Is this Another Reason Why We Gain Weight?
There are so many reasons why we gain weight. Eating too much fast food has been blamed on the fast food industry because it is so assessable and the price is cheap. It's convenient when so many of us are busy and struggle to prepare meals for a hungry family in a timely manner.
But another enemy has been named by Jane Wardle, a professor at the University College London. She maintains that the microwave is the culprit because they were becoming the standard feature in the 1980's when the obesity epidemic first began. Food definitely takes less time to heat up but somehow I don’t believe it's the real culprit.
I personally use it to heat leftovers so I don’t have to spend so much time preparing meals from scratch every single day. So from my standpoint it actually helps benefit weight loss efforts if you plan ahead a bit.
So do microwaves help or hurt your weight loss efforts? Do you think they have contributed to the obesity epidemic?
We can always put the blame on something but ultimately the responsibility starts and ends with each person. This means you have to be accountable for how much you eat every day regardless of what triggers you to eat it. I urge you to use the Pantry to track your calories so you really know how much you consume every day.
older posts
Posted by: Elaine Murphy | Mar 24, 2008 1:15:32 PM
Good for you Eugenia. Most of us are definitely spoiled with all our modern day conveniences.
I've heard that the convection oven could be a better alternative to the microwave. It takes a bit longer but supposedly does not cause the same damage to the the food. Has anyone heard anything bad about this type of oven?
Posted by: Eugenia | Mar 24, 2008 12:24:16 PM
I've also read a number of the studies that claim that microwaves do bad things to the nutrients in food, whether it's just reducing them, or actively changing nutrients into toxins. Additionally, I was worried about the idea that microwaves DO escape the microwave & possibly cause cellular damage.
About a year ago, I tossed my microwave. I can barely feel the loss. Most things I can heat up in the oven, if needed (though I rarely need to). I stopped using the microwave at work too. We're lucky enough to have a toaster oven at work, but I barely use that either. I don't understand why people can be so insistant about brining piping-hot food to work. If I bring leftovers, I just leave them out an hour or so & eat them lukewarm. Not exactly a tragedy.
Posted by: Michelle | Mar 20, 2008 7:49:52 PM
I agree while the microwave does help make our lives easier. Especially when we take our lunches to work with us. People are more to blame than the technology if we took the time to plan what we're going to eat before micorwaving it a lot more people would be eating healthier foods other than multiple frozen pizzas in one sitting.
Posted by: Elaine | Mar 19, 2008 6:47:22 PM
Kat,
I tend to think the same way with most of what you are saying. Some studies say the microwave saves nutrients but I'm concerned about the actual magnetic waves and what they may be doing to the food. And, no you should never cook in plastic at all as it does seep into your food. In regard to sleep, studies have actually proven that lack of sleep makes you more prone to gaining weight. It has to do with how a person metabolizes carbohydrates. All that being said, a microwave is not the only thing that may contribute to weight gain.
Posted by: Aloha Nema | Mar 19, 2008 12:21:31 PM
Oh, I can't believe microwave can make weight gain.
Posted by: Kat | Mar 18, 2008 7:20:25 PM
I think that microwaves COULD contribute to the weight gain epidemic. I've read that it destroys the nutrients in the food, and that it can release toxins in the plastics. However, I would be loathe to blame just the microwave.
I would blame lack of sleep, because most days, people don't get up and say to themselves "OH BOY! today I get to eat a microwaved dinner today!!!!" Most would prefer to have a nice home-cooked meal. The reason why they can't is because they are either too busy, too tired, or malnourished. I'm a pretty bad cook, and I would prefer whatever I can scrape together than eat a microwave dinner.
