This is the sixth chapter of 10 herbs from Graeco-Arabic Medicine series.
What is carob?
Carob is a tree called Ceratonia siliqua.
What is carob used for?
People often use carob fruit for medicine and in foods. You may have tasted carob in various foods including fudge, chocolate milkshakes, and brownies.
Carob is also used medicinally. People use it to treat digestion problems like diarrhea, heartburn, and the intestine’s inability to properly absorb certain nutrients from food.
Does carob work?
Evidence shows that carob is effective for releasing diarrhea and lowering high cholesterol. Taking juice extracted from raw carob bean or carob pod powder before taking a standard oral rehydration solution (ORS) can help reduce the duration of symptoms in children and infants with acute diarrhea.
Carob tastes similar to chocolate and is great alternative because it contains antioxidants, low amounts of fat and sugar, no caffeine and no gluten. A wonderful alternative if you want to keep healthy!
You may have heard that some substances in cocoa may cause migraine headache. Carob is free of a migraine-triggering compound and has twice the amount of calcium compared to cocoa. (See more about migraine prevention here: Feverfew to Prevent Migraine Headache
How do you take carob?
Carob is often taken orally.
What are the side effects?
Carob is likely safe for most people when taken by mouth. People with pregnancy or breastfeeding need to consult the doctor before using.
DIY Carob Brownies
I searched for a recipe for carob brownies and share it with you guys.
You need:
3/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1 cup sugar, 5 tsp carob powder, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, 2 eggs and 1 tsp vanilla extract
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease or spry 8x8 pan.
2. Combine wet ingredients by stirring with a spoon.
3. Stir dry ingredients together and add to wet ingredients until well blended..
4. Place in an 8x8 inch pan and bake for 25-30 minutes. Cool completely before cutting.
