Drug May Be Antidote to Bleeding Tied to Blood Thinner Pradaxa

MONDAY, June 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The new blood thinner Pradaxa (dabigatran) is being widely used, but it comes with one serious drawback: rare but dangerous cases of sudden, uncontrolled bleeding in patients.

Now, a new study finds than an experimental, injected drug called idarucizumab could be used to quickly stop that bleeding.

“Idarucizumab completely reversed the anticoagulant [bleeding] effect of dabigatran within minutes,” researchers say in a study published online June 22 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

In recent years, new-generation blood thinners such as Pradaxa have been approved as more manageable alternatives to older drugs such as warfarin.

Unlike warfarin, these drugs “do not require blood tests for monitoring… while offering similar results in terms of effectiveness,” explained Dr. Kevin Marzo, chief of cardiology at Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola, N.Y.

However, “the Achilles heel of this new class of blood thinners has been lack of an antidote for quick reversal — particularly in the setting of life-threatening bleeding,” he added.

So, the hunt has been on for an antidote drug that doctors could use whenever this rare threat arose.

In the new international study, a team led by Dr. Charles Pollack Jr. of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia tracked outcomes for 90 patients.

These patients — typically people needing emergency surgery or having suffered acute trauma — were treated with idarucizumab after they experienced uncontrolled bleeding subsequent to taking Pradaxa.

According to the study, idarucizumab reversed the condition in 100 percent of the cases, and the effect “was evident within minutes.” Lab tests conducted over the next 12 hours showed that blood clotting levels returned to normal in nearly 90 percent of patients.

The study, which was funded by drug maker Boehringer Ingelheim, was also slated for presentation on Monday at the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis 2015 Congress in Toronto.

According to Marzo, the findings suggest that “an antidote appears to be on the horizon and likely will be lifesaving for those rare, life-threatening bleeding episodes” connected to drugs like Pradaxa. He believes that the availability of an antidote should also make doctors less reluctant to prescribe Pradaxa in the first place.

Another expert agreed.

“Many practitioners have opted to use Pradaxa as a safe alternative to warfarin,” said Dr. Nicholas Skipitaris, director of cardiac electrophysiology at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. “The presence of an antidote for Pradaxa should only further this trend.”

More information

There’s more on blood thinners at the American Heart Association.

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Millions of Smokers May Have Undiagnosed Lung Disease

MONDAY, June 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Millions of long-term smokers may have undiagnosed lung disease, a new study finds.

Fifty-five percent of those who pass lung function tests still have a respiratory impairment, researchers report.

But, using advanced imaging techniques along with walking and quality-of-life tests can reveal early signs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). An incurable, progressive disease, COPD is associated with smoking and is the third-leading cause of death in the United States, the researchers added.

“Smokers who have ‘normal’ lung-function tests often have significant respiratory disease. Many of those smokers likely have the early stages of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,” study author Dr. Elizabeth Regan, an assistant professor of medicine at National Jewish Health in Denver, said in a hospital news release.

“We hope these findings will help debunk the myth of the healthy smoker and highlight the importance of smoking prevention and cessation to prevent lung disease and other long-term effects of smoking,” Regan added.

The study involved almost 9,000 people between the ages of 45 and 80 who had smoked at least one pack of cigarettes daily for 10 years. Most smoked more than one pack per day, but about half of them were considered disease-free based on their lung-function test results.

To diagnose COPD, patients must blow as hard and as long as they can into a device called a spirometer. This measures how much air they can force out of their lungs and how much they can blow out in just one second depending on their age, size and gender.

When the researchers used additional criteria to assess the participants’ lung function, such as CT scans, use of respiratory medication and quality-of-life issues, they found most of those considered “disease-free” had some sort of lung problem.

The study was published June 22 in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.

Lung scans found emphysema or airway thickening in 42 percent of those thought to be free of lung disease. Meanwhile, 23 percent of the participants had significant shortness of breath compared to almost 4 percent of those who never smoked.

The researchers also found that 15 percent of those in the study took six minutes to walk about 1,000 feet, compared to 4 percent of nonsmokers. Smokers who thought their lungs were fully functioning also had much worse quality of life than those who didn’t smoke.

