Carob is also known as San Giovanni bread, because it is said to be the evangelist's food during periods of meditation in the desert.
This food is in fact native to the areas of Syria, it looks like a long dark pod, fleshy and full of seeds, heavy enough to take the name of carats, as the unit of measurement of gold. In reality this epithet is due above all to the translation from the Greek of the carob name.
The active ingredients useful to our body are contained in all its parts:
> the pulp of the pod is rich in mineral salts and trace elements such as potassium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium and silicon;
> the integument as such contains fibers and tannins;
> the seeds provide a contribution in polysaccharides, proteins, vitamins E and K from the antioxidant and riboflavin action.
Carob and feeding
We must know that the carob is rather caloric, about 210 calories per 100 grams and is part of those ancient fruits a little forgotten and also the price does not favor their consumption on a large scale.
The parts used are the seeds or fruits, from which the carob gum is obtained, and the fleshy pods that provide the carob flour through drying and crushing processes.
The latter also called powder can be the main ingredient for the preparation of desserts such as puddings, creams, because it can be considered a substitute for cocoa. In addition to milk and smoothies it is an excellent fiber supplement.
Some weight control diets introduce carob because it is rich in nutrients, which compensate for the lack of temporarily suspended nutrients and because once introjected it is able to increase in volume and infuse a sense of satiety.
Carob seed flour has a thickening function and is also used in the food industry as a jelly for storing canned meats, ice creams and baked goods. It is indicated with the code E410.
Read also Pumpkin seed flour, characteristics and properties >>
Property of Carob
> Carob powder has a gastro-protective function due to its gelatinous transformation in contact with liquids. Carob gum controls gastric reflux, as it has an anti-inflammatory action.
> The powder promotes intestinal peristalsis, through a chemical-mechanical action of absorption of liquids and the transformation into a voluminous gel capable of relaxing the intestinal walls. By the same principle it is also useful in case of diarrheal discharges .
> The polyphenol component acts on the control of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, reducing their values, also assisted by the gelling process which reduces the absorption of fats and sugars.
