Q: I use paper towels in the microwave for covering food, putting them on the bottom of the plate when I warm my breakfast sausage to collect grease and so on. I was wondering if there are any negatives to using paper towels in the microwave?
— G.C., Kentwood
A: There seem to be a lot of "rules" for cooking in the microwave, regarding OK containers, cooking foods to accomplish even heating and killing of bacteria, etc.
And, yes, there are safety rules about using paper towels in the microwave. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety Information Service, white paper towels should be safe to use in cooking. The paper towels with pretty colors and seasonal designs are OK to use on the table, but not in the microwave (don’t worry if you’ve used colorful paper towels in the microwave in the past; just start using plain white from now on). Also, common sense would remind you that any paper product can burn if conditions are right, so be careful.
Check out the USDA website for all aspects about safe microwave cooking.
Q: I have been taking prescription enzymes to help me digest food. These are kind of a pain to take with every meal and snack. Just how important are these, and exactly what does an enzyme do for me?
— M.K., Coopersville
A: You didn't tell me the name of your prescription, but I am assuming it is a combination of the enzymes that normally are produced by the pancreas. It probably contains the enzyme amylase to digest carbohydrates, lipase to digest fats and protease to digest protein foods.
People who need prescription-strength enzymes usually cannot produce enough digestive enzymes on their own, because of surgery or a dysfunction of the pancreas. If you decided to not take your enzymes, the food you eat would not be digested and you might quickly develop the signs of malnutrition and starvation (weight loss in spite of eating plenty of food, no energy, hair loss, etc.), along with frequent fatty bowel movements.
The prescription enzymes are very important to your overall health. Be sure to check with your physician if you want to make a change, but you can judge if you are taking enough enzymes by your weight (maintaining or gaining, if desired) and by the lack of the abnormal bowel movements.
Send your questions to Vicky Ferguson at The Grand Rapids Press Your Life Dept., 155 Michigan St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, or email health@grpress.com or vfergrd@aol.com.