Chocolate As A Health Food? Southington Library To Look Into It

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Chocolate is always a beloved, sweet treat, especially this time of year at Valentine's Day.

But the Southington Public Libary later this week is hosting a program on the beloved substance that looks into something we can all sink our teeth into — the health benefits of dark chocolate.

From 1 to 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10, the library, located at 255 Main St., is hosting Marisa McCoy, a registered dietician from Shop Rite of Southington, for a program called "The Benefits of Dark Chocolate."

And, this event promises to be not only educational, but tasty, as participants will be able to enjoy free samples as they taste different types of chocolate.

Registration is requested, as event organizers want to know just how much chocolate to bring.

A common gift this time of year, dark chocolate — which is a more bitter, but still tasty, as compared to milk chocolate — has many benefits, according to healthline.com.

For example, dark chocolate contains copious amounts of fiber, iron, magnesium, copper, manganese and other nutrients.

Plus, it reduces blood pressure, contains antioxidants and can, even, lower heart disease risk.

Of course, it is high in calories, according to healthline, so a chocolate-only diet is probably not a good thing.

Still, there are sufficient benefits to this beloved food item to make it more than just a simple sweet treat.

To register for the Southington Public Library's 'Benefits of Dark Chocolate' program, click on this link.

For the Southington Public Library's Facebook page listing for this event, click on this link.

For more information on chocolate's benefits, click on this link at healthline.com.