Out and About – Week of May 30th

I visited a doctor about fifteen years ago who referred to me as “Moleman”. Not very good bedside manner, but I didn’t let that bother me. I was gifted with having skin tags. Skin tags themselves aren’t harmful, but they may be a sign of insulin resistance, which can be a precursor to diabetes. I was soon diagnosed with having Type II Diabetes. I’ve kept my diabetes under control with medication and doing my best to maintain a decent diet. I feel lucky that I don’t have skin tags that interfere with my shaving.

Skin tags are nothing more than outgrowths of regular skin attached to a thin stalk, or base. They are usually the same color as the rest of your skin, although they can be slightly darker. If they hurt, or are a nuisance to you, you might want to check with a dermatologist to make sure they are benign. One of the main causes of skin tags is friction. They often form in areas where skin rubs against skin, or fabric. I have a few in my armpits.

I could go into detail on how skin tags are removed, but it would probably make me sick just writing about it. You may Google it, if you really want to know.

I love fruit, especially apples. To be on the safe side, I always wash my fruit. I don’t bother with bananas, because they do have a peal that protects the banana. Besides monkeys eat bananas and I’ve never seen one wash one before.

I also am very fond of some raw vegetables. It’s always good to rinse fruits and vegetables under running water. Once produce is harvested, it gets handled many times. Before consuming any fresh produce, you should first remove any bruised and torn parts and rinse under running water to remove germs and dirt. Hard produce like potatoes can be scrubbed with a clean brush, which should remove any dirt from the exterior, including crevices that rinsing alone may not reach. Here are a few other hints on how to properly clean produce:

Clean the produce on a clean surface and use a clean cloth or paper towel to avoid recontamination.
Don’t wash produced labeled “pre-washed” or “ready to eat”. It is already safe to eat out of the package, just make sure it doesn’t encounter any unclean surfaces or already used utensils.
Don’t use soap to clean produce. Soap can leave a film that is not intended to be consumed.
Don’t soak produce. Initial rinsing may remove germs, but if kept in water, the tainted water can recontaminate the produce. I do keep cut celery and carrots in water and have good results.
You shouldn’t wash meat, poultry or seafood, because washing increases the risk for cross-contamination and doesn’t add any safety benefit. If you purchase eggs from the grocery store, please don’t wash them. They have already been washed prior to arriving in the store cooler. You can, however, wash farm-fresh eggs, but not until you’re ready to cook or refrigerate them. Farm-fresh eggs have a natural protective coating on them. If this coating is removed and the egg is not refrigerated, bacteria can get inside the egg.

“Drive with care. Be alive when you arrive.” BURMA SHAVE

See you Out and About!

Submitted by Norm Stutesman