QUICKIES

If I’d know I was going to live so long, I would have taken better care of myself.

Mickey Mantle (Thanks to Mike Quinn)

In a recent QUICKIES we reported on Americans poor hand washing habits after visiting a rest room. Now along comes a device that uses light scanning technology similar to that used in slaughterhouses that can make sure that hand washing zaps germs that carry deadly illnesses. The unit can detect fecal contamination and pinpoints on a digital display where more scrubbing is needed.

Biotech crops is USA getting more acreage. The three genetically altered crops, corn, cotton and soybeans continue to garner more acreage-based on The Agriculture Department’s projections of grower planting intentions. The crops are engineered to do one of two things: to survive when doused with herbicides that kill surrounding weeds, or to resist bugs with insecticides they’ve been genetically programmed to produce.

Vitamin C has been linked to reducing the physical and psychological stress on people. Those who maintain a high level of the vitamin do not show the expected mental and physical signs of stress when subjected to acute psychological challenges, and they tend to bounce back quicker than those with lower levels of the vitamin.

Good sources of vitamin C: all citrus fruits, green Kiwi, black current, papaya, strawberry, tomato, watermelon and guava.

Some causes of stress: Moving, death of close friend or relative, divorce, financial concerns, illness, job change.

Warning signs: Anxiety, sleeplessness, anger, sadness, mood swings, chronic fatigue, rapid heartbeat, unusual weight loss or gain. FLORIDA TODAY