Do microwaves affect the nutritional content of food?
This is a tricky question. It depends on whom you believe, as there is research out there to support both the “yes” and “no” claims. Somegroups claim that microwaves are humankind’s most deadly invention, viciously converting all food into carcinogens. Others, like the FDA, assure us that microwave cooking doesn’t reduce the nutritional value of food any more than conventional cooking. The FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health states that “foods cooked in a microwave oven may keep more of their vitamins and minerals, because microwave ovens can cook more quickly and without adding water.” It would seem that the biggest destroyer of nutrients is prolonged exposure to heat and the addition of water. While more research on this is needed, there is some consensus that microwaves do decrease the vitamin B12 content of foods. Can chewing gum be bad for you? That depends. If the gum has sugar in it, it can promote cavities, as the bacteria that erode tooth enamel grow and thrive in
