Your health

The chocolate cure:Œ

You've probably heard about the studies linking dark chocolate to better heart health. Dark chocolate that is rich in flavanols can improve vascular function and lower blood pressure.

But be sure to choose the right chocolate, advises an editorial in The Lancet. White or milk chocolate has no health benefit. And not all dark chocolate has flavanols, which are bitter and are sometimes removed. Unfortunately, manufacturers rarely label their products with information about flavanols, so it's hard to tell.

There's another catch. To get a health benefit, you'll have to offset the fat and sugar in your dark chocolate by making adjustments in the rest of your diet. Of course, you could simply skip the chocolate and eat a healthy diet that's low in sugar and rich in fruit and vegetables. We say, pass the chocolate.

De-stress at work

Is your post-holiday daily grind leaving you stressed out? Shape magazine has some tips to alleviate stress at work.

• Learn how to focus. Don't answer your phone when working on a project and choose a few times a day to check e-mail.

• Prioritize your work. If you have a lot on your plate, ask your manager to help you determine each one's urgency.

• Plan rewards for yourself. You'll be more efficient if you're motivated by anticipation, rather than fear of missing a deadline. If your report is due at 5 p.m., sign up for a yoga class that starts at 6.

Restless legs risks

If you suffer restless leg syndrome, you might also have a greater risk of heart disease or stroke, according to a study in the journal Neurology.

Researchers questioned more than 3,400 people about a variety of diseases. Those who reported they had RLS were more than twice as likely to have heart disease or a history of stroke. The link was strongest in people who had RLS symptoms at least 16 times a month.

The study did not show that RLS causes these other problems. But researchers said the leg movements are linked to increases in blood pressure and heart rate, which over time can cause vascular disease.

-- Susan Stevens