Carob fruits: benefits and harms, properties, how to use, photo

The benefits and harms of carob are an interesting question for lovers of unusual exotic products. To answer correctly, you need to understand the features and characteristics of the flour and fruits of the plant.

What is a carob and where does it grow

The carob tree or carob is an evergreen fruit plant native to the Mediterranean. Currently, the plant is artificially cultivated in Italy, Spain, Portugal and several other countries.

The main value in the carob tree are fruits that are actively used in cooking and home medicine. After flowering, the carob releases long, narrow, curved pods filled with seeds and juicy pulp. These pods look like horns, hence the name of the plant. The timing of flowering of the carob tree is striking - it can bear fruit for up to 90 years in a row, and the plant's yield increases every year.

The chemical composition of carob

The fruits of the plant are appreciated not only for their pleasant taste, but also for their properties. The carob contains:

• vitamins B1 and B6;
• vitamin E;
• natural acid PP;
• calcium and phosphorus;
• iron and sodium;
• magnesium and zinc;
• manganese and selenium;
• tannins, ash and fiber.

The listed components provide the plant with medicinal and gastronomic benefits. Carob can even be used for treatment, not just to enjoy the sweet taste.

Nutritional value and calorie content of carob

Basically, the composition of useful fruits is represented by carbohydrates, their content is about 50 g. Also in the carob there are 4.6 g of proteins and very little fat - about 0.7 g. The calorie content of dry carob is average - about 220 kcal per 100 g of product.

Why is carob useful?

Even in moderation, carob provides invaluable benefits to the body. Valuable properties are manifested in a variety of areas.

For adult men and women

The general health benefits of carob are that the product:

• improves blood quality and saves from anemia and anemia due to the increased iron content;
• helps to strengthen blood vessels and protects the heart from ailments;
• serves as a good natural diuretic, therefore eliminates edema and benefits the kidneys;
• helps to restore the correct metabolism, cope with diarrhea and flatulence, relieves nausea;
• helps to eliminate fever and sore throat with colds and sore throats;
• strengthens vision - the carob contains a lot of vitamin B2, which is important for the prevention and treatment of cataracts;
• has a beneficial effect on potency - when using carob, male libido increases;
• relieves inflammation and pain in prostatitis and adenoma;
• protects the body from viruses and bacterial infections.

Also, carob is a good preventive measure against rickets, which is especially useful for adolescents and young people.

For the elderly

The strengthening and hematopoietic properties of carob are very beneficial for the elderly. Carob is useful for pressure surges, headaches and joint ailments. The plant has a beneficial effect on memory and brain activity, allows you to maintain clarity of mind for longer.

When losing weight

Carob syrup is especially beneficial on the diet - it contains glucose, which suppresses appetite and creates a feeling of fullness. In addition, carob is used to make chocolate and coffee. They also dampen the feeling of hunger and allow you to feel less stress from the lack of familiar tasty foods.

When using a carob, getting rid of extra pounds is faster. At the same time, losing weight women do not have the feeling that for the sake of their cherished goal, they have to give up all their favorite products.

Is carob good for children

Carob properties are quite safe for babies - carob can be safely added to baby puree. The product will be of great benefit if the child is allergic to ordinary chocolate. It will be possible to prepare a delicacy from the carob tree, and there will be no harm from this.

Is it possible to carob during pregnancy and breastfeeding

The manufacturers claim that small amounts of carob cannot harm pregnant women or nursing mothers. However, it is better to additionally consult with your doctor regarding the appropriateness of using the product.

During lactation, it is also necessary to carefully watch the baby's food reaction. At the first sign of allergy, the carob fruit will need to be removed from the diet.

Carob with diabetes

The composition of useful carob does not contain sugar, only vegetable glucose and sucrose. Therefore, it is possible to use carob derivatives with a low glycemic index in diabetes. Carob is especially popular as a substitute for chocolate and cocoa - it tastes even more pleasant, but does not harm health. When using it, there is no addiction.

In addition, in diabetes, carob helps control weight and regulates blood cholesterol levels.

Carob flour in folk medicine

Basically, carob is used in cooking and for making drinks. However, there are also medicinal recipes based on the product. In particular, two carob-based products are popular.

