Mom's Editorial

Being a parent you try to use things that consume the least amount of your time. And when it comes to convenience of warming food, nothing beats a microwave. While some parents regularly make use of microwave for warming milk, water and even food, there are others who are staunchly against the idea. But how safe microwave really is when it comes to warming or heating food or milk for your baby? In this article, we will try to find out is microwave good for babies.

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It is a known fact that a microwave heats food by passing electromagnetic waves through the food. These waves then move the molecules heat up by moving up and down in response to the radiation from the microwave.

Because of the convenience that a microwave offers, we generally tend to ignore how harmful it can be for our and our babies’ health. But if you consider these dangers, we are sure you will think twice before putting baby’s food, or anything for that matter, in the microwave for warming.

1. It is a common perception that radiations that microwaves emit can possibly cause cancer. This should be reason enough to keep away from microwaving food. You may think that you don’t use it every day or as often but small amount of toxicity over time really has the potential to affect your body in a significantly negative way.
2. All the nutrients and the compounds in the food or drinks are damaged when they are microwaved. Here’s a bit of scientific validation – “Radiation causes ionization which occurs when a neutral atom gains electrons. In simpler terms, a microwave oven decays and changes the molecular structure of the food by the process of radiations. These radiations break down any vitamins and minerals in the food.” In, yet, another study it was concluded that “microwave cooking change the nutrients of the food leading to changes in the consumer’s blood that could damage bodily systems.”
3. Just for the record, breast milk should not need warming unless you keep it stacked in the fridge for later use. However, if you do microwave breast milk, it significantly decreases the antibody levels in it. These antibodies in the breast milk are what keep your little one away from all the infections.
4. Microwaving food is also associated with reduction in the levels of flavonoids by 97% and of sinapic acid derivatives. Flavonoids are known to have anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-microbial properties, while sinapic acid derivatives neutralize the free radicals in the body, which are also the cancer-causing agents.
5. BY microwaving food, you greatly run the risk of reducing vitamin B12 levels and bacteria-digesting enzymes in the breast milk. Where B12 is imperative for the formation of red blood cells, prevention of anemia and a healthy nervous system, babies only develop a healthy digestion and absorb nutrients with the help of enzymes present in the breast milk.

What is more dangerous than just microwaving food is the use of plastic-ware for warming. Plastics, anyway, never did the environment any good either. But if we talk about warming food in the oven, you are better off without plastic touching even the tiniest bit of your food in the microwave.

And using the baby’s bottle to warm milk in the microwave is a strict NO!

A chemical toxin by the name Bisphenol A is known to cause a negative effect in the neural and reproductive development. Even some branded baby bottles have this chemical in them. Exposure to this chemical is linked to cancer, early puberty, obesity and even diabetes.

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Although it may be difficult to stay away from gadgets emitting radiations because we are so used to them in our daily life, for example, TVs, laptops, computer, mobile etc. However, the best thing we can do is reduce the radiations if not completely eliminate them.
In the end I would just say that instead of the one minute that microwave takes in cooking or warming something you should invest 5 minutes on the stove for the same. You’ll realize that it definitely does make a difference to not only your health but also your baby’s.

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Based on research and other fact finding, would you still use microwave for warming your or your baby’s food and/or drinks? Or would you consider avoiding it? Let us know of any of your experiences with using microwaves in the comments.