Lung imaging tests can help detect lung cancer, and reduce cancer deaths among former heavy smokers by 20 percent, the researchers said. Diagnosing and treating diseases like COPD early on can also improve people’s long-term quality of life, they added.

More information

Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more on the health effects of smoking.

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Poor Health as Teen, Poor Job Prospects Later, Study Suggests

By Tara Haelle
HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, June 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Mental or physical health problems during the teen years may make it harder to get a good job or to complete higher education later on, a new research review suggests.

“Chronic health conditions and particularly mental health conditions contribute substantially to education and employment outcomes,” said study co-author Leonardo Bevilacqua, a researcher at the University College London Institute of Child Health in England.

“This is extremely important for developing and implementing policies in and outside schools that promote health and support those with health conditions,” he said.

Teens’ health needs to be a core focus in school to improve their educational and employment success, Bevilacqua added.

Although the review found an association between mental or physical health problems in teens and greater difficulty pursuing a higher education or getting work, the study did not prove a definitive cause-and-effect relationship between those factors.

The findings were published online June 22 in the journal Pediatrics.

The researchers reviewed 27 studies that looked at teens with and without chronic mental or physical health conditions, and compared their education and employment situations as adults.

Most of the studies accounted for differences in sex, ethnicity or the family’s socioeconomic status, but not all did.

As a whole, the researchers found that teens with mental or physical health conditions did more poorly as adults in terms of education and employment.

Researchers looked at problems that included dropping out of high school, not getting additional education after high school, and having fewer years of education. They also examined time spent unemployed, income, welfare use and whether a person held an unskilled job.

The link to poorer outcomes was strongest for those with mental health conditions. But only nine studies included teens with physical health problems. Six looked at unspecified chronic health problems, and three of these focused on juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

A possible reason for the findings is that teens with health problems miss more school and don’t participate in social or school activities as much, Bevilacqua said.

“This research suggests that people with health conditions may be more likely to be socially excluded, potentially due to stigmatization or a lack of social contact with peers, which has a negative impact on their educational development,” he said.

“Poor mental health may contribute to conduct problems in school, truancy and substance use, which are also disruptive to outcomes,” he added.

One expert who looked at the review was surprised that some illnesses weren’t in the findings.

“I would have expected to see other ailments that heavily influenced outcomes to include diabetes, asthma and cancer, but these were not specifically mentioned,” said Dr. Danelle Fisher, vice chair of pediatrics at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif.

The most common condition studied was depression, followed by conduct disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anorexia, anxiety disorder and other psychiatric disorders, the researchers said.

Another expert surmised that many teens are already in a somewhat vulnerable state.

“Adolescence is filled with enough distractions from educational attainment already,” said Dr. Omar Khan, associate vice chair of Christiana Care Health System’s department of Family and Community Medicine in Wilmington, Del.

“For someone with a mental health issue, the inability to concentrate, such as with ADHD, or the distraction of the intellect to instead focus on antisocial behaviors, such as with conduct disorder, are likely profound enough that they decrease school performance,” he said.

The key to success for teens with health challenges is to have good access to consistent, effective primary care and behavioral health, he said.

“Teen-related mental health issues can be diagnosed and managed so that good mental health is a lifelong pursuit, just like exercise and a balanced diet,” Khan said. In addition, “focusing on the affected child’s assets or strengths is an important way to accentuate ways to increase attainment,” he said.

All the experts noted that programs are often available to help parents meet their children’s needs. Fisher mentioned that support groups may be available through local universities or community care centers. Bevilacqua suggested that parents can talk to their child’s doctor or a psychologist to find out what resources exist in their area, or ask schools to offer programs.

“Schools can help struggling young people with good school-based health services, including support for students with health conditions, and good communication with parents,” Bevilacqua said.

More information

For more information on adolescent and school health, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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More Than Two-Thirds of U.S. Adults Now Overweight or Obese: Study

By Dennis Thompson
HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, June 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Fewer than one-third of Americans are currently at a healthy weight, with the rest of the population either overweight or obese, a new report finds.

About 35 percent of men and 37 percent of women are obese. Another 40 percent of men and 30 percent of women are overweight, researchers said in the June 22 issue of JAMA Internal Medicine.

“Obesity is not getting better. It’s getting worse, and it’s really scary. It’s not looking pretty,” said Lin Yang, a postdoctoral research associate at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Obesity has been linked to a number of chronic health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers and arthritis, Yang said.

