Microwaves are a common appliance in every household now. You will see it in kitchens of not just houses, but offices, cafeterias, and co working space. However, there are studies that show that heating food in a microwave could be a health concern. While it does come handy, there are questions about harmful radiation and nutrient loss and heating safety that still linger.

Does Microwave Destroy The Nutrients In Food While Heating?

Some research suggests that microwaving may cause nutritional loss, particularly in vegetables. For example, studies have shown that microwaving broccoli with water diminishes its flavonoid content, which are anti-inflammatory compounds. However, experts note that cooking method and duration have a significant influence on nutrient retention.

Surprisingly, several studies indicate that microwaving preserves more nutrients than traditional cooking methods. A study comparing microwaved versus oven-cooked ready meals found that the microwaved version contained somewhat more vitamin C. Another study discovered that microwaving some vegetables, such as broccoli and green beans, may retain more beneficial compounds than boiling.

Ultimately, the nutrient loss really vary on the type of food which is being heated and how it is being cooked. Experts also recommend using minimal water and shorter cooking times to maximize the nutrient retention.

Is Heating In Plastic Safe?

Plastic containers and heating food in it, has always been a topic of debate. While containers do come with microwave-safe stamps, is it really safe to heat them with food?

According to research, when certain plastics are subjected to heat, they produce compounds such as phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA). These substances have been associated to hormonal disturbance, metabolic problems, and perhaps reproductive concerns.

A study also took in account over 400 plastic food containers that were microwave-safe and found that most of them leaked hormone-disrupting chemicals. These are phthalates, warn experts, which are commonly used in food packaging and can interfere with body's hormonal balance, and increase risk of diabetes or even high blood pressure.

Additionally, BPA exposure has been associated with fertility issues and immune system disruptions.

So, what can be done instead?

To minimize this risk, experts recommend using glass or ceramic container when microwaving foods. If you must use a plastic container, make sure the container is not damaged or old, as they are more prone to leach harmful chemicals.

What About The Radiation?

Concerns about microwave radiation have been largely debunked by decades of research. Microwaves use non-ionizing radiation, which does not have enough energy to damage DNA or cause cancer. The electromagnetic waves used in microwaves are similar to those from radios and light bulbs.

Experts emphasize that microwave ovens are designed to contain radiation, preventing exposure. As long as the microwave is in good condition and the door seals properly, there is no significant health risk from microwave radiation.

Other Concerns

Microwaving food could sometimes also lead to uneven cooking and it can create some risks to food safety. Thus, experts advertise to use microwave only to reheat the food and not to actually cook raw food. For safe reheating, food should reach at least 82°C (176°F) throughout to kill bacteria.

Blood sugar spikes are dangerous as it could trigger inflammation, oxidative stress, and damage blood vessel linings. The most dangerous, risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cognitive decline. When people think of blood sugar spikes, they think of food, carbohydrates or sugary food items that should be avoided. However, there are other things too that are not food, but could spike your blood sugar.

NHS doctor, Dr Amir Khan, who is a general physician with NHS England, resident doctor on ITV's Lorraine and Good Morning Britain, and host of the No Appointment Necessary podcast on his Instagram channel highlighted five non-food related reasons that could spike your blood sugar.

"Did you know your blood sugar can spike even if you haven't had a single bite to eat?" He starts his video with this disclaimer and goes on to say, "Let me share five surprising things that can raise your blood sugar and why it might not always be a bad thing."

Five Reasons Beyond Food That Could Spike Your Blood Sugar Levels

Stress

Dr Khan shares that stress triggers a rise in cortisol levels that activates the body's fight-or-flight response. This signals the liver to release stored glucose into the bloodstream to provide a quick boost of energy. This thus leads to a surge of glucose in blood and leads to the rise of blood sugar levels.

"When you're stressed, your body releases cortisol, the fight or flight hormone that tells your liver to release stored glucose to give you energy. Great if you're running from a tiger, less helpful if you're just stuck in traffic. Remember, chronic stress equals chronic glucose spikes and that is not good for long-term health,” he explains.

