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Carob health benefits. Used as healthier alternative for cocoa and chocolate products, It has anti-oxidant properties and can prevent cancer…

Carob use warning and cautions. carob is generally safe for human consumption even for children and pregnant women.

Scientific Name : Ceratonia Siliqua

Common Names : Carob Tree, St. John’s bread, Arabic: خروب‎, kharrūb; German: Johannisbrotbaum; Greek: χαρουπιά, haroupia or ξυλοκερατιά, ksylokeratia ; Spanish: algarrobo, caroba; French: caroubier, caroube; Hebrew: חרוב‎ ḥaruv; Portuguese: alfarrobeira; Catalan: garrofa; Sicilian: carrubba; Turkish: harnup, keçiboynuzu; Croatian: rogač

Carob tree or Ceratonia siliqua is an evergreen flowing shrub or tree in the pea family , Fabaceae. Carob is native in the Mediterranean region including Southern Europe, Northern Africa, Middle East , in the Canary Islands and Macronesia.

Carob tree can grow from 7 to 10 meters high with canopy reaching to about 20 meters. Carob tree has huge thick trunk with rough brown bark and sturdy branches.. Carob leaves are alternate and pinnate compound, 10 to 25 cm long. The leaves are leathery in texture, dark green and characterized by a thick unilayered upper epidermis showing clustered stomata on the under face. The leaves are frost tolerant and turnovers it leaves during spring time. Carob leaf is usually composed of 8-15 leaflets 3-7 cm and may or may not have terminal leaflet.

Carob flowers blossom in autumn (September to November). The flowers are small and numerous, spirally clustered along the inflorescence axis in catkin-like racemes borne on old wood and even on the trunk (cauliflory). Within the inflorescence the basal flowers open before the apical ones; they are pollinated by both wind and insects. Carob male flowers has characteristic odor, resembling semen

The fruit is a pod that can be elongated, straight or curbed, color is green during the developmental stages, dark brown when ripe. Carob pod takes about 11 to 12 months to develop and ripen. The beans start to change their ground color and usually ripen a month later. Ripe pods fall to the ground and are eaten by various animals thus dispersing the seeds. Humans eat dried or roasted pods instead of the seeds.

Carob is widely cultivated for its edible seeds and pods. Carob is widely used in baking products, snack bars, cereals, cocoa derived products and beverages, dairy products and others. Carob is highly nutritious and offers some medicinal benefits.

Carob has a long history of use. It is used by the early Egyptians as sweetener and was even believed as the food that sustained John the Baptist when he was young thus it is also called St. John’s bread.

Nutritional and Health benefits of Carob

• Carob improves digestion
• Carob lowers bad cholesterol level in the blood
• Carob is used to treat diarrhea in children and adults
• Carob can prevent cervical and lung cancers
• Carob has anti-oxidant properties that can help repair damaged cells.
• Carob has anti-allergic, antibacterial, antiviral and analgesic action.
• Carob can prevent anemia, treat cough and flu
• Carob is rich in phosphorous and calcium and is used to prevent and treat osteoclasis and osteoporosis

Carob Fibers promote healthy cholesterol level
In a study published in “European Journal of Nutrition” in October 2003, theconsumption of food products enriched with carob fibers has beneficial effects on blood lipid profile by reducing the LDL cholesterol level (bad cholesterol) and improving the LDL to HDL cholesterol ratio. This study suggests that consumption of carob fibers may be effective in preventing and treatment of hypercholesterolemia.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14569404

Antioxidant activity of polyphenols in carob pods.
In a study published in “Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry” in January 2002, the polyphonols extracted from carob pods exhibited a strong free radical scavenging inhibition against the discoloration of beta-carotene. This shows that consumption of carob pods can offer beneficial anti-oxidant activity and is suggested for substantial use for functional food and as food ingredient for animals and human use.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11782210

Cytotoxic Activity of Carob flour
A study is done to establish the phytochemical content, antioxidant capability and cytotoxic activities of methanol extracts of the carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) germ flour that was published in “Plant Foods for Human Nutrition” journal in March 2011. It this study, it was found that carob extracts were rich in phenolic compounds that possess antioxidant activity by repairing the free radical damaged cells of the body, while at the same time has the capability to attack cervical (HeLa) cancer cells.

Anti-diarrhea Action of Carob pod powder
In a study that was published in “Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition” May 1989, entitled “Tannin-rich carob pod for the treatment of acute-onset diarrhea”, it reported that the tannin-rich carob pod powder that was administered to infants suffering from diarrhea showed improved condition after 2 days of treatment. The defecation and body temperature normalized while vomiting were reduced. The study suggested that the carob pod powder has a quick response against diarrhea in infants.

Availability of Carob

Carob products are usually available in bulk aisles in most supermarkets. Carob can also be found in most health food stores.

Carob is also available in amazon such as Raw Organic Carob Powder

Carob is generally safe for consumption. Even for children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers.

Safe Dosage of Carob powder

The appropriate and acceptable dose of carob for use as treatment depends on several factors such as the age, health condition, and others conditions.

While carob is generally safe to use, there is however no sufficient scientific study that can tell that it is entirely safe for use at any dosage. Be sure to follow instructions as suggested in the product label or as suggested by your health provider.

• Carob is commercially used as thickener and stabilizer for various food products such as ice cream, jelly, sauces, canned meats, and many others.
• Carob powder is used as a healthy substitute for cocoa and chocolate in food and drinks production.
• Carob bean pulp is used as high sugar and low protein mix for livestock feeds.

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