How harmful is the microwave oven to human health. Microwave oven harmful or not

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? Yes, during laboratory research vegetables retained about 85% of vitamin C when cooked in microwave oven, while in boiled vegetables no more than 30% of the vitamin remains. 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. Fixture for fast food and warming up was intended 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 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 is heated 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. On the scientific language this process is called structural isometry. If to speak plain language, then microwave causes changes in eating habits molecular level , which has been scientifically confirmed in a variety of laboratory tests.

Why is the microwave harmful?

You must have heard of the effect 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 because of this component that many people begin to have a headache, insomnia, and a tendency to irritability.

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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 thawed, glucosides, galactosides and nitrilosides disintegrate in them;

Even simple cow or even human milk is negatively affected by microwaves. Thus, amino acids useful for feeding a child are converted into isomers that cause irreparable harm nervous system, as well as 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 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 gastrointestinal tract only because we eat food, the structure of which simply does not exist in 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 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 enough 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:

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 passes the waves both in and out, i.e. the risk of harm from this device is quite high.
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.
Turn off the lights in the kitchen. Turn on an empty microwave and bring to it fluorescent lamp. If it lights up, then your microwave is emitting too many waves.
If the microwave oven door becomes very hot during its operation, this may indicate that the waves are leaking out.

by the most in an efficient 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.

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.
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.
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.
If you have implanted stimulators in your body (for example, a pacemaker), then you should refrain from using this device.
Keep your microwave clean.

So, if you follow all of the above rules, then you will significantly reduce the risk negative impact 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.

The debate about whether there is harm from the microwave has been going on for years. The media write that the microwave oven has harmful effect on the body, the radiation is hazardous to health. You can say a lot, but give scientific evidence and evidence can not every magazine. Surely you have heard dozens of different opinions, but have not come to a conclusion.

We offer you to find out if it is possible to use a microwave oven, is it dangerous for humans, does it contain radiation, etc. The review presents the opinion of experts: we will find out the truth and destroy the myths.

Why is it easy to believe the big headlines that microwaves or mobile phones cause cancer? The point is the frightening word "radiation". We immediately imagine nuclear power plants and radiation, although in reality radiation is different.

There are two types of radiation: ionizing and non-ionizing. An example of the first is gamma rays, they are used in industry, at nuclear power plants. These beams are powerful enough to damage DNA - remove an electron from a molecule - and cause cancer.

Non-ionizing study - microwaves and radio waves, they are emitted during the operation of microwaves and telephones. This radiation is not capable of damaging DNA and leading to cancer.

The American Cancer Society (American Cancer Society) in May 2016 released a summary of research different types radiation. It states that microwave ovens do not make food radioactive because they do not change its structure. They make the water molecules vibrate, heating them up.

Don't want consequences? Be careful when choosing dishes. Take a look at the pages "" and ""to make sure what the danger of negligence is and how to avoid it.

security check

Do you want to check for yourself how harmful the technique is? You can check for radiation in simple ways:

At night, start the device in operation, and place a fluorescent lamp nearby. If the lamp flashes or changes in it, then waves are leaking from the housing.

The second option requires two mobile phones. Put one in the camera, turning it on, and from the second, call the first. Did you get through? This means that the isolation of the device is weak, it does not protect well from radiation.

Do this experiment quickly. Don't use an expensive smart phone. Otherwise something bad might happen:

Boil water in a glass beaker. Didn't the water boil in 3 minutes? This is leak proof.

A microwave detector will help to fully confirm the leak. Load a glass of water into the chamber and turn on the appliance. Using the detector, walk along the cracks, inspect the corners, ventilation holes. If there is no danger, the light bulb will not change color. Waves flow out - the detector will work with a red glare.

Be careful when experimenting. Do not do this unless absolutely necessary. If you are concerned about the issue of harm, and you don’t know if microwaves kill vitamins, harm food and you, it’s better not to buy a device, take care of your nerves.

You have a lot of information in front of you, draw your own conclusions: believe the arguments of scientists or play it safe. The harmfulness of heating or cooking in a microwave oven has not been proven, but they do not bring additional benefits either.

On the this moment It is very difficult to say who exactly invented the microwave oven. AT different sources can be seen completely various 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, according to this patent, the production of microwave ovens had already begun, which were intended for the rapid defrosting of strategic food stocks. 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 people do not understand how the microwave oven works, which is why it is believed that products that have undergone such processing can be dangerous for human health. When on Russian market As soon as this device appeared, 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. Short cooking time allows you to save twice as much useful substances 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 cause food to break down 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 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, none State University in the United States of America has not conducted a study on how food altered in this way affects human body. But there is a huge amount of research on what happens if the door of the device 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 nervous system, as well as nephrotoxic, that is, they are poison to 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.

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 there is 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 under the gun 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 appear. Sometimes they even appear cancerous tumors. 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 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 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. by the most in great demand use 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 than more features at the device, the more 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.

Over the past decade, apartments have been filled with all sorts of technical devices called to help in everyday life. A person hardly remembers how he used to do without an air conditioner, a double boiler, a food processor and a mixer. On the special place there is a microwave oven - it is she who is able to evenly heat dinner and feed the whole family within a minute. The idyll of technological progress is spoiled by lonely negative messages - “Microwave damage can threaten your health!”.