“This generation of Americans is the first that will have a shorter life expectancy than the previous generation, and obesity is one of the biggest contributors to this shortened life expectancy because it is driving a lot of chronic health conditions,” she said.

The new report used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey gathered between 2007 and 2012, involving more than 15,000 men and women age 25 and older.

Based on the data, researchers estimate that more than 36 million men and nearly 29 million women in the United States are currently overweight. About 32 million men and 36 million women are obese, the researchers found.

Overweight is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 29.9, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. BMI is calculated by comparing a person’s weight to their height.

For example, a 5-foot-9 man who weighs 169 pounds or a 5-foot-4 woman who weighs 146 pounds both have a BMI of 25, and would be considered overweight, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

Obesity is defined by the CDC as any body mass index 30 or higher. A 5-foot-9 man who weighs 203 pounds or more is considered obese, as is a 5-foot-4 woman who weighs 175 pounds or more.

More Americans are overweight and obese these days, compared with federal survey data gathered between 1988 and 1994, Yang said.

Back then, 63 percent of men and 55 percent of women were either overweight or obese, with a BMI of 25 or greater. Today, around 75 percent of men and about 67 percent of women are either overweight or obese, according to the study.

The new obesity figures did not come as a surprise to Dr. Elliott Antman, president of the American Heart Association.

“It’s in line with what we already knew, and it provides some numbers on the magnitude of the problem,” Antman said of the new study. “It puts a face on the issue, and it’s a significant problem.”

Obesity is related to increases in diabetes, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol, “all of which converge on an increased risk of heart disease and stroke,” he said.

America’s weight problem is an issue that will not be resolved through a purely medical solution, Yang and Antman said. Politicians and officials at the federal, state and local levels will need to weigh in with policies that increase the number of calories people burn and decrease the amount of unhealthy foods they ingest.

For example, communities need to adopt plans that will make it easier for people to get around on foot or riding a bike, rather than sitting in a car, Yang said.

“America is a very much car-dependent country. We know car driving is a chunk of sedentary behavior,” she said. “More walking or bicycling would increase the physical activity of the whole nation.”

Policymakers also need to find ways to improve the availability of inexpensive, healthy food, Antman said. Right now, processed food and fast food that is high in unhealthy sugar, salt and fat tends to be more affordable and available in America’s communities than healthier options.

“Fast foods are less expensive, so that individuals trying to feed a large family might tend to purchase them rather than fresh foods, which are harder to find and more expensive, and therefore less economically appealing,” he said.

More information

For more information on obesity, visit the American Heart Association.

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HPV Vaccination Tied to Drop in Precancerous Cervical Lesions in U.S.

MONDAY, June 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A new study offers more evidence that the advent of vaccines to fight human papillomavirus (HPV) could reduce cervical cancer in American women.

While it’s still too early to say that vaccines such as Gardasil and Cervarix are lowering cases of cervical cancer, the new study finds a recent decline in the number of young American women with cervical tissue changes that can lead to cancer.

However, researchers led by Susan Hariri of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stressed that another factor may be driving the trend: changes made to cervical cancer screening recommendations in recent years.

“We think that the decreases in high-grade [precancerous] lesions in this group reflect changes in screening but also may be partially due to HPV vaccination,” Hariri said in a news release from the journal Cancer, which published the results of the new study.

According to the researchers, HPV infection causes more than half of high-grade cervical lesions, defined as abnormal tissue that can develop into cancer.

HPV vaccination was introduced in the United States in 2008, and the CDC currently recommends vaccination of girls ages 9 through 12, to help prevent infection with the sexually transmitted virus.

Hariri’s team found that between 2008 and 2012, there was a large decline in high-grade cervical lesions among women ages 18 to 20, and a smaller decrease among women ages 21 to 24.

These lesions do not cause symptoms and can only be detected through cervical cancer screening, Hariri noted.

Recommendations for cervical cancer screening were changed during the study period, so her team also examined trends in the use of screening.

“In particular, screening is no longer recommended in women before age 21 years, and we found substantial declines in screening in 18- to 20-year-olds that were consistent with the new recommendations,” Hariri said.

Screening also fell among women ages 21 to 24, but by a much smaller amount, the researchers said.

