Why is proper hand washing important for good health? This time of the year it seems everyone around us is getting sick. A good preventative measure to help avoid getting sick is washing your hands correctly.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Many diseases and conditions are spread by not washing hands properly with soap and clean, running water.
CDC recommends cleaning hands in a specific way to avoid getting sick and spreading germs. Wet your hands with clean, running water and apply soap. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap for at least 20 seconds. Scrub front and back of hands and under nails. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water, not water collected in the sink. Dry your hands using a clean towel or paper towel.
Even though washing hands with soap and water is best, alcohol-based hand sanitizer may be used when soap and water are not available. Hand sanitizers should contain at least 60% alcohol. However, hand sanitizers may not eliminate all types of germs.
Is antibacterial soap better for eliminating germs than regular soap? According to experts at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there is no evidence that antibacterial soap will keep you healthier. Antibacterial soap products contain chemical ingredients which may carry unnecessary risks. With this in mind, the risk of long use of antibacterial soaps may outweigh the benefits.
Cracked Baked Asparagus
1 1/2 lbs. fresh asparagus spears, trimmed
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 1/2 tablespoons Ranch dressing mix
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup cooked crispy bacon, chopped
Red pepper flakes (optional, to taste)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place asparagus into a lightly greased 9x13x2 baking dish. If you want a little kick to the recipe, sprinkle the asparagus with red pepper flakes. In a small bowl, combine mayo and ranch dressing mix. Spread mixture evenly over asparagus. Sprinkle cheddar cheese and bacon over mayo mixture. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes. Submitted by Janie Mundy, Defeated FCE Club.
