Microwaves

[Guest guest]

Yes, I would like to read your newsletter. My address is Manson, HC

73, Box 1846, Locust Grove, Va. 22508

[Guest guest]

Microwaves radiate--(drum roll), microwaves. Modern microwave ovens are very

safe. The danger is that if they did leak, they'd cook you too. The word

radiate shouldn't be scarey, after all, all of you ladies radiate your beauty

every day.

[Guest guest]

I must agree about the microwaves - we got rid of ours about a year

ago and I wouldn't have it back.

I don't like or feel comfortable about them at all.

More and more I feel to be wary of new scientific breakthroughs in

areas which affect what we eat or expose ourselves to - some of this

can't be helped of course, but much can.

Given the choice I'd probably end up an eco warrior in a lovely

little hut in the woods somewhere ;o)

)

[Guest guest]

Tamara wrote:

>

> Thank you so much, Irene!

>

> But I must admit though, that I am terrified of microwaves. You all

> know I'm an ex-macrobiotic; they were very very against microwaves.

> Even if the radiation is not leaking out of the machine, the way it

> works is to shake up the molecules of the food in a way that is very

> unnatural..

It's as unnatural as your hands getting warm when you rub your palms

together - that's the principle :-))) Friction heat.

" Radiation " only means that something goes in all directions - like the

light bulb sends light radiating across the room. people are afraid of

" radiationm " because of radio-active radiation- nuclear radiation - but

microwaves are not that kind of radiation.

The biggest problem with microwaved food is that it is easy to overcook

and that spoils the food. So if you get the timing right it's wonderful.

All the stories about what happens to food are only relevant to

overcooking - whether by microwave or any other way.

Namaste,

Irene

--

Irene de Villiers, B.Sc; AASCA; MCSSA; D.I.Hom.

P.O.Box 4703, Spokane, WA 99220-0703.

http://www.angelfire.com/fl/furryboots/clickhere.html

Veterinary Homeopath and Feline Information Counsellor.

[Guest guest]

I DO NOT USE THE MICROWAVE AT ALL.

I USE STAINLESS STEEL COOKWARE.

I STEAM OR BAKE MOST OF MY FOOD.

I JUST DO WHAT I CAN TO EAT AND LIVE HEALTHY.

DEBBERS IN OREGON

[Guest guest]

Maddviking@... wrote:

> Microwaves radiate--(drum roll), microwaves. Modern microwave ovens are very

> safe. The danger is that if they did leak, they'd cook you too. The word

> radiate shouldn't be scarey, after all, all of you ladies radiate your beauty

> every day.

From the mouths of mad Vikings:-) Thank you kind sir for the analogy

and implications :-))

...Irene

--

Irene de Villiers, B.Sc; AASCA; MCSSA; D.I.Hom.

P.O.Box 4703, Spokane, WA 99220-0703.

http://www.angelfire.com/fl/furryboots/clickhere.html

Veterinary Homeopath and Feline Information Counsellor.

[Guest guest]

Hi, All!

Dr. Mercola recommends against microwaving your food. Check out this page:

http://www.mercola.com/article/microwave/hazards.htm - gives results of

scientific research showing that technically-produced microwaves do

denature the food and that this change does show up in blood cells. It's

too long to summarize here, but some of this info was known in the last

century. One woman was killed when the nurse mistakenly warmed the blood

for her transfusion in the nuker, rather then using the conventional

method. Apparently that altered the blood too much for her body to deal

with. The part about the researcher who was gagged by the Swiss courts

because his research recommended against the use of microwaves to prepare

food for eating (he was interfering with commerce) is appalling. Who can

you trust if you can't trust the Swiss?

Micros are convenient and quick and we all should be able to choose whether

or not to use them, but please make it a well-informed decision.

Jane

Tucson, AZ USA

[Guest guest]

I don't mean to ruffle any feathers here and I appreciate the link to Mercola

but here is what I found. Feel free to disagree. I read the article at

Mercola and really didn't see any valid scientific study that showed microwaves

to

be any more dangerous than other forms of cooking. The only study I saw with

any sizable test group were the thousands of Russians burned by exposure to

microwaves--go figure. The article admitted that the Swiss study was with a

small group and the number of people, test sequence, and test duration was not

provided. This alone makes me doubt the findings. This may well be why the

Government stepped in. Much of the research the article referenced was either

unreadable to them or not available to them (I thought it odd that they would

draw conclusions and mention research without having it). The discussions about

the breakdown in cell structure, destruction of omega-3, and denaturing foods

are the same things that have been said about broiled, fried, and cooked

foods.