• For diarrhea, stir 20 g of carob in a glass of milk or warm water and add a pinch of starch. The mixture is drunk a couple of times a day, the remedy soothes mucous membranes and has a beneficial effect on peristalsis, due to which the diarrhea quickly stops.
• With ARVI, homemade medicine is prepared in almost the same way - 20 g of carob is diluted in a glass of water. But you need to take the remedy up to 6 times a day, then the effect will come quickly.

Carob in home cosmetology

The beneficial properties of carob are also manifested in the field of beauty. Carob is used in masks with a scrub effect - such mixtures simultaneously cleanse and moisturize the skin.

Carob flour is often mixed with honey, lemon juice, fermented milk products, and other ingredients. The benefits of cosmetic products will differ depending on the specific composition of the masks. However, in any case, carob nourishes the skin with valuable minerals and vitamins B and E.

How else is carob used?

Carob fruits have a healing effect on the body. Therefore, not only simple healing cocktails are prepared from beans and flour, but also other means that allow you to improve your health and improve your tone.

Carob tea

Crushed carob pods are suitable for making tasty and healthy herbal tea. Brewing carob is very easy - pour a tablespoon of ground beans with a glass of hot water and wait a quarter of an hour.

This tea is drunk at will twice a day. The properties of the product are of great benefit in case of nervous overstrain, as well as relieve cold symptoms.

If desired, carob flour can be added to regular tea, it will give the drink an original taste.

Carob syrup

A healthy carob-based product is a sweet syrup that is extracted from finely chopped carob beans by evaporation. The tool can serve as a delicious dessert, but it is more often used for medicinal purposes. In particular, the syrup helps against diarrhea and nervous disorders, respiratory system diseases and insomnia. Due to its high calcium content, the syrup effectively protects bones from osteoporosis.

Carob oil

An oil with a high concentration of vitamins and minerals is obtained industrially from fresh carob fruit. The oil is used to treat intestinal and gastric ailments, to calm nerves and regulate sleep. The properties of the product increase hemoglobin in the blood, therefore, taking the oil protects against the development of anemia.

However, due to the strong concentration of active elements in the composition of the oil, not everyone can use the product. The oil is prohibited for allergy sufferers and young children under 2 years of age - the product may harm them.

Locust bean gum

Gum is the gum extracted from the seeds of a plant - the product looks like a white powder and is used in cooking as a food additive. Semi-liquid mixtures with the addition of gum acquire a gel-like consistency.

Carob gum is added to ice cream and semi-finished meat products as a stabilizer; the substance can be found in cheeses, soups, sauces and mayonnaise. Carob gum improves the texture of foods, acts as a binder and thickener.

The use of carob in cooking

The unusual fruits of the carob tree and the flour obtained from them are often used in cooking, mainly in the confectionery and baking industries. In particular, carob is used:

• as an additive for ice cream and yoghurts - carob flour is used instead of cocoa to improve the taste and texture of products;
• as a sweet powder for fruit and berry desserts - here carob replaces powdered sugar;
• in the manufacture of confectionery products from dough - like cocoa, carob flour gives the dough a brown color and a sweet taste, while the structure of muffins, cakes and pies remains unchanged, and the beneficial properties increase;
• when creating dessert pastes - carob is mixed with honey and spices, butter and coconut oil;
• in the manufacture of sweets - carob is mixed with nuts, sesame seeds, berries and other ingredients, the result is a delicious delicacy that does not harm health.

Carob-based sweet drinks are popular. They are prepared in much the same way as chocolate cocktails, except that instead of ordinary chocolate and cocoa, carob powder is poured with hot water or milk.

Carob recipes

Treats with carob in the composition do not need to be purchased in the store. If desired, many of them can be prepared at home, they will turn out to be no less tasty, and the properties will be completely natural.

Carob drink

The simplest recipe is a thick, sweet and aromatic drink made from quality carob. How to prepare a carob drink? There is nothing complicated in this - the recipe is about the same as that of cocoa.

1. Milk in a volume of 2 glasses is heated and 1.5 or 2 large spoons of dark carob are poured.
2. Stir the drink well, if necessary, cool it for several minutes to a temperature suitable for drinking.
3. If the consistency is too thick, dilute the sweet drink with plain water and stir again thoroughly.

It is recommended to pour carob flour into milk gradually, stirring continuously. In this case, the mixture will dissolve evenly, and unpleasant lumps will not form in the liquid.

But you can still add a teaspoon of flower or linden honey to it - the benefits of the product will only increase, but there will be no harm.

