• 42 milligrams of calcium (4.2 percent DV)
• 100 milligrams potassium (2.9 percent DV)
• 0.32 milligrams iron (1.8 percent DV)
Side effects of carob
You may already know how chocolate is toxic to dogs, but can dogs eat carob? Carob is safe for dogs. According to the ASPCA, it is not toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.
It is possible, although not common, to have an allergic reaction to the carob, so if you notice any allergic symptoms, discontinue use.
There are currently no established interactions with the benefits of carob.
However, always check with your doctor before incorporating carob into your diet as a food or supplement if you are taking other medications or have any ongoing health problems.
What is a carob?
To answer what carob beans are, let me first tell you what carob is and what carob powder is.
The carob comes from the carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua), which belongs to the pea family and is native to the eastern Mediterranean region. The tree produces fruit in the form of an edible bean or pod.
Locust beans, which are generally around 50 feet tall, have these pods that contain between five and 15 hard brown carob seeds that are surrounded by naturally sweet and edible pulp.
Once these carob pods are ripe, they can be dried and ground into carob powder. Carob powder is used to make food products like carob shavings, and it is also used medicinally for a variety of health problems.
Locust bean gum is another name for locust bean gum, and it comes from carob seeds.
Locust bean gum is often used in skincare and other cosmetic products as a stabilizer, binder, or enhanced texture.
Locust bean gum is also added to many food products, such as baked goods for the same reasons.
What is the difference between carob and chocolate?
Unlike the main ingredient in chocolate, cocoa; carob beans have a natural sweetness. The carob flavor is somewhat similar to chocolate but different at the same time.
Between the carob beans and the chocolate, who wins? Well, it’s more of a comparison between carob and cocoa, the main ingredient in chocolate. Let’s compare to see who wins in the carob chocolate duel:
• The carob naturally has no caffeine, while the cocoa used to make chocolate contains natural caffeine.
• It does not have oxalic acid (a natural substance found in chocolate and other foods that inhibits calcium absorption) while chocolate contains this organic compound.
• Cocoa powder has more iron than carob, but carob powder contains some iron and key electrolytes such as calcium and potassium.
• Carob is higher in beneficial dietary fiber compared to cocoa.
• Carob does not contain theobromine, which is what makes cocoa and chocolate taste naturally bitter.
How to find and use a carob
Carob shavings, carob powder, carob bars, carob syrup, and carob extract can typically be found at your local health store or online.
You can substitute an equal amount of carob powder for cocoa powder. You can also use half carob/powder chip and half cocoa/powder chips in a recipe.
The carob shavings add nutrients and natural sweetness to whatever they come in. So what are some of the best ways to use carob chips?
For starters, carob beans are amazing in muffins, pieces of bread, cakes, pancakes, and cookies. You can also add carob powder to smoothies.
Scientific trials have used specific amounts of carob for medicinal purposes.
Remember to drink plenty of water when taking carob powder. For the treatment of diarrhea, 15 grams of carob powder have been used per day for children, while 20 grams per day have been used for adults.
The powder can also be mixed with foods such as unsweetened sweet potato puree or applesauce to facilitate taking carob for medicinal reasons.
Of course, if a young child has diarrhea it is important that he receives adequate hydration and is under the care of a pediatrician.
Final thoughts on the benefits of carob
If you’ve been a fan of chocolate your whole life, I get it, but if you’ve never tried carob beans, I really think they are worth a try.
With a naturally sweet and rich flavor, you can start substituting carob shavings for chocolate chips in your next recipe.
With zero caffeine but plenty of flavor and nutrients plus impressive health benefits, carob is a great healthy treat, in moderation, of course.
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