Poor Sleep

He also highlighted that even a single night of poor sleep could increase insulin resistance, which means glucose stays in the bloodstream for longer duration and could lead to elevated blood sugar levels. He said that chronic sleep deprivation could raise the risk of developing type 2 diabetes even in people who try to maintain otherwise a healthy diet.

"One bad night, your body becomes more insulin resistant. That means glucose hangs around in the blood for longer and over time, poor sleep can increase your risk of type 2 diabetes, even if you try your best to eat well," he says.

Exercise

To many people's shock, he says exercise could temporarily spike blood sugar. "Number three, exercise. Yes, even the good stuff. Certain types of exercises, especially intense or resistance training, can temporarily raise your blood sugars. Why? Well, again, it's your body releasing glucose for fuel, but really importantly, long-term, exercise improves insulin sensitivity, meaning lower blood sugars overall. So, this is not a bad spike,” he explains.

However, he does point out that it is not a bad thing. He notes that certain forms of physical activity, especially intense or resistance training could prompt the body to release more glucose in bloodstream to fuel the muscles. However, he also points out that regular exercise improves insulin sensitivity over time and helps the body regulate sugar more effectively.

Infections And Illnesses

“When you're fighting off a bug, your immune system has to ramp up, and that comes with a glucose surge. It's your body's way of fueling the immune response. People living with diabetes often notice higher blood sugar levels when they're unwell. That's totally normal and they may have to adjust their medication accordingly,” explains Dr Khan.

What this means is that when your body is fighting off infection, it releases more glucose in your bloodstream that works as a fuel for your immune system. This is why people with diabetes often notice higher blood sugar when they are unwell. However, he points out that this is body's normal response to combat illness.

Hormones

"Ladies, this one's for you because it's mainly around your periods or the menopause. In the second half of your menstrual cycle, that's the luteal phase, progesterone levels rise. This can make your cells more insulin resistant, meaning higher blood sugars. And of course, in perimenopause and the menopause, estrogen levels decline, and that comes with insulin sensitivity dropping. So you become more resistant to insulin, leading to more frequent spikes in blood sugar. That's why women in their 40s and 50s may notice weight gain, fatigue, or brain fog which can be linked to blood sugar shifts.”

Dr Khan notes that hormonal fluctuations during different phases of menstrual cycle could also influence blood sugar levels. Higher progesterone during luteal phase could make cells more insulin resistant. When estrogen is declining during perimenopause or menopause, it could further reduce insulin sensitivity.

Dr Khan concludes, “So remember, not all blood sugar spikes are bad. Context matters. But if you're seeing high readings and you're not sure why, it's always worth talking to your doctor and it’s not always about what you're eating.”

Note: This article is based on content available in public knowledge. Health and Me does not promote any user-generated content being as a substitute for medically verified information or prescription.

Lights will guide you home, but will it treat your mental illness? It could. According to new findings, changing the color of light could help treat mental illness. A psychiatric unit in Trondheim, Norway is testing how light could be used as a potential treatment for mental health conditions like psychosis and depression. The approach is simple, yet innovative that aims on changing the ward's design to help patients in their recovery. As night falls, filters are lowered over windows and lights are changed. This creates a soothing ambiance and eliminates the blue wavelengths that could disrupt body's internal clock.

Also Read: Meningitis Outbreak: University of Kent Student Among Two Who Died of the ‘Invasive’ Disease

The findings have been published in PLOS Medicine, that looked on the patients who were treated in the circadian-adapted ward. The study showed that these patients showed greater clinical improvement and less aggressive behavior. "Just by changing the light spectrum, we can improve the quality of treatment," said Havard Kallestad, a researcher at St Olavs hospital who led the study.

Has This Approach Been Used In Other Areas Of Healthcare?

Researchers are now looking at its use for other healthcare areas, which means beyond the psychiatric wards. The UK's National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) has also called for trials to see if this could "reset" the internal clocks of people who are living in care homes to reduce their behavioral disturbances, especially in dementia patients.

Professor Anthony Gordon of the NIHR said that it was about determining if light therapy could be used to reduce anxiety and improve sleep.

Read: Doctor Explains How Sleep Debt Is Becoming A Crisis In Urban Professionals

How Was The Study Conducted?

The psychiatric unit was divided in two identical halves with the same layout, staffing, and facilities. The key difference between the two was the evening light environment. One of the wards used blue-depleted lighting from 6pm onwards, where blinds and filters blocked similar light from windows and screens.

Whereas the other ward used standard hospital lighting and the unique design allowed researchers to study the impact of different lighting on patient recovery.

What Is Circadian Rhythm And How It Impacts Health?

Circadian rhythm is the body's internal 24-hour clock that regulated the sleep-wake cycle, hormones, digestion, and temperature, which aligns them with day and light. It is primarily controlled by light-sensitive brain cells, or what people commonly call the 'body clock'.

Disruption in the cycle could link to various health issues, which includes mental health problems like depression and cardiovascular diseases. This is why the test in Trondheim could prove beneficial in treating patients across the spectrum of illness.

Dialysis patients who took daily fish oil supplements had a 43 percent lower risk of major cardiovascular events, according to a large international clinical trial jointly led in Australia by Monash Health and the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash University.

Published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the study found that participants who took four grams of fish oil each day experienced significantly fewer major cardiovascular events, including heart attack, stroke, cardiac death and vascular-related amputations than those who received a placebo.

The supplement contained the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, which are naturally found in fish oil.

Adjunct Professor Kevan Polkinghorne, a nephrologist at Monash Health and adjunct in the School of Clinical Sciences, led the Australian portion of the trial said: "Patients on dialysis have extremely high cardiovascular risk, and very few therapies have been shown to reduce that risk," Professor Polkinghorne said. "In a field where many trials have been negative, this is a significant finding.

"Dialysis patients typically have much lower levels of EPA and DHA than the general population. This may help explain the magnitude of benefit observed in this group."

He also noted that results applied specifically to people undergoing haemodialysis for kidney failure and the findings should not be generalized to healthy individuals or to other groups of patients.

What Are Fish Oil Omega-3s?

Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats known for their crucial role in brain function and overall mental health. Fish oil is particularly rich in EPA and DHA, which are vital components of cell membranes and have strong anti-inflammatory effects in the body.

These omega-3s play a critical role in human development, and they are primarily found in fatty fish and fish oil. Since many people do not consume enough fish, supplementation is often recommended to ensure adequate intake of these essential fatty acids.

Although the body can convert another type of omega-3, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), into EPA and DHA, this process is not highly efficient. As a result, fish oil supplements may provide a convenient way to ensure optimal levels of omega-3s.

Some popular sources of Omega-3 include:

• Salmon
• Cod Liver Oil
• Algae Oil
• Oysters
• Nuts and seeds, such as flaxseeds, chia seeds, and walnuts
• Plant oils, such as flaxseed oil, soybean oil, and canola oil
• Fortified foods, such as eggs, yogurt, juices, milk, etc.

Budget 2026: Cheaper Fish In India

Earlier this month, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a surprising tax reduction for India's fishers and marine industry, and experts say it is good news for you too.

Until now, fish caught by Indian vessels beyond territorial waters and brought back to the country for mass consumption has been treated as import, attracting customs duties and integrated goods and services tax (GST).

The combined tax burden raises costs and compliance issues, which discouraged people from deep-sea and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) fishing as well as

However, during her Union Budget 2026 presentation, Sitharaman proposed that fish caught in the EEZ and high seas by Indian fishing vessels are treated as duty-free when brought into Indian ports and treated as exports when landed at foreign ports.

This means that the market availability for Omega-3 packed fishes including salmon, mackerel, tuna, herring and sardines will significantly increase as their existing steep prices see a tremendous fall.