Microwave heating food will lose nutrients, not only toxic but also carcinogenic? Experiment results tell you the truth

A few days ago was the birthday of Ms. Li's youngest son, so she invited her neighbors to have dinner together. When preparing the dishes, the neighbors also went into the kitchen to help.

As a result, as soon as the neighbor entered the kitchen and saw the microwave oven defrosting food, he said, "Hey, why are you still using microwave ovens at home? I read an article before that food heated in microwave ovens will produce new toxic and even Carcinogenic compounds! "

"No, I usually use the microwave to heat milk or heat food."

"You actually use a microwave to heat milk? Heating the microwave so fast will cause a serious loss of nutrients in the food . How much nutrition can the heated milk still contain?"

After the neighbor finished speaking, he turned on his mobile phone and forwarded the article to Ms. Li. The more she read, the more uneasy she became. She has been using the microwave oven for two or three years, and it will not cause harm to the human body long ago.

The claims that "microwave ovens cause cancer", "microwave oven radiation harms the human body", and "microblogging stoves can cause serious loss of food nutrition" have actually been circulating for a long time. Today, Xiaojiu will chat with you about microwave ovens to see if he is in the end. Is it an artifact or a "cheater".

1. Microwave heating food, not only harmful to the human body but also carcinogenic?

In daily life, the use of microwave ovens is very common. Whether it is heating food or making some food, it is loved by many consumers because of its convenience and speed. Is it really harmful to the human body?

Before that, let's take a look at how microwave ovens heat food.

To put it simply, there is a component in the microwave oven that can convert electrical energy into electromagnetic waves similar to water waves, and make it run at high speed in the oven cavity, thereby driving the water molecules in the food to move violently, thereby generating heat. just hot.

Can microwaved food cause cancer?

No, from the working principle of microwave ovens, we can see that it heats food mainly by converting electrical energy into microwaves, and the energy carried by microwaves does not reach the level of destroying the molecular structure of food .

Therefore, heating food in a microwave oven will not cause the food to produce carcinogens, and it can even reduce the production of carcinogens . Take the barbecue method as an example. This heating method may cause the meat to scorch, thereby producing some carcinogens, but the microwave oven does not produce such substances. a situation.

Another question that many people are concerned about is, will the radiation from microwave ovens radiate out and harm the human body?

In this regard, Professor Zhao Jinyuan of the Department of Occupational Diseases of Peking University Third Hospital said: In fact, the metal shell of the microwave oven can play a good shielding role , and the furnace door is also closed when heating, so the radiation will not radiate out, even if it is from The leakage in the gap is only a little bit, which is not enough to endanger human health.

If you are not completely at ease, let's take a look at a CCTV experiment:

Picture Peking University Third Hospital

The inspector uses an electromagnetic radiation tester to detect the radiation value from the door crack of the microwave oven (radiation mainly leaks from the gap), and finally shows:

• When the high fire is close to the gap of the microwave oven, the radiation value is 4-6 volts/meter;
• However, if the probe is moved to a distance of 50cm from the gap, the radiation value is only 1-3 volts/meter. When it is moved to a distance of 1m, the radiation value is about 1 volt/meter, which is almost negligible!

The national safety standard is 12 volts/meter , so you don't have to worry about radiation. However, in view of the risk of electrical leakage and other risks, it is recommended to have a safe distance, generally keeping it at a distance of 1 meter.

Second, the microwave heating time is fast, will it lead to the loss of food nutrition?

Regarding the microwave heating of food, there is also a question that everyone is more worried about, that is, will it lead to the loss of food nutrients? You know, the nutrients that food provides us are mainly protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals.

And microwave heating food, although the protein will be slightly deformed, but the overall effect is not large, and will not make the fat more oxidized. The vitamin itself is afraid of heat, and because the microwave heating time is short, it can reduce the impact on the vitamin more than the general heating method. As for minerals, high temperatures have little effect on it.

Can you heat milk in the microwave? sure.

Not only that, heating milk in a microwave oven may bring some benefits, such as denaturing the protein in milk while sterilizing, making its nutrients easier to absorb, and warm milk can also reduce irritation to the gastrointestinal tract .

Therefore, if you are worried about the loss of nutrients in food and are afraid to use microwave heating, you can put aside this trouble and use microwave heating with peace of mind.

3. Do not put these kinds of food in the microwave!

Although microwave ovens are simple to operate, there are many precautions to be taken when using them.

• 4 Foods You Can't Reheat in a Microwave

①Egg : The inside of the egg expands faster than the eggshell when heated, and a lot of water vapor will be produced quickly after heating, which cannot be released and may explode.

② Fruits : such as grapes, blueberries, cherry tomatoes, etc., which contain salt ions, which will generate a strong electric field after heating, which is easy to explode.

③ Chili peppers : The heating of chili peppers is not harmful, but when the door is opened, the chemical substances emitted are strongly irritating, which can irritate the eyes and burn the throat.

④Liquid : Liquid heating is also very dangerous. When the heating is completed, the water inside will boil violently, which is prone to burns.

In addition to food, some items are also prohibited, such as metal tableware, tin foil, paper bags, milk cartons, plastic containers , etc., otherwise accidents may occur.

How to use the microwave oven correctly? Pay attention to these 3 points

1. Do daily maintenance

Usually try to lay the microwave oven flat, away from the fire and the faucet, and keep a distance of 5cm from the wall to facilitate the diffusion of hot air; check the circuit regularly, if it is damaged, stop it; keep it clean, clean it in time after use, and keep the furnace clean dry.

2. Purchase from regular sources

It is best to choose some products with relatively well-known brands, which will be more secure in terms of safety and convenience.

3. Choose the container

When heating in a microwave oven, try to use special tableware and plastic wrap , and avoid using plastic shopping bags, tin foil, and metal containers to avoid accidents.

As a commonly used electrical appliance, microwave ovens provide us with a lot of convenience, but how to use it is also very particular. We must master the correct method to avoid dangerous things.

References:

[1] "Can food heated in microwave ovens cause cancer for a long time? Tell you the truth about microwave radiation! ". Peking University Third Hospital. 2019-05-20

[2] "Can cause cancer or damage the brain? Don't worry, microwave ovens don't have such great power". The whole people are true-Tencent News. 2017-12-28

[3] "Beware! 10 things you should never put in the microwave! The Last Unexpected". Popular Science China. 2021-03-04

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