Carob Chocolate Recipe

If you have crushed carob beans at home, you can make healthy natural chocolate from them, in many cases it will be more valuable for the body than purchased sweets. In addition to carob, you only need to take a little butter and coconut. Make a treat as follows:

• butter in a volume of 100 g is melted in a saucepan over low heat until it becomes completely liquid;
• the carob is poured into the oil and stirred until it completely dissolves in the oil, leaving no lumps;
• add a teaspoon of honey and a little coconut to the workpiece, mix it well again;
• the resulting mass is poured into a pre-prepared form of any shape, if desired, sprinkle finely chopped nuts or pieces of dried fruit on top;
• the naturally cooled workpiece is removed to the freezer and kept in it for at least an hour until the mixture is completely solidified.

Healthy homemade chocolate can be eaten in small pieces, after keeping it slightly at room temperature, otherwise the product will be too tough. At the same time, it is impossible to store chocolate from carob outside the refrigerator - it will melt, and it will become inconvenient to eat it.

Chocolate muffin with box

A simple and delicious recipe is a soft and aromatic cake with the addition of carob flour. The advantage of the recipe is that the ingredients for it are very inexpensive, present in every kitchen.

Cooking process:

• 200 g of natural butter is melted in an enamel container and 4 large tablespoons of carob powder and sugar in a volume of one and a half glasses are poured there;
• the ingredients are poured with half a glass of milk, brought to a boil, quickly removed from the stove and set to cool;
• in a glass of kefir, quench half a teaspoon of soda, add to the warm glaze mixture;
• pour 2 cups of flour into a container and knead the dough thoroughly without leaving lumps in it;
• the workpiece is laid out in special forms for baking and removed for 50 minutes in an oven preheated to 200 ° C.

If desired, the raw dough can be flavored with cinnamon, pieces of nuts or raisins to make the finished chocolate muffins even tastier.

Carob harm and contraindications

The health benefits and harms of carob remain an unresolved issue.

1. On the one hand, the researchers recognize the products based on the fruits of an exotic plant as safe. So, European, American and Arab scientists did not reveal any harm in the properties of carob - beans and powder are allowed for consumption by adults and children.
2. Often, carob is even prescribed to young children as a remedy - it stops diarrhea and helps fight childhood regurgitation.
3. The recommended daily dosage of the product for adults is about 20 g. For children, exact norms have not yet been established, but usually nutritionists and doctors advise measuring half of the "adult" volumes of the product.

However, to date, the benefits and harms of carob drinks and meals are still in the process of study and clinical research.For example, until 100% of the benefits of the product in diabetes mellitus have been proven, it has only been established that it does not harm diabetics. There is no exact information about the action of carob in combination with medicines and other medicinal plants.

In general, it is recommended to consume carob in moderation with caution. At the first signs of allergies and other harm, it is necessary to refuse to take drinks or dishes with the addition of the product.

During pregnancy and lactation, the advisability of using carob powder should be discussed with your doctor.

How to choose a carob

In ordinary stores, carob powder is not sold; you will have to go to an institution specializing in healthy eating for it. The product can be found in three varieties - unroasted, medium roasted, or light roasted. When choosing, it is recommended to pay attention to the following important points:

• country of production - natural carob is supplied from the USA, the Mediterranean and Australia;
• brand reliability - it is better to purchase an exotic product from trusted manufacturers, even if at a price it will cost a little more.

Before buying, you should evaluate the color, aroma and taste of the unusual carob powder.

1. The product, which has not been roasted, has a light nutty smell and a beige tint.
2. Medium roasted powder exudes a chocolate smell, tastes bitter, and looks like ground coffee.
3. Lightly roasted powder has a caramel flavor with a slight sourness and is usually light brown in color.

Medium roasted carob is suitable for most culinary and medical purposes. It retains enough useful properties, but it is inexpensive.

How to store carob at home

In order for the carob tree to retain its beneficial properties longer, after purchase it is recommended to pour the flour into a foil bag and put it in a cardboard box. Keep the product in a cool and dry place out of sunlight. The valuable properties of the carob are preserved for 1.5 years, after which you will need to purchase a new portion.

Unprocessed carob pods can be eaten for 1.5-2 years. It is recommended to store them in a tightly closed glass or tin can in the dark, in conditions of low humidity.

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of carob depend on the naturalness of the exotic product. Real carob will be a valuable ingredient in baked goods and home remedies. But it is important to observe moderation in use, since any product is dangerous in too large quantities.

Reviews