Benefits Of Carob
Carob is a beneficial type of shrub in the same family as peas that have a wide variety of health benefits, including its ability to boost the immune system, reduce the risk of cancer, improve digestion, slow down aging, prevent cardiovascular diseases, and manage diabetes.
What is Carob?
Carob is also known as St. John’s-bread and is a member of the Fabaceae family, so the edible fruits are considered legumes, like peas. The fruit comes in a pod, much like peas, and they grow in a cylindrical shape supported by a thick trunk, from which the pods grow. The plant is native to the Mediterranean region and Northern Africa, as well as parts of the Indian subcontinent and Asia, all the way to Macaronesia. Many cultures regularly use carobs like other nuts and seeds, and also as a substitute for chocolate!
Carob Nutrition
The health benefits of carobs are mainly attributed to their vitamin and mineral content, like calcium, zinc, potassium, phosphorus, vitamin K, riboflavin, and vitamin E, as well as its natural antioxidants.
Health Benefits of Carob
The health benefits of carobs include cancer prevention, improved digestion, faster weight loss, and many more.
Improved Digestion
As a rich source of dietary fiber, carob can help the digestive activities of the body. Fiber bulks up bowel movements and stimulates regularity, as well as the secretion of gastric juices and peristaltic motion. All of this combines into a healthier digestive system while helping prevent more serious gastrointestinal conditions. Furthermore, since the type of fiber is insoluble, it can absorb liquids, therefore reducing the amount of loose stool in the body and preventing diarrhea. Carob powder is actually a common prescription as a treatment for acute-onset diarrhea.
Cancer Prevention
The polyphenolic content of carob makes it an ideal antioxidant, and carob germ flour, another byproduct of this useful plant, has been directly associated with cytotoxic activity in the body. [2] This means that it is toxic to some cells, but luckily, carob has shown a penchant for being toxic to cancer cells, particularly those related to cervicalcancer. That, combined with the antioxidant activity of polyphenols which scavengedangerous free radicals from throughout the body and prevent cancer, and other diseases, makes this food a very beneficial addition to your lines of defense against cancer!
Weight loss
The fiber found in carob is somewhat special, in that it inhibits the secretion of postprandial ghrelin, a hormone that tells the body that it is hungry, occasionally released after eating. This means that carob can reduce the chances of overeating, and therefore aid in weight loss attempts.
Healthy Cardiovascular System
It has been shown to be highly effective against high cholesterol. [5] Studies have shown that people given carob fiber significantly see a reduction in the levels of LDL or bad cholesterol in their system, and it also reduced the number of triglycerides in the body as well. Reducing dangerous forms of cholesterol can reduce the chances of various cardiovascular diseases, including high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes!
Diabetes Management
In comparison to regular chocolate, carob has considerably less sugar, a fraction of the fat content, and only 1/3 of the calories. It can help prevent spikes in blood sugar and be a safe dietary choice for diabetics. This is why it is so often used as a replacement for chocolate in various cultures because it also provides protein and fiber that chocolate lacks. This makes carob helpful for people trying to lose weight, without depriving their sweet tooth of some chocolate on occasion!
