Carob has a naturally sweet and pleasant flavour and is packed with nutrients. It is rich in vitamins A, B, B1, B2, B3, B6 and D, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, manganese and protein. Carob is also rich in fibre and pectin, which helps eliminate toxins from the body. This super food improves digestion, lowers cholesterol, and can be used to treat diarrhoea. The vitamin E content in carob helps to treat coughs, flu, and anaemia. It can even be used to fight against osteoporosis because of it allows better absorption of calcium.
As important as what carob contains, is what it does not contain. Unlike commercial chocolate, Carob does not contain theobromine, caffeine, phenylethylamine or fromamide. These are stimulants that can cause migraines and allergic reactions in some people and are toxic to both dogs and cats. People who are allergic or sensitive to chocolate can use carob powder as a chocolate substitute in any recipe. Carob also contains fewer calories than chocolate, and because it is naturally sweet, the amount of added sugar in a recipe can be reduced when replacing chocolate with Carob!