When you are on the go and figuring out how to do things quicker, it is always more convenient to pack your food in hard plastic boxes as not only are they lighter, they are also easier to clean and most importantly, they can withstand getting microwaved. But before we delve into whether it is safe to microwave or not, you must understand its composition and how it works. Plastic is a synthetic material composed of long chains of polymers. These polymers are made up of repeating units called monomers. While traditionally derived from fossil fuels like oil and natural gas, plastics can also be produced from renewable sources such as wood pulp and cotton linters.

Risks of Microwaving Plastic

A primary concern with microwaving plastic is how the heat will expand the container and release harmful additives into food and beverages. Chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, used to enhance flexibility and durability, can leach into food, especially when exposed to heat. These chemicals have been linked to various health issues, including hormone disruption, obesity, diabetes, and reproductive problems. Plastic packaging keeps food safe during storage and shipping. It can even handle high heat from cooking methods like canning or microwaving.

However, chemicals added to the plastic to make it stronger or more flexible can sometimes seep into the food. These chemicals, like plasticizers, antioxidants, and stabilizers, can affect the food's quality and safety if too much gets into it. Factors like the type of food, how long it's in contact with the plastic, and the temperature can influence how much of these chemicals migrate into the food. Scientists study this by testing food or food-like liquids under different cooking and storage conditions. They use special techniques to measure how much of the chemicals move from the plastic to the food. With this information, they can create models to assess the risks and set safety limits.

What Kind of Plastic Can You Microwave?

One of the key concerns about microwaving plastics is because of a component called styrene, which when subjected to studies and research, showed a potential risk of cancer according to the National Library Of Medicine. The risk of materials leaking into the food when they are microwaved is especially high when you are doing it for fatty foods like cheese and meats. But ensure that all the products are made with good care and precision the FDA, Food and Drug Administration tests and regulates each plastic cup and polystyrene container, plate and cup. Usually, the plastics that are ok to microwave have a sign in them stating it has passed the regulations; people are advised not to use any plastic container that is not microwave-safe to heat their food.

Things To Keep In Mind

Here are some things you should keep in mind when you are heating your food in a plastic container. Make sure you are paying attention to your utensils and their upkeep to avoid any other issues.

Avoid microwaving plastic containers.

As mentioned above, some harmful substances can leak into your food so avoid microwaving as much as possible. Unless explicitly labelled as microwave-safe, it's best to avoid microwaving plastic containers.

Choose BPA-free plastics

Opt for BPA-free plastics, especially when using them for food storage or preparation. Usually, there is a code on the bottom of the container that will let you know whether it contains BPA. You can also check for objects that are labelled ‘unbreakable’ as it means it is flexible and mailable, thus containing BPA.

Replace worn-out containers

Discard plastic containers that are cracked, scratched, or showing signs of wear and tear. Worn-out things may let the chemicals seep into your food quicker as they are old and have scratches or cracks.

Use alternative coverings

When microwaving food, consider using wax paper, parchment paper, or a paper towel instead of plastic wrap. You can also use a stove instead, by putting the food into steel utensils, whether it is an electric or gas stove.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a condition where the force of blood against artery walls is consistently too high. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it's often called the “silent killer” because it typically has no warning signs but can lead to serious heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure over time. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines it as a major global health issue, with over 1.28 billion adults aged 30–79 estimated to have hypertension, most of them unaware of their condition.

Hypertension & the Young: A Growing Concern

While traditionally seen as an older person’s problem, hypertension is now being diagnosed in younger individuals—often silently progressing due to unmanaged mental health issues. According to Ms. Aanchal Choudhary Ahuja, Clinical Psychologist (RCI Recognised), Lissun, one of the major drivers behind this shift is the unique emotional and digital stress young adults face today.

“Social media is tricky,” says Ms. Ahuja. “On one hand, it connects us. On the other, it constantly bombards us with things to compare ourselves to—perfect bodies, perfect lives, perfect careers. That kind of pressure builds quietly.”

The Link Between Hypertension and Mental Health

Hypertension and depression are closely interconnected. Biologically, chronic stress and depression activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which raises cortisol levels—a stress hormone that, when elevated for long periods, can cause high blood pressure. Psychologically, depression can lead to a lack of self-care, poor diet, and disrupted sleep—all of which are risk factors for hypertension.

“I’ve seen patients come in with symptoms of anxiety and low mood, only to find out they’re also dealing with elevated blood pressure,” Ms. Ahuja explains. “It becomes a vicious cycle, where one condition fuels the other.”

Social Media and the Stress Spiral

Constant scrolling, especially late at night, leads to poor sleep and a sense of falling behind. “You open LinkedIn and suddenly feel like you're not doing enough,” says Ms. Ahuja. “It’s a subtle, constant comparison we don’t even realize we’re making.” Over time, this quiet stress impacts both mental health and cardiovascular health.

One of her clients, a 24-year-old tech employee, came in for therapy due to insomnia and anxiety. She was later found to have early-stage hypertension. “Her daily stress included back-to-back meetings, no breaks, and social media-induced sleep deprivation,” Ahuja recalls.

Signs You Shouldn't Ignore

In young adults, the early symptoms of co-existing hypertension and mental health strain can be subtle. These may include:

• Persistent fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating or brain fog
• Headaches or chest tightness
• Mood swings or emotional numbness
• Loss of interest in hobbies and relationships

“These are the body’s early warning signs,” Ms. Ahuja stresses. “Often, they’re easy to dismiss, but they’re the mind and heart asking for help.”

Long-Term Effects of Digital Overload

Poor sleep, endless comparison, and doom-scrolling quietly alter your baseline stress levels. “These habits, over months or years, change your body. You may feel 'used to it,' but your heart isn’t,” says Ahuja. Chronic stress can eventually lead to hypertension, digestive issues, weakened immunity, and emotional burnout.