They talked about Mom's instincts against it (of course, he admitted his

mother later used the microwave), burning babies with milk that was too hot

(duh),

baby formula (GAK!) that changed chemical makeup (no statement about whether

conventional cooking would cause the same chemical changes), what microwaves

do if you are exposed to them, and how microwaving blood to inject in people is

not a good thing (really?), I guess, unless you're going to eat it. I felt

that the conclusions drawn were not substaniated by the article except for the

conclusion from the Russian study: don't get exposed to microwaves (I'll try

to stay out of the oven when it's on too).

Microwave ovens may well not be good for us but I certainly wasn't convinced

by this article. I felt like this article relied on research into other

research that relied on unsupported results (not unlike gossip). The only thing

it

told me was not to be exposed to microwaves. I don't think I'll put my hand

in boiling water either.

[Guest guest]

Tamara Tornado wrote:

> Thanks for the link, Jane.

>

> Call me superstitious if you like, I won't have anything to do with

> microwaves. It's not natural.

Nor is an electric hot plate :-))

....Irene

--

Irene de Villiers, B.Sc; AASCA; MCSSA; D.I.Hom.

P.O.Box 4703, Spokane, WA 99220-0703.

http://www.angelfire.com/fl/furryboots/clickhere.html

Veterinary Homeopath and Feline Information Counsellor.

[Guest guest]

MY ONCOLOGIST HIGHLY RECOMMENDS NOT COOKING FOODS IN A MICROWAVE.

SO I DON'T.

DEB

[Guest guest]

I USE CAPS BECAUSE IT'S THE FONT I PREFER.

[Guest guest]

I am on three lists for different things where mercola is ever

mentioned - on one they believe without question his site info., on

another they don't because they donot believe he is independent

enough and not biased by his sponsers/advertisers etc, the third

list is this one !

As Socrates said, and Covey more recently, 'an unexamined

life/principle is not worth having'

)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/20/2004 10:22:48 PM Eastern Standard Time,

furryboots@... writes:

I think we ask our doctors altogether too many questions in fields where

they have no expertise.

Boy is that the truth. Doctors are more clueless than we are outside of

their specialty and pretty scarey IN their field.

[Guest guest]

I've learned to not trust Mercola too much, everything I've read there has

holes in it. I love that he's against wheat, and agree with some of what he

works toward, but I don't like the way he presents what evidence he ever

does have, and I don't like the scare tactics involed. Just give me the

facts, and the evidence, and let me draw my own conclusion without the

fear-based propaganda.

I have heard breast milk shouldn't be microwaved. I'd apply that rule to

other foods with delicate and specific structure/function. I don't

particularly like the taste and texture of microwaved meat, or vegetables,

but do use the microwave on occasion, usually when it only requires less

than a minute in the microwave. If you have to cook something longer than a

minute, it doesn't take much longer to use other methods, and the results

are more appetizing. I also avoid using plastics in the microwave, just

glass or ceramic.

When I use it, just in case, I stay a couple feet away from it. I'll

probably switch to a convection oven at some point.

Re: microwaves

I don't mean to ruffle any feathers here and I appreciate the link to

Mercola

but here is what I found. Feel free to disagree. I read the article at

Mercola and really didn't see any valid scientific study that showed

microwaves to

be any more dangerous than other forms of cooking. The only study I saw

with

any sizable test group were the thousands of Russians burned by exposure

to

microwaves--go figure. The article admitted that the Swiss study was with

a

small group and the number of people, test sequence, and test duration was

not

provided. This alone makes me doubt the findings. This may well be why

the

Government stepped in. Much of the research the article referenced was

either

unreadable to them or not available to them (I thought it odd that they

would

draw conclusions and mention research without having it). The discussions

about

the breakdown in cell structure, destruction of omega-3, and denaturing

foods

are the same things that have been said about broiled, fried, and cooked

foods.

