August 2008 Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource Highlights Avoiding Blood Pressure Increase at Menopause, Healthful Benefits of Dark Chocolate and Scheduling a Color...(t issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSou...),Health

The flavonoids in dark chocolate have been associated with a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system. One recent study showed that 6 grams of dark chocolate a day, about one square, lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 2 points each.

Dark chocolate also may lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels by about 5 points. While not a huge affect, it's sending that "bad" cholesterol in the right direction. Also, flavonoids have a beneficial effect on how the lining of the blood vessels function.

"We think a lot of bad things that happen to the cardiovascular system are because the lining of the vessels cracks and becomes inflamed, setting the stage for plaques to form and rupture," says Robert Sheeler, M.D., a family physician at Mayo Clinic.

To gain the health benefits, there's no need to eat a whole chocolate bar. After all, chocolate still contains calories and fat. Dr. Sheeler says just one square a day, about 30 calories worth, will provide the health benefits.

Generally, to gain health benefits, Dr. Sheeler recommends chocolate that contains at least 60 percent cocoa. Milk chocolate typically has 15 percent to 25 percent cocoa. Dark chocolate tends to have 50 percent to 80-plus percent cocoa. And no need to buy the priciest brands. Some high-quality dark chocolate bars are available for $2 to $4 each.

Most Important Choice -- Schedule a Colorectal Exam

More options are available for colon cancer screenings

ROCHESTER, Minn. -- For many women, scheduling a screening for a colorectal cancer isn't on the radar. Some mistakenly believe it's a man's disease.

That misperception could be deadly. Colorectal cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer deaths among women, after lung cancer and breast cancer. And, a majorit
'/>"/>