Harm of microwaves: myth or reality

Before sounding the alarm, you need to understand the principles of the microwave oven. The main mechanism of this household appliance is the magnetron. It is this device that studies electromagnetic waves , with which they are trying to scare housewives. How a microwave oven works:

After starting the device, the magnetron begins to emit microwave radiation.
Waves (up to 12 cm long) reflected from the body of the coated special coating, and create an electromagnetic field in the middle of the chamber.
Molecules of water and fats, under the influence of microwave radiation, begin to oscillate randomly, which leads to heating of the product.

When used in everyday life, a new generation microwave device, the harm of a microwave zero. Now about the quality of food that has been in the working chamber of such an oven:

Nutrients. Due to the rapid heating of the product, the amount nutrients save 70% more than when cooking on cooker.
Carcinogen. During standard heat treatment with a frying pan, carcinogenic elements appear on the surface of the product. They accumulate in the body, and over time lead to serious illnesses. In a microwave oven, the waves directly heat the dish, not the dishes, which, of course, prevents the appearance of a carcinogen.

It is highly probable that the danger of the microwave oven is a far-fetched myth. By palatability dishes, health benefits and time spent on cooking - a microwave oven will give odds to any similar household kitchen appliances.

Harm of electromagnetic radiation

The electromagnetic background has increased significantly over the past decade. Yes, scientific process brought into our life a lot useful appliances but don't forget about ecological disaster that hung over all mankind:

low frequency radiation. Consumer electronics, power lines, electronic room wiring.
radio waves. AM and FM radio stations, mobile phones.
Infrared radiation. Incandescent lamp.
Ultraviolet radiation. Solarium.

As can be seen from the list of electromagnetic spectra, a microwave oven, or rather a magnetron, emits low-frequency radiation. If the electrical appliance did not have protective functions, the influence of microwaves could cause a person:

genetic changes.
Deviations in the nervous system.
Reformatting of the pituitary system.

A person can harm his health with the help of microwave waves if he puts it in working area microwave your hand or head. But the design of the equipment provides for a fuse that will not allow the magnetron to work with the door open. And this completely eliminates the occurrence of accidents.

In this video, physicist Petr Pozharov conducts an experiment and measures the electromagnetic background from an ordinary home microwave:

Harm microwave

The use of microwave waves in modern world is growing every day. If earlier devices equipped with this technology were used in industry, medicine and the military sphere, now such equipment can be seen in the apartment of any average resident of the country:

WiFi router.
Microwave.
Radio navigation devices.
Cellular.

Radiation power similar devices so small that the harm that can be received by the human body tends to zero. This, of course, will not happen if the device is corrected. Otherwise, the operation of microwave waves may adversely affect:

Brain tissues.
organs of vision.

For the most suspicious, we note: ultra-low waves quickly dissipate in the atmosphere. Even if, for one reason or another, the microwave transmits harmful radiation - at a distance of half a meter from it (arm's length), the power of the waves decreases by more than 50 times.

Important: we monitor the health of the door

Waves of low-frequency radiation, like the rays of the sun, have a rectilinear trajectory. Seeing in front of you hard surface, the signal is either significantly weakened or does not pass through the barrier at all. In the case of a microwave oven whose body is made of special material, the door remains a weak point:

Minimum Clearance. There should be no large gaps between the body and the door. Ideally, these two elements form one whole.
special material. The mesh under the glass is made of a special plastic that can receive and absorb harmful radiation.

If the kitchen has a new generation model, and it is working, you should not worry - even if you rest your nose against the glass of the door, negative impact from the microwave on the body will not be observed.

Microwave in the military sector

In the United States, scientists have found a completely different use for microwave waves - the "Ray Gun" was created. The device fires low-frequency beams, and has the following characteristics:

Radiation frequency - 100 gigahertz.
Accurate shooting distance - 1200 meters.

While the US Department of Defense is not yet confident in the effectiveness of the new weapon, law enforcement officials are considering using the Beam Gun to disperse demonstrations: the beam penetrates 0.5 mm deep into the skin and causes heat internal organs and fabrics. There is no danger to health, but the ardor of the demonstrators noticeably subsides.

You need to know: correct operation of the microwave

Proper operation of the microwave will shorten the cooking time, the life of the appliance and keep the whole family healthy:

tightness. Even a small crumb caught between the door and the body can damage the tightness of the appliance.
Dishes. Not plastic utensils. Even if there is a sign that allows you to do this, it is best to use glass products.
Products. Some products for cooking in a microwave oven are unacceptable: raw eggs under the influence of waves explode, and oil or fat, in high temperature conditions, may ignite.

The harm of a microwave oven if its case is not damaged - far-fetched threat. Most likely, in this way, the average man in the street is frightened by manufacturers of alternative household appliances: double boilers, ovens and stoves. If you actively use a Wi-Fi router or mobile communications, then you definitely should not be afraid of household appliances.

Video about the dangers of a microwave

In this video, scientist Leonid Stasov will tell you how harmful a microwave oven is, justify everything with scientific point vision:

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, 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, are brought down on the reader.

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 consciousness in conditions of insufficient awareness of the audience, referring to certain 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. Man of sense finds the most rational way, taking into account the real facts and not thinking that 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. It's not harmful - protein denaturation is the goal 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 one or another study in different countries. 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 is absolutely real recommendations, which 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 are released into environment substances capable of causing actual rather than 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 horror stories from the press, a microwave 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.

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