Is Your Microwave Slowly Killing You?

Is your microwave killing you? The short answer is no, the long answer is maybe. A couple of years back there were many reports that microwaves may be irradiating your food with harmful radiation, or that the microwave itself actually emits harmful radiation while you stand next to it. The radiation that a microwave produces is not harmful to you because it is non-ionizing radiation. Also, microwaves are made of protective material that prevents radiation from escaping. The only way for this radiation to escape would be through the door, but all microwaves are made so that when you open the door, the microwave automatically stops.

You're basically safe as long as you don't stand to close to the microwave constantly, or the actual microwave isn't damaged. If the door to the microwave is damaged or loose, then it could be leaking harmful microwave radiation and you should dispose of the microwave as soon as possible. A microwave is specifically made to only leak a certain amount of radiation in its lifetime. The radiation that a microwave is allowed to leak in its lifetime, is less then the background radiation you receive in a year, so you have nothing to worry about in that respect.

What you might have to worry about is what the microwave is doing to your food. The microwave robs your food of essential nutrients. You shouldn't cook vegetables in the microwave, as they hold a lot of essential nutrients you will need through out your day. So in the long run your microwave could be killing you, by robbing you of essential nutrients you need to get throughout the day. It probably isn't a great idea to eat of the microwave three times a day. But besides that the radiation that your food gets from being cooked is next to nothing, so you don't have to worry about that.

In conclusion, the only thing you really have worry about when you microwave your food is losing nutrients. You really don't have anything to worry about when it comes to radiation unless the microwave itself is damaged or you consistently stand right next to the microwave. These machines are made to protect you from harmful radiation, which government regulations I might add. You receive more background radiation a year, then you will receive from your microwave in its whole lifetime, so if that isn't comforting enough for you then I don't know what is.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microwave_oven