Month: July 2014

India introduces four new vaccines in immunisation programme

India introduces four new vaccines in immunisation programme

India introduced 4 new vaccines as part of the Universal Immunization Programme on Thursday. Three new vaccines were introduced for children to fight the menace of rotavirus and rubella.

For adults, a vaccine to combat Japanese Encephalitis was introduced, especially in high-priority districts.

Speaking on the new development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured that the government will ensure that the benefit of vaccination reach all sections of the society. The PM also said that the vaccines have been introduced with the purpose of reducing child mortality by two-thirds.

The move was welcomed by health authorities across the country. Vice-president of the Public Health Foundation of India, Ramanan Laxminarayan said that the new vaccines will enable the government to save the lives of thousands of children. Laxminarayan also said that significant efforts are also being made on the part of the government to increase maximum vaccination coverage. Laxminarayan also termed the development as a huge success in child health.

Convener of the encephalitis eradication movement, Dr RN Singh has also expressed gratitude to the government for taking his appeal into account. Singh, a private practitioner based in Gorakhpur had written a blood-letter to the Centre on July 25 last year informing the Centre about the three major steps that the Centre must take to prevent and control the disease which claimed hundreds of lives in eastern UP, and to ensure rehabilitation of the already affected children

Source: IBN

99.6 percent of Alzheimer’s disease drug trials fail, experts find

99.6 percent of Alzheimer’s disease drug trials fail, experts find

Approximately 99.6 percent of Alzheimer’s disease drug trials are unsuccessful, according to new research from the Cleveland Clinic.

Using data from ClinicalTrials.gov – a government website that tracks ongoing clinical trials – researchers discovered that from 2002-2012, 244 drugs had been tested— and only one drug was a success.

With 10,000 baby boomers reaching the Alzheimer’s risk period, the need for drug treatment is immediate, the researchers said.

“We’re looking forward from 5.5 million victims [now] to around 14 million by 2050 if we don’t develop something. Yet we’re meeting this with a trickle of success in terms of drug development,” lead author Dr. Jeffrey L. Cummings, director of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, told FoxNews.com. “The dramatic message is that Alzheimer’s disease drug development is in a disastrous state and we have to change this.”

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and causes memory, thinking and behavior problems. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there is no current cure, though some symptoms are treatable.

Alzheimer’s memory problems appear to be caused by the formation of two major tissues in the brain – plaques and tangles. Plaques form when beta-amyloid proteins clump together, blocking cell-to-cell signaling. According to Cummings, plaque appears to come first in the degeneration process, but these clusters do not seem to damage the brain’s cells. Tangles are twisted strands of the protein tau. When they begin to form, nerve cells begin to die, causing memory failure, personality changes and other symptoms of the disease.

Currently, most drugs have been aimed at preventing plaque buildup, but the high failure rate of these drugs suggests the need for a better understanding of the disease itself, as well as a broader focus on other drug targets, such as the cell-killing tangles.

“I would argue that just as you would diversify an investment portfolio, you need to diversify [the drug development] portfolio to ensure there’s a chance for success,” Cummings said.

Another consideration is the economic impact of Alzheimer’s disease. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, in 2014, the estimated cost to Americans for the care of those of Alzheimer’s will be $214 billion— and an estimated $1.2 trillion in 2050.

“We are investing about $600 million per year in Alzheimer’s research and about $6 billion per year in cancer research… at the same time that Alzheimer’s is having a larger impact on the U.S. economy,” Cummings said. “That doesn’t mean we should be doing less cancer research; we should be doing more Alzheimer’s research.”

Lack of standardization among clinical trials is another roadblock to drug testing success, as inconsistent procedures can make data appear to be more or less successful, Cummings noted.

So far, five drugs have been approved for the treatment of Alzheimer’s, yet they only treat symptoms of the disease, not the underlying plaque and tangle process. One explanation for this is that scientists better understand the mechanics of Alzheimer’s symptoms, making it technically more difficult to develop drugs that modify the disease.

“Our new science is pointing us toward the plaque and tangle process; if we could arrest that process particularly early, we could keep people at a very high functional level,” Cummings said.

Additionally, Cummings pointed out that it takes 10 years for a drug to make it through the pipeline— meaning the science of drugs being tested now is already a decade behind. However, the protocol for testing procedures is unchangeable, meaning this delay is an inherent part of the drug development problem.

