Carob, healthy alternative to cacao

Hi guys!
Have you ever heard of carob powder? Do you know that it tastes like cacao. I ran out of cacao lately and the organic shop nearby introduce carob to me. They say it's a substitute to cacao so I gave it a try.

I do some search and here is what I found about cabob.

Ancient Greeks were the first to grow carob trees, which are now grown all over the world, from India to Australia. Carob is available in forms of powder, chips, syrup, extract and dietary pills.

Carob tastes similar to chocolate and is a great alternative because it has a lot of fiber, antioxidants, with no amounts of fat and sugar, no caffeine and no gluten. Carob is also an excellent source of vitamins A, B2, B3 and B6 and minerals like calcium, manganese, potassium, magnesium, zinc and salenium. It is also high in pectin, and protein.
Sounds great, right?

Because carob is naturally sweet, it can help satisfy your sugar cravings. If you do find that it’s not sweet enough for your taste, try adding stevia. Actually the first time drinking carob, I think it's a little bit bland, but after adding stevia or raw sugar, it's good.

If you’re lactose-intolerant or choose to be vegan, carob is also a great dairy-free alternative.

Adding carob to your diet can provide you with many health benefits. Since carob is naturally high in fiber and has no caffeine, it’s ideal for people with high blood pressure. The low sugar and fat content also makes it a great dietary addition or chocolate substitution for people looking to lose weight. The high levels of vitamins, such as vitamins A and B-2, are good for your skin and eye health.

Carob bars

Adding or substituting carob into your diet can help lower your cholesterol, reduce your risk of hear disease, ease stomach issues and treat diarrhea. Like cocoa, carob contains polyphenols, which are antioxidants known to reduce the risk of heart disease.

Carob powder is generally considered safe to eat, but pregnant women should not consume carob in large quantities.

The organic brand of carob that I bought

After reading all the the benefits of carob, I definitely add some more carob in my diet. How about you guys?

(All of the images are from Internet)