IS MICROWAVE COOKING SAFE?

Q Of late I have been reading some online features that say using microwave ovens for cooking may not be a good idea as it could affect the nutrients in foods. Is there any truth in this?

A We all agree on the importance of eating clean and how it affects health, mood and life in general. Equally important is how the food is prepared and cooked.

The way you process and cook your food (particularly proteins and fats) plays a large role in your body’s level of inflammation. Microwaved food is denatured to a large extent. A study showed that microwaves cause changes in HDL, LDL, and white blood cells. Microwave ovens also tend to create high amounts of electromagnetic fields in your kitchen, a reason some critics argue against using it regularly.

Microwaves use radiation to cook food which some studies say could affect health. When you heat something up quickly, especially from a very cold state (think about taking out your food which is in a plastic container from the fridge and shoving it in the microwave), the BPA (a toxic compound) is released from plastic into your food. This is because rapid heating tends to cause damage to the plastic.

Avoid reusable plastic containers and plastic bags whenever possible. Besides the harmful BPA, even BPA-free plastics can contain estrogenic chemicals that can leach into your food and upset your hormones when you heat foods in these containers.

Microwave cooking is known to increase cholesterol oxidation products, which are highly pro-inflammatory. These COPs get absorbed easily in the gut and enter the bloodstream.

Try to avoid microwave cooking as far as possible. Use ceramic or glass contains, plates every time you use the microwave to heat your food.