Developing drugs to combat Alzheimer’s disease is a multi-faceted and complex process, and these researchers hope their findings will highlight the importance of increased efforts.

“Overall, my message is we’re doing too little, investing too little; we need the help of the government, philanthropists, advocacy groups, venture capital,” Cummings said. “We need a very comprehensive approach to developing new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, because it’s truly in a disastrous state.”

Source: fox news

Cancer-Fighting Diet: 6 Tips to Reduce Your Risk

Cancer-Fighting Diet

Following six diet guidelines can reduce your cancer risk, researchers say. The advice is a combination of what foods to limit or avoid, and which ones to eat.

The recommendations, which appear in the June 30 issue of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, were spearheaded by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit group known for its advocacy of plant-based diets and alternatives to research on animals.

Perhaps not surprising for an organization that encourages plant-based diets, the advice highlighted the benefits of fruits and vegetables, and recommended limited consumption of meat. But dieticians and doctors not involved with the report say the guidelines are reasonable.

The guidelines are based on a review of published studies, albeit cherry-picked to highlight the advantages of a plant-based diet. The recommendations are to eat more fresh vegetables and fruits; eat more soy products; limit dairy; limit or avoid alcohol; avoid red meats and processed meats; and avoid grilled, broiled or fried meats. [10 New Ways to Eat Well]

“The overall recommendation is to favor plant-based foods,” said lead author Joseph Gonzales, a registered dietician with the PCRM. “Plants are rich in protective compounds, and help consumers avoid the cancer-causing substances found in animal products.”

PCRM’s recommendations are similar to those offered by cancer research organizations such as the American Cancer Society, although arguably more extreme in terms of what they say to avoid.

“It’s never a bad idea to cut back” on red meat or alcohol, as the PCRM recommends, said Colleen Doyle, a registered dietician and director for nutrition and physical activity for the American Cancer Society. But you don’t need to be a teetotaler or vegetarian to significantly reduce your cancer risk, she added.

The recommendations

1. Eat more fruits and vegetables, especially leafy greens, to help reduce overall cancer risk. Most doctors agree. “It is an incontrovertible fact” that a plant-based diet lowers your risk of cancer and heart disease, said Dr. Paul Talalay, a distinguished service professor at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, who was not involved in this study. The reason fruits and vegetables help lower cancer risk is that they contain protective compounds, such as the phytochemicals that Talalay discovered in broccoli in the 1990s, that reduce the risk of several cancers and, as reported this June, the toxic effects of the pollutant benzene.

2. Eat soy products to reduce both the risk and recurrence of breast cancer. Soy products — such as edamame, tempeh and tofu — also have protective properties and, if substituted for red meat, can help reduce exposure to fats and other chemicals that promote cancer and heart disease.

3. Limit or avoid dairy products to reduce the risk of prostate cancer.Studies have linked dairy to prostate cancer, but the culprit might be calcium. Yet other studies suggest that consuming dairy products might prevent colorectal cancer. Dolye said men should consider limiting dairy if they have a family history of prostate cancer.

4. Limit or avoid alcohol to reduce the risk of cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, colon, rectum and breast. The PCRM reports that one drink per week increases the risk of mouth, pharynx and larynx cancers by 24 percent; two to three drinks per day increase the risk of colorectal cancer by 21 percent.

As with the dairy recommendation, the dangers depend on which studies you read. Mouth, pharynx and larynx cancers are rare in nonsmokers, so a 24-percent risk increase isn’t something to fret over. Also, a drink a day seems to promote heart health. The American Cancer Society recommends that people limit their alcohol intake to no more than two drinks per day for men, and one per day for women (in part because of women’s smaller average body size).

5. Avoid red and processed meats to reduce the risk of cancers of the colon and rectum. Following this advice may help prevent heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Large studies from the Harvard School of Public Health revealed that regular consumption of red meat — particularly processed meats such as sausages and cold cuts — will shorten your life.

This news doesn’t need to ruin your summer cookout plans. Doyle said to “exercise common sense” and that the occasional hamburger or hotdog, even grilled (uh-oh, see the next recommendation), is fine. The broader issue, she said, is reducing consumption to reduce risk, given your risk profile and family history.

