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Microwave Cooking: The Handy VillainMicrowave cooking is here. Sure its handy, but do you know the dangers? Most households have one of these ovens. In many homes it has taken on a significant role. Let's look at the risks. Microwave ovens cook with microwave radiation. It acts by penetrating the outer part of food and targeting water and fat molecules. It is far more efficient on the water molecule. The molecules have a positive and negative charge. These are excited and the molecules vibrate. The vibration occurs at very high speeds and causes the heat. The heat then transmits to other molecules. This is what transfers the heat. The transfer of heat through out the whole item takes time. That is why you can have spots that are cold in your food. The amount of radiation leakage from these ovens is reportedly safe according to the FDA. Ok. But they also recommend you don't stand in front of the door while it is operating. With that said, one would conclude it isn't without some element of risk. Most people readily use plastics in their microwaves. Plastics leak the toxins that they are made from. These toxins seep into the food or drink that is being held. This occurs whether it is microwaved or not. When you then microwave the plastic, the amount of toxins released is greatly increased when the plastic is heated. What's that you say? You only use microwave safe plastic. Alright. Let me explain something you may not have known. Plastic is still plastic. Have you ever put plastic in the microwave and it melted out of shape? Ok. That plastic is not safe in the microwave. Microwave safe doesn't refer to it being safe for you. It is referring to it being safe for the plastic. Really. I too was surprised. So, what are your options? 
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