Do you love chocolate? Are you a self-described chocoholic? Do you hide chocolate in your drawer at work or bedside table? If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, then I think you will be as excited as I was when I found out eating chocolate can be good for your health! There have been many clinical studies done recently that show chocolate’s health benefits, so that’s good news, right? Not so fast! There are a few issues to address first. Chocolate eating tips 1. The higher the cocoa content, the better. Go for the darkest chocolate you can stand – the higher the percentage, the more benefits you get. Opt for 70% and higher when shopping for chocolate at the store. I usually buy 75% and sometimes even 85%! 2. Watch how much you eat. Chocolate is a high fat food, so moderation is key when indulging. A 100 g bar of dark chocolate is about 500 calories, so you should eat about 20-40g per day to keep the calories in check. If you eat more, consider cutting out other calories to stay within the limits of your daily caloric intake. 3. Savor the taste. It’ll do you some good to take small bites and take your time to enjoy this treat, instead of inhaling the whole thing in one piece. Savoring the chocolate is part of the fun, and will make the process last longer, so when you finish you’ll feel satisfied, and not mindlessly reach for more. 4. Go for the pure stuff. When buying chocolates, avoid ones with caramel, nougat, and nuts, as that ads more sugar and fat. Instead, try either pure chocolate, or one flavored with orange or mint. To get even more benefits of chocolate, try it in its raw form. You can buy cacao nibs (small chunks of dried crushed cocoa beans) at a health food store, or specialty shop. 5. Skip the hot cocoa. Hot chocolate – a drink with cocoa powder diluted in hot water, doesn’t have any health benefits. During its processing, valuable polyphenols get destroyed and precious antioxidants vanish. So forget hot chocolate and go for a cup of green tea instead. Shangri-la Chocolate Heaven I got a special treat while visiting theChocolate Boutique at Shangri-La, Bangkok hotel. The shop is conveniently situated in the lobby of the hotel, and is decorated with pieces or art made of chocolate! One really feels like they’ve gone to chocolate heaven when browsing through their extensive selection. From truffles and pralines, to fudge bars and chocolate covered raspberries they’ve got it all! They even have chocolate tuk-tuks and chocolate lipstick sets, which make very unique gifts for that someone special.