"Though Halloween alone is not going to be a major overall contributor to our children's health, any behaviors they learn can have an effect," said Donna Arnett, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Epidemiology in the UAB School of Public Health.

When it comes to Halloween, parents may be particularly worried about their kids' candy. One night of trick-or-treating can haul in up to 7,000 calories, which would require about 44 hours of walking to burn off, according to Arnett. However, adults can employ several strategies to make the night healthier.

Instead of giving candy, households could hand out stickers, Halloween jewelry or quarters. For families who take the children out for trick-or-treating, the event can turn into a fun fitness contest by placing pedometers on the children to see who can walk the most. Furthermore, parents can watch over the candy and ration it out.

One possible alternative to trick-or-treating is for households to come together and throw one large block party, which provides an opportunity to serve healthy snacks and host activities such as costume contests.

"Though Halloween alone is not going to be a major overall contributor to our children's health, any behaviors they learn can have an effect," said Donna Arnett, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Epidemiology in the UAB School of Public Health.

When it comes to Halloween, parents may be particularly worried about their kids' candy. One night of trick-or-treating can haul in up to 7,000 calories, which would require about 44 hours of walking to burn off, according to Arnett. However, adults can employ several strategies to make the night healthier.

Instead of giving candy, households could hand out stickers, Halloween jewelry or quarters. For families who take the children out for trick-or-treating, the event can turn into a fun fitness contest by placing pedometers on the children to see who can walk the most. Furthermore, parents can watch over the candy and ration it out.

One possible alternative to trick-or-treating is for households to come together and throw one large block party, which provides an opportunity to serve healthy snacks and host activities such as costume contests.

The optimal measurement of triglycerides in the blood is anything below 150 mg/dL, according to the American Heart Association. However, researchers from Penn State University and Northwestern University believe that this should be lowered further to 100 mg/dL, a level that is common for people who have little visceral fat tissue around the abdomen as well as low risks for poor heart health and blood sugar, as published in the November issue of Clinical Nutrition Insight.

In order to reach this newly recommended target naturally, the study authors suggest a diet low in simple carbohydrates and fructose and high in fiber. Increasing one's intake of omega-3 fatty acids, which are present in certain types of fatty fish and vegetable oils, may be helpful as well.

The researchers also recommend losing weight, saying that every 2.2 pounds of weight lost can lower blood triglycerides by 1.5 mg/dL.

Reducing one's triglyceride levels may be as beneficial to heart health as decreasing cholesterol, the researchers said. Further studies are needed to discern any additional positive effects.

There are two types of cholesterol, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). HDL cholesterol is considered good for the heart, but LDL cholesterol can have negative effects. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, while sparse in fatty meat and whole dairy, can tip the scales more favorably for cardiovascular health. Exercising about 30 minutes a day may also be helpful, the FDA said.

A team of researchers conducted a randomized, controlled trial that included 352 American adults who had healthy levels of cholesterol. The subjects were divided into groups receiving one of three daily supplements for eight weeks: soy protein, dairy protein or complex carbohydrate.

Results showed that compared to dairy protein, the soy supplements were more effective in raising HDL and lowering LDL levels, as published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

"It's the simple lifestyle changes, such as including soy protein in your diet, that can often have a positive impact on your health," said author Elaine Krul, Ph.D.

There are different variants of the gene 9p21, and an individual's heart health can depend in part on what version of the gene they have. Scientists from McMaster University and McGill University conducted a study involving more than 27,000 people of European, South Asian, Chinese, Latin American and Arab descent. The team collected data on their subjects' diet as well as which version of 9p21 they had.

The results suggested that a diet rich in raw vegetables, fruits and berries is beneficial for the heart, even in people who are genetically at risk for poor heart health.

"We observed that the effect of a high-risk genotype can be mitigated by consuming a diet high in fruits and vegetables," said author Sonia Anand. "Our results support the public health recommendation to consume more than five servings of fruits or vegetables as a way to promote good health."

Further research is needed to determine the specifics of how eating produce interacts with genes for the heart.

Previous studies relating produce to heart health studied different variables, such as what family a plant came from or which structure was eaten. However, no research has ever explored the relationship between the heart and the color of produce.

