| MadSci Network: Biochemistry |
I was wondering because I came across the following website: http://www.mercola.com/article/microwave/hazards.htm It contained the following quote. "Dr. Lita Lee of Hawaii reported in the December 9, 1989 Lancet: "Microwaving baby formulas converted certain trans-amino acids into their synthetic cis-isomers. Synthetic isomers, whether cis-amino acids or trans- fatty acids, are not biologically active. Further, one of the amino acids, L-proline, was converted to its d-isomer, which is known to be neurotoxic (poisonous to the nervous system) and nephrotoxic (poisonous to the kidneys). It's bad enough that many babies are not nursed, but now they are given fake milk (baby formula) made even more toxic via microwaving." end of quote So I was wondering if eating microwaved food could increase the chances of getting cancer (if the changed isomeric form of the amino acid is a carcinogen) or pose other health risks (if the changed isomeric form of the amino acid L-proline is toxic, as written in the quote above). But my main question is still whether microwaves change the cis-trans configuration, or the isomeric form, of organic molecules such as amino acids.
Re: Does microwaving food change its organic molecules' isomeric form?
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