can’t do without negativity: with a short-term exposure to temperature, not all bacteria die. For example, studies have shown that salmonella easily survives food processing in the microwave.

Is it possible to consider that because of this the microwave is unhealthy? No. On a conventional stove, you can cook food just as badly and get infected with salmonella or other pathogenic bacteria. The benefits and harms of the microwave in this case are determined not by the way the food is processed, but by the correctness of the culinary process.

Myths and reality

In the articles roaming the net from resource to resource, the results of this or that study in different countries are cited as evidence of indisputable harm. At the same time, in the overwhelming majority of cases, the original results cannot be found, as well as information about those who conducted these studies.

Doubts are raised by all articles in which scientific terms are used and impossible processes are described. For example, science does not know the process called “molecular rot” in horror stories. Namely, this most mysterious rot is cited as an argument in disputes about whether a microwave oven is harmful to health.

Some mysterious "scientists" report that as a result of exposure to microwaves, "water molecules are torn apart." This is, to put it mildly, sheer nonsense. When a water molecule is destroyed, it breaks down into two elements: oxygen and hydrogen, and not into some molecular fragments. It is hardly necessary to remind that both of these gases are constantly present in the atmosphere and do no harm. Destroying a water molecule is not as easy as it is presented in the articles.

Studies are mentioned that when processed in a microwave oven, the structure of water is disturbed. And as evidence, reports are given that water after a microwave becomes "dead", in contrast to natural, "living" water. And "dead" water, of course, is harmful, destroying fine structures throughout the body.

But readers should be aware that the water in their cup of tea right now may be exposed to electromagnetic radiation from a nearby mobile phone or Wi-Fi. Is it worth it to be afraid of the microwave if you are not going to give up either wireless Internet or mobile communications? If there is harm from electromagnetic radiation, then it also comes from these devices.

But there are also very real recommendations that can reduce the harm caused to health when using a microwave oven. This applies to utensils used for cooking. Studies have shown that it is better not to put plastic containers in the oven. Even those that have a badge indicating that they can be used in a microwave oven. It is best to avoid any plastic. Under the influence of temperature, many of them release substances into the environment that can cause real, not hypothetical harm.

But glass is almost safe, as well as high-quality ceramics. Use high-quality glass and ceramics for microwaves, and health risks will decrease.

Use the microwave or throw it in the trash, it's up to you. Perhaps for impressionable people who react vividly to scary stories from the press, a microwave oven can really be harmful to health, solely because of self-hypnosis, since there is no significant harm from it! But then it is worth abandoning other inventions that use electromagnetic waves to work in order to be consistent. No means no! Without any exceptions. And even about such medical procedures as UHF, for example, you will have to forget.