They talked about Mom's instincts against it (of course, he admitted his

mother later used the microwave), burning babies with milk that was too

hot (duh),

baby formula (GAK!) that changed chemical makeup (no statement about

whether

conventional cooking would cause the same chemical changes), what

microwaves

do if you are exposed to them, and how microwaving blood to inject in

people is

not a good thing (really?), I guess, unless you're going to eat it. I

felt

that the conclusions drawn were not substaniated by the article except for

the

conclusion from the Russian study: don't get exposed to microwaves (I'll

try

to stay out of the oven when it's on too).

Microwave ovens may well not be good for us but I certainly wasn't

convinced

by this article. I felt like this article relied on research into other

research that relied on unsupported results (not unlike gossip). The only

thing it

told me was not to be exposed to microwaves. I don't think I'll put my

hand

in boiling water either.

[Guest guest]

WORRY ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/21/2004 1:35:37 AM Eastern Standard Time,

tdekany@... writes:

On another note: do you know how many seconds there are in a year?

12

[Guest guest]

I HR = 3600 SECONDS

1 YR=31,536,000 SECONDS

[Guest guest]

Maddviking@... wrote:

> I don't mean to ruffle any feathers here and I appreciate the link to Mercola

> but here is what I found. Feel free to disagree. ........ The only thing it

> told me was not to be exposed to microwaves. I don't think I'll put my hand

> in boiling water either.

I agree entirely :-))

Knowing what microwaves are about from chemistry classes also makes the

stories sound silly.

People often write stories about things they do not understand; it

doesn't make them valid.

...Irene

--

Irene de Villiers, B.Sc; AASCA; MCSSA; D.I.Hom.

P.O.Box 4703, Spokane, WA 99220-0703.

http://www.angelfire.com/fl/furryboots/clickhere.html

Veterinary Homeopath and Feline Information Counsellor.

[Guest guest]

arbed62@... wrote:

> MY ONCOLOGIST HIGHLY RECOMMENDS NOT COOKING FOODS IN A MICROWAVE.

Maybe he didn't read the instructions :-))

I understand you want to do what's best for you.

But I suspect this " advice " was given without any qualifidcations in

microwave technology behind it. It's certainly not part of medical or

oncologist training.

I think we ask our doctors altogether too many questions in fields where

they have no expertise. And they answer alrogether too often with a

guess or a negative instead of truth that they " do not know " .

Being a doctor does not make one all-knowing about health. Most

doctors will advise you against anything good for you that they know

nothing about, and yet instead of saying " I am not a microwave

technologist " they say " don't use it " - is that because liability

issues are more important to them than patient health?

Correctly microwaved food retains far more nuitrients than other

methods, and in oncolopgy I would expect that to matter.

Of course if you do not know how to use a stove (or microwave) you can

make a mess of it :-)

By the way - it is usually considered shouting on the internet if you

write in all upper case. Or do you use it for visibility reasons?

> SO I DON'T.

If I blindly followed every recommendation I ever got from a doctor, I'd

have had about ten funerals so far ;-))

Namaste,

Irene

--

Irene de Villiers, B.Sc; AASCA; MCSSA; D.I.Hom.

P.O.Box 4703, Spokane, WA 99220-0703.

http://www.angelfire.com/fl/furryboots/clickhere.html

Veterinary Homeopath and Feline Information Counsellor.

[Guest guest]

fyi -

Do not type in all caps. Typing in all caps is considered yelling or

screaming online. Those who type in all caps are perceived as lazy and not

being considerate of those who will have to read their e-mail. Various

studies on the topic reflect that it is more difficult and takes longer to

read text that is typed in all caps. And for those who question " What

studies? " here is one example for your reading pleasure:

from: http://www.onlinenetiquette.com/courtesy1.html

;-) Ellen

Re: microwaves

>I USE CAPS BECAUSE IT'S THE FONT I PREFER.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

wrote:

> I have heard breast milk shouldn't be microwaved.

It's like saying breast milk shouldn't be heated.

What they are worried about is overheating - not microwaving. they

should word it that way and not suggest that microwaves cause some kind

of different heat than any other heat.