Hariri believes that it may take many years to fully assess the impact of HPV vaccination on cervical cancer rates.

Experts who reviewed the study were encouraged, however.

Even though changes in screening complicate things, “due to the dramatic decreases in high-grade lesions in young women, it is felt that there is an impact from vaccination that exceeds the lower rates expected from decreased screening,” said Dr. Jennifer Wu, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

“HPV vaccination has been shown to decrease the global incidence of precancerous diseases of the cervix,” added Dr. Linus Chuang, professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive science at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. However, “further study is needed to confirm their findings of the impact of HPV vaccines in U.S. women,” he said.

More information

The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more about cervical changes.

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Only 1 in 5 Wants to See Subsidies for Health Insurance Eliminated: Poll

By Dennis Thompson
HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, June 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Only one in five Americans wants to see the elimination of federal subsidies for people who buy health insurance under Obamacare, a new HealthDay/Harris Poll reveals.

The U.S. Supreme Court will rule this month on the legality of such subsidies, possibly as soon as Monday.

Overall, just 19 percent of Americans said they want to see the subsidies eliminated, which would force more than 6 million people to pay the full cost of their health coverage. About 45 percent support continuing the subsidies and 36 percent said they aren’t sure.

Even Republicans are loath to halt the subsidies, which are provided through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to help make health insurance affordable for millions of low- and middle-income Americans, the poll found.

Only 36 percent of Republicans said they want the subsidies ended outright, while 24 percent said people should continue to get the subsidies and 39 percent said they aren’t sure.

“Perhaps the most striking finding is how few people, and especially how few Republicans, want those who are now receiving subsidies through the federal exchange to lose them,” said Humphrey Taylor, chairman emeritus of The Harris Poll.

At least 6.4 million Americans in 34 states could lose the subsidies — which come in the form of tax credits — that are worth $2 billion a month to help pay health insurance premiums. Many recipients have said that without the subsidies, health insurance would be unaffordable.

Plaintiffs in the case, King v. Burwell, argue that due to the exact wording of the Affordable Care Act, only people in states that established their own health insurance exchanges — marketplaces to buy insurance — should be eligible for the subsidies.

But only 13 states and the District of Columbia created their own exchanges. Most of the states that chose not to create exchanges are run by Republicans opposed to Obamacare.

The estimated 6.4 million people whose subsidies hang in the balance purchased their insurance through the federally run HealthCare.gov online exchange.

The new poll numbers shed light on the political challenge confronting the Republican Party. The party has fought the Affordable Care Act since it was signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2010. And nearly all current GOP presidential candidates have come out in favor of repealing the health-care reform law.

Many Republicans in Congress have said they would support a temporary continuation of subsidies for people struggling to get by. But they would face an uphill battle coming up with a permanent alternative, given the GOP’s antipathy toward Obamacare and internal divisions over what should be done next.

John Ullyot, a GOP strategist and former senior Senate aide, told The Hill that the politics of the case before the Supreme Court “are extremely treacherous and tricky for Republicans.”

“If the subsidies are thrown out by the court, Republicans are in the position of having to create a fix that would be seen as a problem by their most conservative supporters,” Ullyot said.

Public opinion about health-care reform likely would end up spilling over into the 2016 presidential election, Taylor said.

“If the Supreme Court decides that people using the federal exchange should not get subsidies, this may change the debate about the ACA and create problems for the Republicans and their presidential candidates,” he said. “Strong anti-ACA positions needed to win the support of Republican primary voters could create problems for their nominee in the general election.”

Most people in the new poll want either the states or Congress to act to preserve the subsidies, should the Supreme Court strike them down:

• About 45 percent said they would like states without insurance exchanges to set one up, so people could continue getting the subsidies. Just 18 percent oppose this solution.
• About 41 percent said they would support Congress changing the law so any people buying insurance through any exchange would be eligible for subsidies. Only 21 percent oppose this notion.

The poll also revealed the ongoing divisions among Americans over the Affordable Care Act — divisions that have existed since the law was passed five years ago. Twenty-four percent of Americans want to keep Obamacare exactly as it is. Just over one-quarter — 28 percent, including 53 percent of Republicans — want to repeal it. And one-third of Americans said they would like to change some parts of the law.

The bulk of the opposition to the Affordable Care Act centers on the provision known as the “individual mandate.” This requires most Americans to have health insurance or pay a penalty in the form of a tax. Republicans view this requirement as a gross government intrusion into people’s lives.

Taylor said the attention that’s starting to focus on the pending Supreme Court decision could make people more aware of provisions in the law that are popular, even among Americans opposed to Obamacare. Some of those provisions include parents’ ability to keep their children on their health plans until the children turn 26, and the right to purchase insurance even if you have a pre-existing health problem.

“Many polls have shown how few people know what is, and what is not, in the ACA,” he said. “The Supreme Court’s decision may be the first time that many people become aware that so many people have been receiving subsidies to reduce the cost of their health insurance.”

This HealthDay/Harris Poll was conducted online, in English, between June 15-17, 2015, and it involved 2,027 adults aged 18 and over.

More information

To learn more about the Affordable Care Act, visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

To learn more about The Harris Poll, click here.

To view the poll’s data tables and methodology, click here.

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Keep Safety in Mind When Skateboarding

SUNDAY, June 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Skateboarding has become increasingly popular in recent years, but it’s not without risk for serious injury.

In 2011, more than 78,000 trips to emergency rooms in the United States involved kids and teens injured in skateboarding accidents, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Most of these injuries involved boys younger than 15.

Injuries most often associated with skateboarding include cuts and bruises; sprains and strains, especially of the legs; concussions and other head injuries; and broken bones, particularly of the wrist, nose or jawbone.

Children younger than 5 should not be allowed to skateboard, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. And kids aged 6 to 10 should be under an adult’s supervision when they ride a skateboard.

Young children have a higher center of gravity and less coordination and balance, which makes skateboarding riskier for them, the orthopedic association explained in a news release. Youngsters are also slower to react and more likely to fall and suffer a head injury.

Wearing the appropriate protective gear is important, the orthopedists also point out. This gear should include a properly fitting helmet, wrist guards, knee pads, proper shoes and goggles to protect the eyes from debris.

Choose a quality bicycle or multisport helmet that meets or exceeds safety standards of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, and replace helmets every five years or once they’ve been damaged, the association says.

Make sure children and teens use a skateboard appropriate for their level of ability and the type of riding they do. Also, inspect skateboards routinely for wheel problems, cracks, nicks or broken edges.

Young people who want to skateboard should learn the basic rules of the sport, particularly how to stop, slow down and turn.

Learning how to fall safely is also important, the orthopedic association says. Riders who lose their balance should crouch down so they don’t fall as far. When falling, relax and roll onto the fleshy parts of the body.

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Safety Tips for Water Skiing and Wake Boarding

SATURDAY, June 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Wake boarding and water skiing are great ways to have fun and be physically active during the summer months, but certain safety precautions need to be followed to prevent serious injuries, experts say.

Every year in the United States, thousands of people are hurt in water skiing and wake boarding accidents, according to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, in Columbus, Ohio. Wake boarding is similar to water skiing, but is done on a single board instead of two skis.

Most water skiing injuries involve sprains and strains in the legs. Wake boarders often get cuts and injuries to their head and face. Wake boarding is more likely than water skiing to result in a traumatic brain injury, cautioned experts at Nationwide Children’s.

There are ways water skiers and wake boarders can reduce their risk for injury before they head out to the water, including:

• Learn how to get out of the water and how to use a tow rope safely.
• Review basic hand signals with a spotter.
• Make sure the boat operator is licensed and experienced with both the boat and the body of water.
• Always wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket.
• Wake boarders should wear an approved safety helmet.

People engaging in water sports should also consider these factors to ensure their safety:

• Water ski and wake board during the day – not at night.
• Never use drugs or alcohol while driving a boat, water skiing or wake boarding.
• Always have a spotter sitting at the back of the boat to watch the skier or wake boarder and communicate with the person driving the boat.
• Let go of the tow rope immediately after a fall.
• Do not climb into a boat from the water unless the propeller is stopped.
• Quit water skiing or wake boarding at the first sign of lighting or thunder.
• Never water ski or wake board in restricted areas.

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Surf’s Up. Be Safe

FRIDAY, June 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Before heading out to ride some waves, surfers should take important safety precautions into account, says the National Surf Schools & Instructors Association.