6. Avoid grilled, fried and broiled meats to reduce the risk of cancers of the colon, rectum, breast, prostate, kidney and pancreas. The reason is that cancer-causing chemicals called heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are created when creatine and amino acids in skeletal muscle, aka meat, are cooked at high temperatures. Even the smoke from grilled meat can contaminate grilled vegetables, which otherwise don’t have HCAs.

Cancer risk reduction doesn’t guarantee cancer avoidance. According to the World Health Organization, up to 30 percent of all cancers might be caused by a poor diet. The rest are attributed to smoking, pollution and genetics, which may affect you no matter what you eat.

Source: yahoo news

Guyana to improve water, sanitation services

Guyana to improve water, sanitation services

Guyana will strengthen and improve access to drinking water and sanitation services with a US$16,838,250 loan approved by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The initiative is known as the program to improve water and sanitation infrastructure and supply. It calls for infrastructure projects to build, upgrade and expand water treatment plants and enhance access to adequate sanitation through measures to strengthen the supplier Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), the design and implementation of a program to monitor non-registered water and a public awareness campaign on the use of water and proper hygiene practices.

Despite progress over the past decade in access to safe sources of water and sanitation, water and sewage services in Georgetown and other coastal areas still face constant institutional, financial and operational challenges.

For instance, the quality of water supply services is hindered by a deterioration in water distribution networks, with 50 percent to 70 percent of water used going unaccounted for at the national level (and more than 70 percent in Georgetown). Furthermore, the current sewage system covers just 48,000 people living in Georgetown — about 6.5% of the national population. The rest of the population seeks individual solutions, but in some cases these arrangements are not adequate.

The program is expected to increase the percentage of households with 24-hour access to water and water pressure that is in line with national standards, reduce the percentage of water that goes unaccounted for and raise the number of homes with improved access to drinking water and proper sanitation arrangements.

Source: caribbean news now

Celery cure for leukemia

Celery cure for leukemia

Eating foods like celery and parsley which contain natural flavonoid apigenin, may prevent leukemia, concluded by Dutch scientists from the University of Groningen .

According to Maikela Pepelenbosh, one of the participants in the research, tests showed that apigenin – otherwise common ingredient in fruit and vegetables – is able to terminate the development of two types of leukemia cells and reduce their chances of survival .

On the other hand, the team found that apigenin may reduce the positive effects of chemotherapy treatment at people with leukemia. Flavonoids are compounds with antioxidant properties that protect cells from damage caused by the oxygen molecules .
It is important to emphasize that the celery is rich in vitamins A, B, C and E, and heals and helps with diseases caused by a lack of these vitamins,

  • -gout and rheumatism,
  • -stimulate the secretion of urine,
  • -throws sand and stones in the kidneys and bladder,
  • -leaflets bronchitis attacks fear and spasms in the chest,
  • -various skin diseases,
  • -acts against temperature,
  • -stimulates circulation,
  • -affecting the growth and care of the hair and the most powerful aphrodisiac.

WARNING: Patients suffering from kidney inflammation should not take celery, and is not recommended for pregnant women . Heart patients should not use celery in small quantities, as a common seasoning.

Celery cure for leukemi2a

Improves blood count also blood circulation, improve appetite, and eliminates interference with digestion. Acetylenic is one of its ingredients and it help to stops the reproduction of cancer cells.

Celery contain substances that act on relaxing the artery, allowing them to proliferate, reducing the amount of stress hormones, which also influences the contraction of blood vessels.

Celery reduces bad cholesterol, because of the abundance of Vitamin C helps to reduce the symptoms of fly and improve immune response. This is because of its composition containing phthalide of the active ingredients which relax the muscles of the arteries and thus regulate blood pressure.

Celery cure for leukemi3

Cholesterol lowering effect is achieved best with celery juice, but it must be persistent because they are expected effect may be seen only after eight weeks.

Some previous studies have shown that apigenin, which has in celery, parsley, red wine, tomato juice and various other herbs may be beneficial in the prevention of ovarian cancer .

Source: secretly healthy

Biochemical cascade causes bone marrow inflammation and blood disorders

Biochemical cascade causes bone marrow inflammation and serious blood disorders

Like a line of falling dominos, a cascade of molecular events in the bone marrow produces high levels of inflammation that disrupt normal blood formation and lead to potentially deadly disorders including leukemia, an Indiana University-led research team has reported.