Heat is heat :-))

And too much of it does nothing good to food. It is called overcooking

and milk tastes different if boiled - and loses nutrients - no matter

where you boil it.

> I'd apply that rule to

> other foods with delicate and specific structure/function.

On any heating device yes, not just a microwave.

> I don't

> particularly like the taste and texture of microwaved meat,

You mean it retains too much of the flavourful juice and tenderness?

Or do you mean you tend to overcook it so it comes out leather?

It's true there are correct ways to cook on a stove - and there are

different correct ways to cook in a microwave. You can't just stick in a

steak and cook with a microwave, you have to cut it into 1 inch cubes or

other even size pieces so it cooks evenly. Then you need to cook it the

right amount, not too much.

What is weird to me in USA is that there is no instruction on how to use

a microwave. It is not self-evident at all. Lessons come free with all

microwaves where I grew up and you went to these fun evening classes

where the sales company (Sharp, or whoever) did a demo meal which

everyone ate and you got to know how to get the most from it and how to

maintain it - keeping the magnetron cover clean for example. How to cook

for one of for a family of four. I know how to do a lovely mutton roast

with vegetables for example. The other thing missing in USa is microwave

cooking bags without which it is a lot harder to do a good job - not to

mention that microwave cookware is hard to locate here.

It's not okay to use any old bit of plastic that holds water. Many of

those give off toxins if heated, and even though the microwave doesn't

heat the plastic, the hot food in it does heat the plastic.

> or vegetables,

Vegetables, like meat, retain all their natural juices, and something

like spinach for example, is cooked as soon as it is hot in a microwave.

As an example, 8 oz of beef in 1 inch cubes, 1 giant mushroom and a heap

of spinach together take about 2.5 minutes or less. Any more and you are

doing cremation not cooking.

> but do use the microwave on occasion, usually when it only requires less

> than a minute in the microwave.

Time with microwave cooking has to do with *how much* you are cooking

not what kind of things you are cooking. Half a pound of beef takes one

minute but a pound of beef takes 50 seconds (less than double although

it is double weight).

> If you have to cook something longer than a

> minute, it doesn't take much longer to use other methods,

Not true.

For example a decent size leg of mutton roast with 5 vegetables of the

sweet potato, beet, carrot kind, in quantity for 4 people over 6 foot,

takes: 20 minutes of meat alone - add veg in cooking bags and cook 20

min more. It will be succulent and juicy and I challenge anyone to roast

a leg of mutton and veg in 40 minutes with no washing up either.

> and the results

> are more appetizing.

This I question. Correctly cooked the microwave food is better simply

because the quick cooking time means it has not evaporated away all its

juices, and the veg needs zero water to dilute out those nutrients. It

cooks in its own juice - it's not lost in cooking water or steam.

I'd agree such food is different tasting - it's not all dried out and

the original juices have a lot of flavour, but most people who taste

proper microwave cooking are surprised at the *better* flavour due to

retention of these original juices, rather than the other way round.

The longer you apply heat to the food, the more nutrients (and taste)

you destroy. Microwaving applies it the least time, and protects the

taste the most. something really important for full meals is the cooking

bags though to seal in the moisture during coking. It's like those

cellophane covers on TV dinners in composition - oven bags are similar.

I also avoid using plastics in the microwave, just

> glass or ceramic.

You're wise there, most plastics can taint the food or give off

carcinogens. I use only microwave cookware designed for the purpose.

It looks a bit like grey melamine but is not melamine. Ceramic is not

great as it often has too high mineral content and that deflects

microwaves and causes heating of the ceramic. The metals can heat enough

inside the ceramic to leach out into the food too. Pyrex glass is okay

but usually gets hot. Microwave cookware absorbs no heat as it is

specially made for the purpose.

> When I use it, just in case, I stay a couple feet away from it. I'll

> probably switch to a convection oven at some point.

When I had a family to feed I had the combination microwave/convection -

and that was bliss as the convection browned the roasts of zucchini

bread while the microwaves cooked the insides. Now I use a plain

microwave - the stove is unplugged (so the cats do not accidentally turn

it on) and is used as a counter and storage place for microware.

