The first time I ever heard someone say they didn't use a microwave was when I was studying at UNF. My Anthropology professor explained to the class she didn't think microwaves were a healthy way to heat up food. She said if you microwave a bowl of water and give it to a thirsty dog who just came in from a hot walk outside, they won't touch it. They instinctively know it's been changed somehow. She said she took the microwave out of her house and heats up food on the stove or in the oven. I was interested in what she had to say because this was news to me, but I didn't take it seriously. I just figured it was something extreme people do and I liked the convenience of a microwave. For many years after that, I continued using it.
It wasn't until I started to research health on my own that I stumbled upon this idea again, and it really made me think. In Radical Beauty by Kimberly Snyder, C.N. and Deepak Chopra, M.D., the authors explain why they advise people to avoid microwaves. "In addition to their EMF output, microwaves may potentially alter or even destroy your food's nutrition. For instance, research published in the journal Pediatrics found that microwaving breast milk cuts down on lysozyme activity, reduces key antibodies, promotes potentially dangerous bacteria, and destroys immunoglobulin A antibodies, which fight invading microbes." (Radical Beauty p.220)
I finally finished this book in early 2018, and that section really stuck with me. I had been relying on the microwave to heat my food all my life, never stopping to think of the effect it could have on my home environment or the food I was putting into my precious body. But still, I ignored this fact for some time. I was always hungry because I was breastfeeding my daughter, so I wanted my food to heat up fast! Then one day, I decided to gradually use the microwave less. On days when I wasn't in a rush, I would heat up lunch on the stove or in the toaster oven. I realized it didn't take that much longer and I could work on other things while I waited. It got to the point where I never used the microwave and since the last half of 2018 and on I haven't.
My husband was on board with this new way of heating our food, so we discussed getting rid of the microwave altogether since it's presence was no longer useful. Recently, we acted on this decision and replaced it with a range hood unit that includes an exhaust vent fan and overhead light. You can find these units for affordable prices on Amazon or any home improvement store. Click here to find the exact one we got.
I don't miss the microwave and I find my food tastes much better and less mushy since using other heating methods. If you're considering trying to make this change, I encourage you to give it a chance and see for yourself!
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