The Microwave Has Got to Go?

It came in the email, as warnings often do.  Microwaved food is bad, bad, bad for you. A school child's science experiment proved it, a plant watered with cooled, microwaved water died. Research proved microwaving alters the food to make in unrecognizable or harmful to our bodies.

DH and I discussed this experiment (which has been debunked on snopes.) We discussed how only one plant for each variable was not a reliable demonstration. Snopes used three, but again, only one for microwaved, cooled water, one for boiled cooled water and one for unaltered water. Again, proving nothing in my book.

You need a number of the same variety plants for each variable. Say, three at least.  So, I'll attempt it and report on it as the experiment is conducted. Hey, it's no skin off my nose, and I'd like to see for myself.

As for the research. You can find both anti-microwave and pro-microwave on the Internet. So, I look to who's publishing what and what their stake in it is. Especially who is saying "microwaved food is as good as food that isn't microwaved." If they make microwave or components of microwaves, or if it is the government, my experience tells me to take their findings with a vary large grain of salt.

I'm not taking a position on this debate, but I do concede that there are legitimate concerns that give me pause. First, the arguments about what microwaves do are entirely plausible from a scientific standpoint. Second, the nay-sayers have a history of cooking their research books to arrive at predetermined "safe" findings. Frankly, there is precious little I trust at face value, especially on the Internet.

My jury is out, but pending my consideration of the issue, my microwave will be seeing less duty. If it affects the environment, pacemakers, transmissions and emits radiation, common sense says there is probably something we don't necessarily know about. So I make my decision on common sense. That, and the fact that DH could taste the difference between microwaved and conventionally cooked food--for example baked potatoes--when we first got married nearly thirty years ago. If you can taste a difference, there must be a reason for that difference.

However, I will observe that people today seem to be a lot more stupid and have more brain problems than thirty years ago. . .just about the time that microwaves were found in every home. The claims that microwaves cause brain damage might just be valid. . . Or maybe that's when  big Pharmaceutical made it's major move. . .Whatever it is, something is not right.

Which is why I'm leaning more and more to natural solutions. It seems to be a whole lot safer in the long run.