With pumpkin spice lattes already hitting coffee shops, it’s never too soon to rethink favorite seasonal sips and cut calories without sacrificing flavor. Here are four to try from now until the holidays really begin! Each recipe makes two drinks. Pear Bellini: Pears make the perfect puree to add to champagne, Prosecco or sparking rose.…  read on >

Weight-loss surgery should be more widely used to treat severely obese children and teens, a leading pediatricians’ group says. Severe obesity is a serious and worsening public health crisis among U.S. youngsters, and weight-loss surgery is one of the few effective ways of treating it, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in its…  read on >

Allergies and asthma can turn Halloween into fright night, so parents must be vigilant. Some fun-sized candy bars have no labels to alert about possible food allergens, such as peanuts, said Dr. Todd Mahr, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. But food allergens aren’t the only potential concerns. “Halloween happens in…  read on >

This Halloween, don’t deny yourself tempting treats or throw your healthy eating plan out of whack when the kids indulge. The answer is chocolate-covered fruit — all the sweetness of candy with nutrients you won’t find in the Trick or Treat bag. Fresh berries and fruit wedges, like apples and pears, are super high in…  read on >

From hives and itchiness to anaphylaxis, an allergic reaction to nuts can manifest itself in many ways, says the University of Rochester. If you are living with a nut allergy, the school suggests: When grocery shopping, check every item’s food label for nuts. Tell all restaurants and servers about your food allergy. Always keep medicine…  read on >

Computer-driven artificial intelligence (AI) can help protect human brains from the damage wrought by stroke, a new report suggests. A computer program trained to look for bleeding in the brain outperformed two of four certified radiologists, finding abnormalities in brain scans quickly and efficiently, the researchers reported. “This AI can evaluate the whole head in…  read on >

Some widely used drugs alter the population of microbes in the gut, and a number raise the risk of antibiotic resistance, a new Dutch study shows. The gut microbiome includes at least 1,000 species of bacteria and is influenced by a number of different factors, including medication. Research suggests that changes in the gut microbiome…  read on >

You probably already realize that adding zucchini or carrots to a cake won’t magically make it low calorie or healthy. But you might not realize that there are many foods that sound healthy but really aren’t. It might seem as though bran muffins are the perfect way to get needed fiber, but the 3 grams…  read on >

Love your chicken parm but not the crazy calorie overload you get at a restaurant? Try this lighter version that’s easy to make at home. Most of the unwanted calories in chicken parmesan come from heavy breading plus the typical big side of pasta. Both bring down the nutrition profile since the breading is made…  read on >

Some 37 million Americans are facing hunger today, says Feeding America. Though hunger is not always apparent, the effects on the mind and body can be devastating. Worrying about where your next meal will come from or the inability to feed your loved ones can adversely affect your mental health. And concentrating in school or…  read on >