Preventive Steps: From Screen Breaks to Therapy

According to Ms. Ahuja, prevention starts with awareness. “Mental health check-ins should be routine, just like blood tests. Even if nothing feels ‘wrong’, it helps catch the buildup of stress early.” She also advocates for regular digital detoxes. “Our brains weren’t designed for constant content. Taking breaks—even just keeping your phone away during meals—can reduce cortisol levels and help reset your nervous system.”

Her Advice to the Overwhelmed

“Don’t wait until it gets bad,” she says. “Waiting for a breakdown to act is like waiting for your car engine to explode before checking the oil.” Her practical suggestions:

• Limit screen time, especially before bed
• Build boundaries between work and rest
• Talk to someone—friend, mentor, or therapist
• Don’t dismiss your feelings just because they don’t seem ‘serious enough’

The search for ways to extend one’s biological life in one way or the other has become a popular notion. While we may not have found how to extend one’s biological years, increasing the average age of survival is a goal many people and countries are trying to achieve. Many studies have pointed out things that increase the biological age of our organs, making them older than our chronological age, however, what are the things that can influence our biological age positively?

A new study suggests that what women choose to eat when they are middle-aged really matters for how healthy they will be when they get older. Specifically, eating more foods with lots of fiber and good types of carbohydrates during midlife seems to make women much more likely to be both mentally sharp and physically fit in their later years, which is great news for long-term well-being.

Diet's Influence on Later Life Quality

While we already know a lot about how our diet can impact how long we live and whether we get serious diseases, this recent research takes a closer look at how our food choices impact the overall quality of life we experience as we grow older. The study wanted to understand how the foods we eat influence our overall quality of life as we age – things like being able to think clearly, move easily, and feel good mentally, not just avoiding illness. This gives us a more complete picture of how food shapes our aging process.

Researchers at Tufts University looked at information from a very large group of 47,512 women who were part of the long-running Nurses’ Health Study. This study has been going on for many years and is highly respected for its work in figuring out what causes long-term diseases in women. The researchers analyzed the women's eating habits over several decades, paying close attention to what they were eating during their middle ages.

What You Eat In Your Midlife Can Affect You Long Term

The researchers specifically concentrated on the dietary information gathered in 1984 and 1986, a period when the women in the study were in their middle age. This focused on the types of carbohydrates the women were eating. They found that the best kinds were whole grains (like brown rice and whole-wheat bread), whole fruits and vegetables, and legumes (like lentils and beans). These are considered high-quality because they have lots of fiber and starches that take longer for our bodies to break down, which is better for our blood sugar and helps us feel full. Low-quality carbs were things like white bread and sugary drinks.

What Is Healthy Aging Other Than Eating Healthy?

The researchers had a specific way of defining what "healthy aging" looked like. For the women in the study, it meant living to at least 70 years old without having any of 11 major long-term diseases, plus having good memory and physical abilities, and also being in good mental health. This definition shows that healthy aging is about more than just not being sick; it's also about being able to enjoy life and function well in both mind and body as we get older.

The results of the study were quite interesting. They found that women who regularly ate more of those high-quality carbohydrates during their middle years had a significantly higher chance – about 31% higher – of aging in a healthy way. On the flip side, women whose diets were heavy in low-quality carbohydrates had a lower chance of healthy aging. This really highlights how the choices we make about carbohydrates in our middle age can have a big impact on our health and well-being in our later years.

At this stage of technological advancement, most people carry their smartphones around with them all the time. Many of us use it for our daily needs like phone calls, placing orders and keeping track of our activity levels. However, what you may not have known, is that this daily activity tracking could be the key to proper recovery if you ever run into an accident.

A new study has found that the information your smartphone collects about your daily movement can tell doctors a lot about how quickly and well you'll get back on your feet after breaking a leg or a hip. It's like your phone holds clues to your body's natural ability to heal and get moving again, even before the injury happens. This could be a really helpful tool for doctors and patients.

Pre-Injury Mobility Could Be Key To Recovery Success

The study's findings, published in the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, researchers discovered that the data from smartphones, like how many steps a person took each day, how fast they walked, how long their steps were, and their walking style (gait), all give a clear picture of how well they are likely to recover after their bone break. It turns out that your body's usual way of moving before the injury is a strong indicator of how your recovery will go and how well you'll regain your physical abilities later on.

How It Revolutionizes Orthopedic Care with Personalized Insights

Researchers believe that using smartphone data in this way has the potential to really change how doctors provide care for broken bones. It can help doctors give patients a better idea of what to expect during recovery, spot any problems earlier, and create recovery plans that are specifically tailored to each person based on their own movement history. This means a more personalized and effective healing process.

How Did The Study Find This?

To do this study, the researchers asked 107 adults who had already had surgery for a broken hip or leg at least six months earlier to share the data collected by their Apple iPhones. This information included things like their daily step count, their usual walking speed, how long their steps were, and the way they typically walked. By looking at this past movement data, the researchers could see patterns related to their recovery.

The study's results clearly showed that there's a strong link between a person's activity levels before they broke their leg or hip and how active they were during their recovery. For example, people who regularly took more steps each day before their injury also tended to take more steps as they were healing and getting back to their normal routines. This shows how important baseline fitness is for your body in general as well as in case of recovery.

Doctors Can Now Use Phone Data for Treatment

The study concluded that one’s doctors and physicians could use this information about how people moved before their injury, gathered from their smartphones, to create much more precise plans for surgery, give better advice about recovery, and set more realistic goals for physical therapy. This way, the treatment and recovery process can be designed specifically for each individual, potentially leading to better and faster healing and a return to normal activities.