I suspect the problem in that many people do not know how to use a

microwave oven any more than I knew how to use my grandmother's

anthracite stove when I first went to visit her. Even the kerosene stove

on my sailboat needed a learning curve. Every appliance needs to be used

the right way to get good results.

Using it the wrong way is not a reason to blame the appliance for

failure of results. That will happen on a gas stove, kerosene stove,

Hibachi, electric stove or open fire. Also a microwave.

There's very little that can't be cooked well in a microwave if the

right method is used. It's ideal for those of use who want to eat soon

after feeling hungry :-)

For a very large family it might be less ideal, but I've thought about

it and I'd rather cook in 3 microwaves for 12 football players to have a

slap-up meal than in giant pots on a stove.

Namaste,

Irene

--

Irene de Villiers, B.Sc; AASCA; MCSSA; D.I.Hom.

P.O.Box 4703, Spokane, WA 99220-0703.

http://www.angelfire.com/fl/furryboots/clickhere.html

Veterinary Homeopath and Feline Information Counsellor.

[Guest guest]

Re: microwaves

arbed62@... wrote:

> MY ONCOLOGIST HIGHLY RECOMMENDS NOT COOKING FOODS IN A MICROWAVE.

Maybe he didn't read the instructions :-))

I understand you want to do what's best for you.

But I suspect this " advice " was given without any qualifidcations in

microwave technology behind it. It's certainly not part of medical or

oncologist training.

I think we ask our doctors altogether too many questions in fields where

they have no expertise. And they answer alrogether too often with a

guess or a negative instead of truth that they " do not know " .

Being a doctor does not make one all-knowing about health. Most

doctors will advise you against anything good for you that they know

nothing about, and yet instead of saying " I am not a microwave

technologist " they say " don't use it " - is that because liability

issues are more important to them than patient health?

Correctly microwaved food retains far more nuitrients than other

methods, and in oncolopgy I would expect that to matter.

Of course if you do not know how to use a stove (or microwave) you can

make a mess of it :-)

By the way - it is usually considered shouting on the internet if you

write in all upper case. Or do you use it for visibility reasons?

> SO I DON'T.

If I blindly followed every recommendation I ever got from a doctor, I'd

have had about ten funerals so far ;-))

Namaste,

Irene

--

Irene de Villiers, B.Sc; AASCA; MCSSA; D.I.Hom.

P.O.Box 4703, Spokane, WA 99220-0703.

http://www.angelfire.com/fl/furryboots/clickhere.html

Veterinary Homeopath and Feline Information Counsellor.

[Guest guest]

* I have heard breast milk shouldn't be microwaved.

Breast milk shouldn't even be exposed to air! What do you mean by it

shouldn't be microwaved?

What is this world coming to?

ABO Specifics Inc. - http://www.foodforyourblood.com

[Guest guest]

arbed62@... wrote:

> I USE CAPS BECAUSE IT'S THE FONT I PREFER.

>

Caps is not a font - a font is a character style design such as Roman or

Garamond and you can use it in caps or otherwise in each case.

As I mentioned, on email all caps is considered shouting and thus

impolite. I guess if you like shouting at people and don't care how it

feels to the recipients......that's your preference.

Namaste,

Irene

--

Irene de Villiers, B.Sc; AASCA; MCSSA; D.I.Hom.

[Guest guest]

THOMAS DEKANY wrote:

> * I have heard breast milk shouldn't be microwaved.

>

> Breast milk shouldn't even be exposed to air! What do you mean by it

> shouldn't be microwaved?

>

> What is this world coming to?

It's called equal opportunity :-))

It's so the husband can share in 3am feedings - surely you would not

deprive fathers of this unique pleasure? You save some breast milk in

the fridge - then when the baby wants it body temp at 3am, daddy warms

it and offers it :-))

I think that's the theory - never tested it myself I admit.

Namaste,

Irene

--

Irene de Villiers, B.Sc; AASCA; MCSSA; D.I.Hom.

P.O.Box 4703, Spokane, WA 99220-0703.

http://www.angelfire.com/fl/furryboots/clickhere.html

Veterinary Homeopath and Feline Information Counsellor.