So, I always have to laugh when someone comes to my home and needs to use a microwave. It is such a good time every time. They look and turn and look and turn, and look so perplexed when I don’t have a microwave. My poor children didn’t even realize we didn’t have one until I explained to them that you can’t make microwave popcorn in the toaster oven.  We threw our microwave out almost 8  years ago and have never regretted it. There is nothing we can’t do in the kitchen that I can’t do without it. (except make microwave popcorn, but then you don’t really want to even eat that anyway…) And I feel much better knowing the nutrients in the food I prepare are healthy and whole for my family.  I am extending an invitation: throw out your microwave, don’t even give it to someone you love, I wouldn’t give one to someone I didn’t love either. So here are 10 reasons to take the plunge, and a link after for more info, if you don’t want to believe me…

Ten Reasons To Throw Out Your Microwave Oven:

• Continually eating microwave processed food causes permanent brain damage.

• The human body is unable to metabolize the unknown by-products created in microwaved foods.

• Male and female hormone production is shut down and/or altered by continually eating microwaved foods.

• The effects of by-products remain in the human body long-term.

• Minerals, vitamins and nutrients are reduced by microwaving so that the body gets little or altered components that cannot be broken down.

• The minerals in vegetables are altered into cancerous free radicals by microwaves.

• Microwaved foods cause stomach and intestinal cancerous growths. This may partially explain the rapid increase of the colon cancer rate in America.

• Long term consumption of microwaved foods causes cancerous cells to increase in human blood.

• It also causes immune system deficiencies through alterations in the lymph glands and blood serum.

• Eating microwaved food causes loss of memory and concentration, emotional instability and a decrease of intelligence.

Source: www.mercola.com

For more research on this important topic please visit this link: http://www.mercola.com/article/microwave/hazards.htm

1. Sodium Nitrate (also called Sodium Nitrite) This is a preservative, coloring, and flavoring commonly added to bacon, ham, hot dogs, luncheon meats, smoked fish, and corned beef. Studies have linked eating it to various types of cancer.

2. BHA and BHT Butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydrozyttoluene are used to preserve common household foods. They are found in cereals, chewing gum, potato chips, and vegetable oils. They are oxidants, which form potentially cancer-causing reactive compounds in your body.

3. Propyl Gallate Another preservative, often used in conjunction with BHA and BHT. It is sometimes found in meat products, chicken soup base, and chewing gum. Animals studies have suggested that it could be linked to cancer.

4. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) MSG is an amino acid used as a flavor enhancer in soups, salad dressings, chips, frozen entrees, and restaurant food. It can cause headaches and nausea, and animal studies link it to damaged nerve cells in the brains of infant mice.

5. Trans Fats Trans fats are proven to cause heart disease. Restaurant food, especially fast food chains, often serve foods laden with trans fats.

6. Aspartame Aspartame, also known by the brand names Nutrasweet and Equal, is a sweetener found in so-called diet foods such as low-calorie desserts, gelatins, drink mixes, and soft drinks. It may cause cancer or neurological problems, such as dizziness or hallucinations.

7. Acesulfame-K This is a relatively new artificial sweetener found in baked goods, chewing gum, and gelatin desserts. There is a general concern that testing on this product has been scant, and some studies show the additive may cause cancer in rats.

8. Food Colorings: Blue 1, 2; Red 3; Green 3; Yellow 6 Five food colorings still on the market are linked with cancer in animal testing. Blue 1 and 2, found in beverages, candy, baked goods and pet food, have been linked to cancer in mice. Red 3, used to dye cherries, fruit cocktail, candy, and baked goods, has been shown to cause thyroid tumors in rats. Green 3, added to candy and beverages, has been linked to bladder cancer. The widely used yellow 6, added to beverages, sausage, gelatin, baked goods, and candy, has been linked to tumors of the adrenal gland and kidney.

9. Olestra Olestra, a synthetic fat found in some potato chip brands, can cause severe diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and gas. Olestra also inhibits healthy vitamin absorption from fat-soluble carotenoids that are found in fruits and vegetables.

10. Potassium Bromate Potassium bromate is used as an additive to increase volume in some white flour, breads, and rolls. It is known to cause cancer in animals, and even small amounts in bread can create a risk for humans.

11. White Sugar Watch out for foods with added sugars, such as baked goods, cereals, crackers, sauces and many other processed foods. It is unsafe for your health, and promotes bad nutrition.

12. Sodium Chloride A dash of sodium chloride, more commonly known as salt, can bring flavor to your meal. But too much salt can be dangerous for your health, leading to high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure.

OK, it’s totally off the subject and has nothing to do with health or nutrition, but I wanted to invite you all to go on an amazing trip with me and my husband to Italy. We will be gone 14 days during March of 2009 and will see many cities along the way starting in Venice, then to Florence and end in Rome. If you are interested and want to learn more contact me for more info. We did a trip like this to France in 2006 and it was an amazing experience! This time we want to be joined by many friends and family, that’s the only thing that would make a trip like this more memorable. Come go to Italy with us!

Along with reading the labels on the food you buy to avoid the dietary culprits listed above, here are more simple tips to get you started:

1. Cut out excess “empty” calories like those from soda, candy, cookies, sweetened drinks and chips first.
2. Eat more vegetables, fruits and other whole, fresh foods.
3. Eat less processed foods and oils, sugar and caffeine.
4. Eat whole fruit instead of drinking fruit juice.
5. Bake, grill, steam or broil food instead of frying it (fewer calories and better for health and energy).
6. Drink water as your primary beverage.
7. When choosing grains, pick items that have whole grains listed as the first ingredient on the label.
8. Get healthy fats by eating foods such as low-mercury fish, nuts, avocados, olives and olive oil.
9. Sit down to a regular, family mealtime everyday (or as often as possible), including foods you’ve cooked at home.
10. Limit take-out food, fast food and pre-packaged convenience foods.