Scientists from the Netherlands enrolled more than 20,000 men and women, from age 20 to 65 and free of heart disease, for a 10-year study. During the research, subjects had to describe their eating habits of fruits and vegetables categorized into four groups: green, yellow/orange, red/purple and white.

The results, published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association, showed that after a decade, people who consumed the most white produce had healthier heart histories. This group included garlic, onions, bananas, cauliflower and cucumbers. The most commonly consumed white foods were pears and apples. Previous research showed that the fiber and flavonols in these fruits had positive effects on the cardiovascular system. Further studies are needed to support new recommendations on eating white produce, the scientists said.

Harvard Medical School (HMS) recently published a special guide to heart health that includes a risk calculator and discussions of lifestyle changes. Among the topics are the effects of stress on the cardiovascular system. Recent global events, such as the financial crisis of the last few years, aren't helping people, the report said. Long work hours can also compound stress.

Evidence has shown that learning to cope can have positive effects on cardiovascular health, according to Harvard's guide, and the American Heart Association (AHA) agrees. Both HMS and AHA recommend a few non-medicinal tips to handle stress. Sleep and exercise are both beneficial. Classes in hospitals, schools and other settings can teach relaxation techniques such as yoga and meditation.

It is also important to set aside at least 15 minutes every day to do something enjoyable, such as a hobby, the AHA said. Friends and family can also partake in these activities, or offer an attentive ear to talk through life's challenges.

While the research supporting the link between de-stressing and better heart health is growing, further studies are needed, the Harvard report said.

Research has shown that barley can help improve cholesterol levels. In 2006, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) created guidelines that allowed food products made with barley to brandish a label purporting benefits for cardiovascular health, as long as it included at least 0.75 grams of soluble fiber per serving. Soluble fiber can help lower cholesterol levels, while insoluble fiber improves gastrointestinal health by helping waste to move quickly through the colon.

In Italy, researchers found a way to use barley flour in the manufacturing process of pasta, which is usually made from wheat semolina, as reported in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Compared to the traditional production technique, the new pasta-making method yielded noodles that had higher amounts of both soluble and insoluble fiber, antioxidants and other healthy compounds, such as flavanols, said the researchers. They also noted that adding gluten improved the cooking quality of the pasta, but that cooking only partially freed up the antioxidants that had been hampered by the gluten.

The study authors hope to eventually add their pasta to the growing list of "functional foods" that contain added nutrients.

"The idea to study positive emotions, such as laughter came about after studies had shown that mental stress caused blood vessels to constrict," said Dr. Michael Miller, professor of medicine and lead investigator.

For the report, the researchers initially studied 300 men and women with and without poor heart health more than 10 years ago. The participants were asked to completed a questionnaire related to situational humor. The results showed that those with poor heart health were 40 percent less likely to rate situations as funny, compared to those in good health.

During the continuation of the research, volunteers watched a funny movie one day, and a stressful scene from a movie the next. The research reveals that responses to stressful situations can cause a reduction in blood flow, while funny movies can result in expansion of the blood vessel lining.

"The magnitude of change we saw in the endothelium after laughing was consistent and similar to the benefit we might see with aerobic exercise or statin use," added Miller.

Researchers at the University of Cambridge in England reviewed seven previous scientific studies that investigated the various health benefits of chocolate, which many believe to contain antioxidants and other chemicals that aid metabolism, blood pressure and cardiovascular health.

The investigators' results, published late August in the British Journal of Medicine, showed that people who ate the most chocolate were more likely to have a good history of heart health. This may be because of antioxidants such as polyphenols, or other substances that have positive effects on the blood vessels.

However, the researchers offer several caveats. Because medical studies of chocolate are relatively new and only demonstrate an association between chocolate and cardiovascular health, further experiments are needed to prove that chocolate actually benefits the heart.

Also, all the studies reviewed by the authors investigated different forms of chocolate consumption, including beverages, candy and nutritional supplements, as well as dark, milk and white varieties. The researchers warn that consumers should remember that commercially available chocolate tends to be high in fat and sugar, and that moderation is always a good idea.