microwaves leak radiation less than a finger-length in distance away from the box. metal bounces microwaves; the entire oven is wrapped in metal. thus a microwave oven radiation leak occur only from the window. they also do not hang around in the food for the same reason that sunshine does not hang around the air once the sun leaves the sky.

microwave radiation is electromagnetic based and is not the same thing as the notorious nuclear, or ionizing radiation, which is a common misconception many people seem have. i havent come across any credible information implicating radiation from microwave ovens as harmful. therefore, if it is found to be harmful, it would likely be harmful to the same degree as sunshine is to our skin, as long as our face is pressed up against the microwave oven window.
but this does not stop researchers from implicating non-ionizing radiation from all sorts of diseases and disorders. the most recent one i have come across is electromagnetic radiation (from sources such as wifi) causing autism.

yes, plastics leak toxic dioxens. warm and NEW plastic leaks more.

despite what raw foodists tend to believe, we (humans) have been cooking our food for at least 250,000 to 500,000 years ago and quite possibly even as far back as 2 million years ago, before humans as we presently are existed. that does not mean all our food was cooked, however.
the high temperature that cooking food experiences does change food. the surfaces of the food can be changed in a negative manor creating cancer-causing agents. food becoming soft and tender is the positive change.

try steaming food. steaming changes food the least out of all cooking methods while still tenderizing it.

I’ve been fairly anti-microwave for several years, mostly because food cooked in one is never as good as food cooked by other means, and I’m perfectly willing to wait longer for better food. I use a teapot for my tea, and if any food needs reheating, it goes on the stove, in the stove, or in my toaster oven (I love my toaster oven).

I’ve also heard that microwaves can leak radiation, and that microwaving food in plastic dishes can contribute to cancer - but I don’t know the validity of either of these claims.

I think the raw foodies may be right when they say that any cooking changes food in a negative way, so I think your eating raw is a great idea. Aside from flavonoids, I find the info about enzymes really fascinating and a good reason to go raw.

I have a microwave from my grandma that I use for popcorn, but I plan on getting rid of it and getting a popcorn-popper (like we had when I was a kid!) when I get my tax return. Then I’ll also have the benefit of eating popcorn without all the garbage additives. And I’m going to buy a juicer, so I can make yummy green drinks and the like.

All in all, I think microwaves are useless. Unless you want to eat quick and easy processed foods…