The discovery, published by the journal Cell Stem Cell, points the way to potential new strategies to treat the blood disorders and further illuminates the relationship between inflammation and cancer, said lead investigator Nadia Carlesso, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of pediatrics at the Indiana University School of Medicine.

Bone marrow includes the cells that produce the body’s red and white blood system cells in a process called hematopoiesis. The marrow also provides a support system and “home” for the blood-producing cells called the hematopoietic micro-environment. The new research demonstrates the importance of the hematopoietic micro-environment in the development of a group of potentially deadly diseases called myeloproliferative disorders.

“It has been known for years that there are links between inflammation and cancer, but these studies have been challenged by the lack of genetic models, especially for blood-based malignancies,” said Dr. Carlesso, a member of the hematologic malignancy and stem cell biology program within the Wells Center for Pediatric Research at IU.

The researchers focused on what happens when there are abnormally low levels of a molecule called Notch, which plays an important role in the process of blood cell production. Using a genetically modified mouse, they found that the loss of Notch function in the microenvironment causes a chain of molecular events that result in excess production of inflammatory factors.

The high levels of inflammation in the bone marrow were associated with the development of a myeloproliferative disorder in the mice. Myeloproliferative diseases in humans can result in several illnesses caused by overproduction of myeloid cells, which are normally are used to fight infections. These diseases can put patients at risk for heart attack or stroke, and frequently progress into acute leukemia and bone marrow failure, which have fatal outcomes. Unfortunately, there are no effective therapies for the majority of myeloproliferative diseases.

When Dr. Carlesso’s team blocked the activity of one of the molecules in this biochemical cascade, the myeloproliferative disorder in the mice was reversed. In addition, elevated levels of the blocked molecule were found in samples from human patients with myeloproliferative disease. These findings suggest that developing drugs that target this inflammatory reaction at different key points could be a promising strategy to limit the development of myeloproliferative disease in humans.

The molecular cascade leading to inflammation was not occurring directly in the bone marrow cells that produce blood cells, but in cells of the bone marrow microenvironment, especially in endothelial cells that line the capillaries — tiny blood vessels — inside the bone marrow. This was a key discovery, Dr. Carlesso said.

“This work indicates that we need to target not only the tumor cells, but also the inflammatory microenvironment that surrounds them and may contribute to their generation,” she said.

“We believe that this combined strategy will be more effective in preventing myeloproliferative disease progression and transformation in acute leukemias.” Dr. Carlesso also noted that the Notch molecule is mostly known as an oncogene — one that can cause cancer — and so is often targeted by therapies for other types of cancer. The new research indicates that clinicians need to be aware of the effects that reducing levels of Notch function could have on the blood development process, she said.

Source: science daily

Drowning Prevention: How to Be Cautious Around Water

Drowning Prevention How to Be Cautious Around Water

Whether you are taking your kids to a pool, a river or the ocean, it is crucial that you exercise caution and use good judgment about water safety. Drowning is a very important cause of injury-related death among young children. Although young children are particularly at risk, even older kids who know how to swim can experience difficulty, or even drown.

When you’re out with your kids having fun in the water, safety issues may not be at the top of your mind. However, in order to keep your kids safe, you need to follow some basic precautions. By adopting proper water safety practices, you can help protect your family from serious, even deadly, accidents and injuries.

Ensure Adult Supervision
Though you may feel your kids are old enough to monitor their own activities in the water, don’t let your guard down. Whenever children are near water, responsible adults should closely supervise them at all times.

When watching children – whether near or around a pool, river, ocean, or even a bathtub – avoid multitasking. Do not engage in distracting activities that can cause you to lose your focus on watching your children, such as making phone calls, reading, playing games with other adults, or watching TV.

Wear Life Jackets
Life jackets aren’t just for boating. When your kids are around natural bodies of water – such as rivers or the ocean – consider if life jackets should be mandatory. Even if your kids are excellent swimmers, it’s possible for rip tides and currents to overpower them. Children who are weaker swimmers may need to wear a life jacket when they are in or near swimming pools as well.

Use Pool Fences
Swimming pools, however small, inside houses can be as dangerous as the ocean when it comes to small children. Even if parents are nearby, children are at risk for drowning if proper precautions aren’t taken.

If you have a swimming pool in your house, it is recommended to separate your house from the pool by installing an “isolation fence.” This fence should be four-sided to completely encompass the pool, and should include gates that self-close and self-latch. Isolation fences can help keep children away from the pool area when they’re in the surroundings playing.

Know the Basics
Sometime’s prevention isn’t enough, and accidents happen. It is recommended that all parents learn basic life-saving skills. In addition to knowing how to swim (or at least how to float and move through the water), adults with young children should also learn how to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). It isn’t hard to find a basic CPR course. There are many hospitals and NGOs offering the basic CPR courses to interested individuals.

CPR helps to save lives by keeping a flow of oxygenated blood to vital organs. When the heart stops, a person can die in a matter of minutes. If you’re trained in CPR, and administer your skills promptly, you may be able to help save a life.

Avoid Disaster: Use Caution
According to an estimate, India has the highest number of child deaths due to drowning. One of the most tragic aspects of these deaths is that they are completely avoidable. Water injuries and deaths can be prevented, as long as adults remain mindful of children at play. It’s important not to become careless around water, even when your kids are splashing and having fun. By learning the best practices for water safety at pools, rivers, and ocean beaches, you can help keep your kids safe and healthy.

Source: healthline

Honeydew melons play role in boosting brain health and more

Honeydew melons play role in boosting brain health and more

Honeydew melon is more than a mildly sweet, refreshing melon typically enjoyed during the warmer months; it’s also a highly nutritious food that can help maintain a healthy weight, fight colds, keep blood pressure in check and keep nervous system health functioning well.

Here’s a closer look at the top health benefits of honeydew melon. As always, it’s wise to choose organic foods as they’re free of harmful pesticides that fill the body with toxins.

Health benefits of honeydew melon

1) Weight control. Honeydew melons have only 60 calories for every 1/2 cup making it a low-calorie option that also satisfies the craving for something sweet. Furthermore, they have a high water content that not only helps with hydration, but provides a feeling of fullness to stave off the urge to eat foods that may be unhealthy.

2) Fights colds. These tasty melons provide approximately half of daily vitamin C needs in just one cup. Since vitamin C plays a role in keeping the immune system strong, honeydew can help fight infection and ward off illnesses.

3) Regulates blood pressure. Nutrition experts at the University of Texas Southwestern (UTS) Medical Center at Dallas advise eating melons like honeydew, citing their high potassium levels as a way to reduce salt retention and therefore, better control blood pressure. It’s also thought that the ratio of water to potassium on honeydew can help lower blood pressure may also help prevent an increase in blood pressure.

4) Healthy nervous system. Honeydew contains B vitamins thiamin and niacin which are known to not only increase energy levels, but to remove toxins from the body and in turn, boost nervous system health. The vitamins have been known to help boost brain health and prevent detrimental changes to it such as the onset of Alzheimer’s.

Honeydew may be eaten fresh, directly scooped from the melon itself as a snack, or can be added to a variety of dishes including fruit or green salads.

Source: Natural news

Working in the Night Shift Disrupts Brain Clock

Working the Night Shift Disrupts Brain Clock

It is already known that working the graveyard shift can negatively impact health, and the body of evidence continues to grow. Now, researchers have shown that forced nocturnalism may affect the brains’ internal clock in a way that’s similar to Alzheimer’s disease.

The circadian system in mammals orchestrates the daily rhythms of activity and sleep with day and night. Disrupting this cycle throws off physiological balance, and can lead to increased risks of heart disease and diabetes in people.

But until now little has been known about how shift work alters the brain’s master timekeeper.

Simulating the Graveyard Shift

To test the effects of working late, researchers put rats through a simulated work week. Seven rats worked during their typical nocturnal active period, while 12 others were made to work days instead. Both sets of rats logged a typical 5-day work week with weekends, and stayed on the grind for five weeks.

Researchers simulated “work” by placing rats on slowly rotating drums, which required the rats to stay awake and move, but didn’t overexert them. After their shifts, researchers monitored rats’ movements with motion sensors to test for abnormalities.

Within two weeks, rats working the graveyard shift gained a significant amount of weight as their post-work activity decreased. Their activity levels were also more erratic, fluctuating from unpredictable highs to lows. Rats that worked a typical week didn’t change their behavior. Further, a two-day weekend wasn’t enough time to recover from behavioral changes resulting from working the night-shift.

Researchers determined by measuring post-work activity levels that these changes occurred in rats’ biological clock, or master circadian pacemaker, which is located within the brain. The disruption was so pronounced that the rats’ behavior resembled animals that had had that region severed. For a human analogy, the rats’ symptoms stemming from a dysfunctional circadian clock were similar to a person diagnosed with dementia.

Researchers published their findings Tuesday in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface.

Source: discover

5 Tricks For Easy, Healthy Breakfasts

5 Tricks For Easy, Healthy Breakfasts

You may have seen reports in the news lately questioning the benefits of breakfast for weight loss, but I’m not ready to sanction skipping. In my experience, eating breakfast strongly supports weight control, and several studies back what I’ve seen in my 15+ years of counseling clients – breakfast fuels your body when you’re most active, and therefore most likely to burn off what you’ve eaten. It also tends to prevent late night overeating, when you’re less active, and more prone to racking up a fuel surplus that feeds fat cells.

Also, weight loss aside, “breaking the fast” is a savvy nutrition strategy, because it’s a chance to fit in servings of produce, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean proteins. Missing that opportunity, particularly day after day, can lead to shortfalls that deprive your body of important health protective nutrients.

Eating breakfast, especially one with protein, is also a smart way to build and maintain metabolism-boosting muscle. One recent study, published in the Journal of Nutrition, found that muscle building was 25% greater among people who ate a diet with an evenly distributed protein intake, compared to those who consumed less protein at breakfast, slightly more at lunch, and the majority of their protein at dinner.

Finally, a study published last year from the American Heart Association found that over a 16 year period, regular breakfast skippers had a 27% higher risk of a heart attack or fatal heart disease.

If you’re on board for a daily breakfast, but your biggest barrier is time, here are five tips and tricks to help you create shortcuts, so you can reap the benefits without running late.

Chill your oatmeal
Oatmeal doesn’t have to be served warm. Cook, then chill individual portions, and stash them in the fridge in small containers you can grab, along with a spoon, on your way out the door. Just mix a protein powder (like pea, hemp, or organic whey) into rolled oats, add hot water, stir, fold in fresh fruit, cinnamon, and nuts, and chill. Or skip the protein powder, and mix the oats, fruit, cinnamon, and nuts into nonfat organic Greek yogurt, and chill to make a grab-n-go mueslix.

Hard boil it
Many of my clients enjoy omelets on the weekends, but feel like an egg-based breakfast takes too much time during the week. For a make-ahead option, prep hard boiled organic eggs on a Sunday for the upcoming week. While you’re making dinner, take a few extra minutes to whip up a simple egg salad for breakfast the next morning. Mix chopped egg with either guacamole or pesto, diced or shredded veggies, and a small scoop of cooked, chilled quinoa or brown rice. Grab a portion with a fork in the a.m., and you’re good to go.

Have dinner for breakfast
It may seem odd to chow down on a garden salad topped with lentils or salmon at 8 am, but who says breakfast meals have to look different than lunch or dinner? Many of my clients make double portions in the evening, and eat seconds for breakfast the next day. Give it a try – you may just find that warmed up stir fry, veggie “pasta” or a crisp entrée salad is your new favorite way to start the day.

Pre-whip your smoothie
Smoothies are pretty fast, but I know that when you’re running late, just tossing ingredients into a blender and pressing a button can require more time than you can spare. If that tends to be the case, blend up a smoothie just before bed, stash it in a sealed to-go jug in the fridge, grab it on your way out the door, and shake it up before sipping. If you’re a chocolate lover, but you want to sneak some greens into your first meal of the day, check out my chocolate cherry kale smoothie recipe.

Make a meal out of snack foods
It’s perfectly OK to cobble together a breakfast from an assortment of snack foods, including veggies with hummus and whole grain crackers, or trail mix made from nuts or seeds, unsweetened preservative-free dried fruit, and a whole grain cereal you can eat with your hands. For more easy and energizing ideas, check out Health’s snack recipe database. Bon (breakfast) appetit!

Source: health