Those quick meals could put you at risk for weight gain, heart disease, and other health problems.
Whether you have had a grueling day at the office or have very few fresh ingredients in the fridge, choosing a microwaveable meal frequently seems like a better option than ordering another unhealthy—and expensive—takeout meal. Even though many microwave meals claim to be healthy or diet-friendly, experts believe they typically cause more harm than good. Adult study subjects who ingested prepared foods, including microwaved meals, daily experienced surprisingly negative health repercussions, according to a 2015 study published in The British Journal of Nutrition.
The researchers discovered that eating prepared meals, especially "heat-and-eat" meals, was linked to not just inferior overall nutritional quality—including higher fat intake and lower fiber intake—but also a slew of unexpected health impacts. Continue reading to learn about the microwaved meal side effects you cannot afford to overlook.
1. You may be at greater risk for certain cancers.
When it comes to what you are eating, the ingredient list on the back of that microwave meal might not tell the whole story.
"The microwave causes food and the containers in which the foods are cooked to super-heat using electromagnetic radiation," says Spencer Kroll, MD, Ph.D., an internal medicine specialist of Kroll Medical Group. "This overheating can cause the chemical components of the containers that surround your food to break down, allowing harmful substances to bleed into your meal."
ACCORDING TO KROLL, Bisphenol A (BPA), which has been linked to a range of malignancies, is one of the most alarming of these chemicals. BPA is connected to the formation and spread of both breast and prostate cancer cells, according to a 2015 review of data published in Medicine (Baltimore).
2. Your blood pressure may rise.
Just because a microwave meal has a low-calorie count does not guarantee it is healthy. Indeed, the significant levels of salt needed to make many microwave dishes tasty could lead to significant health concerns in the future.
"Sodium and other preservatives are abundant in microwave ready meals," says Kroll. "High salt meals exacerbate blood pressure issues and increase the risk of heart disease."
3. You may retain water.
When you eat sodium-laden microwave meals, it is not just your heart health that is at stake. Microwaved meals, according to registered dietitian nutritionist Shena Jaramillo, MS, RD, "are heavy in sodium, which can lead to water retention."
Other healthy behaviors, such as drinking enough water, may fall by the wayside as a result. According to a 2017 study published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, a 6-gram increase in salt consumption—equivalent to about 1.2 tablespoons of salt—causes water retention that "reduces thirst and fluid intake."
4. You could put yourself at risk for food poisoning.
Microwaving has been advertised to eliminate anything from viruses to germs, but it does not necessarily mean you are safe from food poisoning. One of the microwaved meal side effects might put you out of commission for a while.
"Microwaving food demands elevated temperatures, and food temperatures are uneven," explains Invigor Medical specialist Leann Poston, MD, who advises against microwaving meals multiple times. "It's possible that some areas of a food portion will not reach a temperature high enough to destroy microorganisms."
5. You might notice a change in your waistline.
Do not hold your breath if you are attempting to lose weight by eating microwaved meals.
Greater consumption of prepared foods especially microwaved meals, "was found to be independently related with abdominal obesity," according to a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition.