New & Now: What McDonald’s is handing out on Halloween, plus more of the latest health news

Want to know what happened in health headlines this week? Get all the hottest health and healthy-living news from around the web. Check back every Friday to find out what we’ve been buzzing about here at Best Health.

What McDonald’s is giving to trick-or-treaters

If you stop by the golden arches with your little ones on Halloween, McDonald’s will be handing out free apple slices to trick-or-treaters under 12. The fast food chain hopes to promote apple slices instead of french fries as a choice with their new Happy Meals. | Huffington Post

HPV linked to heart attacks in women

A new study has found that women who tested positive for HPV, the sexually transmitted infection, were 2.3 times more likely to experience a heart attack or stroke than women with negative test resutls. The study out of Texas included 2,450 women, aged 20 to 59. | TIME Healthland

At risk of colon cancer? Aspirin can help

If you have a family history of colorectal cancer, taking Aspirin may reduce your risk. A new study discovered that participants with a genetic predisposition for this type of cancer benefited from taking two Aspirins a day for five years. | CBC

What’s "super" broccoli?

It tastes like broccoli, it looks like broccoli, but it’s being dubbed "super" broccoli. UK scientists have cross-bred traditional varieties of broccoli with a Sicilian variation. The result is non-GMO broccoli with a big dose of glucoraphin, a nutrient thought to ward off heart disease. It’s currently on sale in the US and the UK and marketed as Beneforte. | Sympatico Health & Fitness

What’s the secret to a long life? DNA of 100-year-olds being tested

Scientists are analyzing the DNA of cenetarians to help decode the secret to longevity. Whole-genome sequencing is being done on 100 healthy seniors to identify clues to their resiliency. The results are a first step to understanding the link between genetics and illness. | Sympatico Health & Fitness