Pregnancy is a wonderful time for expecting mothers, but at the same time, it comes with different changes in lifestyle, mind, and body. You have to give up junkies and take up the healthy eating habit. There is a long list of to-do’s and don’ts. Pregnancy is a very busy time for you to take care of you and your developing baby. To meet all the new demands, there is often a chance that you may end up having quick meals, which is cooked or heated in a microwave oven. But is microwaved food safe during pregnancy?
Harmful Effects of Eating Microwaved Food during Pregnancy
There are no studies to confirm the harmful effects of the radiation; there are only assumptions that the radiation that your oven emits may be risky for you and your growing baby. It is not wise to use a microwave oven if the door is warped or the oven can function even when the door is open. Then there is a risk of getting affected by the radiation which can cause damage to the body cells of you and your growing baby. So never use microwave ovens in such conditions.
Can I Eat Microwaved Food During Pregnancy?
The principle of microwave ovens is to use a type of radiation that heats food by promoting vibration in the water molecules within the food. There is no problem if the microwave door has a good seal, so that the radiation affects only the items that are inside the oven. In such cases, you can eat microwaved food even when you are pregnant.
Is It Healthy to Eat Microwaved Food During Pregnancy?
There is a serious concern whether it is safe to eat food which is cooked or heated in microwave oven when you are expecting a baby. There is an usual worry about the radiation waves which may harm the pregnant women if they eat food cooked in such waves, but according to the new standards, the microwave ovens are manufactured under safety standards to ensure the emission levels of radiation causes no health risk. So apparently there should not be a problem eating microwaved food during pregnancy. But again, the healthy option to have food is having fresh food – which is the best of all other options.
Tips for Using Microwave Oven Safely
Always follow the manufacturer’s instruction manual which comes along with the microwave oven. Follow whatever are recommended, such as safety precautions and operating procedures for your oven model. It is advisable to stay several feet away when your microwave oven is in use. It is unwise to use it if the door is bent or does not close firmly, warped, or damaged by any means. Also, do not heat food in plastic wraps under microwave oven as it is not considered healthy even if you are not pregnant.
Not to Worry If Used Correctly
Microwave radiation poses minimal threat to its users if used correctly. So if you follow the tips carefully, then you do not need to worry much about the risks. Microwave oven is an efficient mean to prepare nutritious meals causing no harm to pregnant women or their developing babies provided that the radiations are not leaking and if safety precautions are followed. One of the most important things that you can do is, stay few feet away when microwave is in use to save yourself from microwave radiations.
It is always better to choose fresh foods over any other kind, but still if you cannot live without this handy appliance, the best is to double-check all the hinges, seals, and latches of your microwave oven if they are damage-free. If you still have any doubt that your microwave may leak radiation waves, then do not hesitate to contact the manufacturer, your state health department, or a microwave service organization.
It is better to be safe than to be sorry. So, you can completely avoid using it during your pregnancy period or lessen the frequency of its use. Enjoy a healthy pregnancy!