It’s sounds obvious, but know how to swim. And only surf at lifeguarded beaches, the association advises. And don’t stray too far from the guard on duty.

Vital information about wave height, tides, jellyfish and other sea pests is often posted near lifeguard stands as well. In some cases, colored flags indicate safe or unsafe water conditions.

Also, know how to recognize and get out of a rip current, or riptide, a potentially deadly water condition. Riptides form when water comes together in a narrow, river-like current as it moves away from the shore out to sea.

Rip currents can be more than 50 feet to 50 yards wide and flow up to hundreds of yards offshore. They’re involved in about 80 percent of all lifeguard rescues at surf beaches in the United States, the association says.

If you’re caught in a rip current, don’t fight it. Instead, try to tread water and float, and call or wave your arms for help. Alternatively, swim parallel to shore until you’re out of the current or it relaxes. Then you can swim to shore.

Aside from rip currents, there are other dangers to consider when surfing. To avoid head and neck injury, surfers falling off their board should try to fall flat and extend their hands out in front of them.

Always use a board with a leash, the surfing association advises. Leashes, which typically attach to the ankle or thigh, can help surfers who are disoriented under waves find the surface.

Leashes can also help prevent loose boards from drifting and hurting another surfer or swimmers near the shore. If you worry about becoming entangled in a leash, you might want to consider using a breakaway leash.

Leashes are not lifesaving devices, however. Surfers must know their limitations, the surfing association cautions. Never surf in waves that seem dangerous. It’s also smart to surf with at least one other person who can provide assistance in an emergency.

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Danielle Walker’s Layered Chia and Almond Pudding Parfait

You know what always tastes great? Dessert.

But you know what doesn’t feel so great? Attempting to squeeze yourself into that itsy-bitsy bikini the night before you enjoy the first beach trip of summer.

Of course, you could choose one over the other … but that’s no fun. Instead, why not enjoy both (minus the squeezing part)?

Turns out you can have your cake and eat it too — or in this case, a similarly creamy, chocolaty treat that will keep you feeling fuller and satisfied longer. Don’t think it’s possible? Just ask food blogger and cookbook author Danielle Walker, who’s whipped up a dish that delivers on all fronts, and is just too irresistible to pass up.

“A misconception about nutritious eating is that you can’t enjoy delicious desserts,” says Walker. “When you are craving a decadent treat but want to stay on track, whip up my layered chia and almond pudding parfait.”

Loaded with a medley of juicy berries, sliced bananas, dates, raw cacao powder, and chia seeds to keep your cravings in check, you really can’t go wrong with this tantalizing (and surprisingly healthy) frozen pudding.

“It can be made the day before — just let it chill in the fridge overnight,” adds Walker. “You can also cut up all the berries and bananas the night before (or morning of) with a little lemon juice, so the fruit doesn’t turn brown.”

Swimsuit season doesn’t sound so scary after all. Take a breather and enjoy your new favorite dish.

Recipe:

• Cooking method: Blend, freeze
• Category: Dessert
• Level: Easy
• Yield: 6 Parfaits

Ingredients:

• 2 tsps. unflavored gelatin powder
• 2 cups unflavored almond milk
• 6 oz. pitted dates
• 1/2 cup unsweetened raw cacao powder
• 1/3 cup chia seeds
• 2 tsps. vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsps. ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsps. sea salt
• 2 medium bananas, sliced
• 1/3 cup unsalted natural almond butter
• 1 cup mixed berries of choice
• 1/4 cup roasted almonds, chopped

Instructions:

1. Pour 3/4 cup water into a saucepan and sprinkle the gelatin over top. Turn the burner to med-high heat and whisk until the gelatin is fully dissolved. Remove from heat and set aside.
2. Combine almond milk, dates, cacao powder, chia seeds, vanilla, cinnamon and sea salt in a blender. Blend until very smooth, about two minutes. With the blender running, slowly pour in the gelatin liquid. Transfer the mixture to a bowl, then cover and refrigerate overnight.
3. To assemble the parfaits: Divide the banana slices between six 8-ounce Mason jars or bowls. Spoon equal amounts of almond bitter into the jars, then top with equal amounts of the chilled pudding. Top with berries and almonds and serve immediately or refrigerate covered for up to three days.

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