Carob Flour: 6 Properties And Benefits

Carob flour helps, among other things, to reduce cholesterol. In addition, its fat intake is very low. For these reasons, carob can be a great ally when it comes to controlling your weight.

Carob is a very nutritious and healthy legume from which it is possible to obtain flour. For this reason, carob flour is often used as a cocoa substitute in the development of many recipes (cookies, pies, cakes, drinks, etc.).

Do you know the different properties of carob? This is what we invite you to discover here.

Carob is the fruit of the carob tree,  Ceratonia siliqua , a tree native to the Mediterranean basin that belongs to the  fabaceae family. This fruit is therefore in the form of a pod which contains seeds inside. This pod measures between ten and twenty centimeters. When ripe, at the end of summer, the carob turns purple and sweet.

To prepare carob flour, the seeds must be removed in order to dehydrate them. Once dehydrated, they must then be roasted and ground to obtain a very fine powder. The carob flour is ready: you can use this powder for your culinary preparations and incorporate it as is in your juices and smoothies, for example.

Carob flour is rich in carbohydrates and contains around 40-50% sugar, mainly sucrose, glucose, maltose and fructose. Despite its high sugar content, the body slowly absorbs these sugars thanks to its soluble fiber content. In addition, the sugar content of this flour is still much lower than that of cocoa.

Carob flour is usually a deep brown color and is naturally sweet. Its taste is particular. Preparations made with carob flour and cinnamon, vanilla essence or citrus zest are both healthy and delicious.

1. Carob flour, an ally to control your weight

Carob flour contains almost no fat and, therefore, preparations made from this flour provide fewer calories than those based on cocoa. This point is important when it comes to maintaining a stable and healthy weight.

In addition, the fats present in carob flour are quality fats (linoleic acid and oleic acid). This is not the case with cocoa, which is high in saturated fat, fats that are harmful to the health of the heart.

In addition, this legume is very rich in soluble fibers. These fibers stay longer in the stomach, thus prolonging the feeling of fullness and reducing appetite.

2. A source of iron

Iron is an essential mineral for maintaining immune function, having good physical and mental performance, and producing normal red blood cells.

To better assimilate the iron present in carob flour, it is necessary to combine this food with foods rich in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits.

3. A source of calcium

The calcium present in carob flour is more beneficial than that present in other vegetable sources of calcium.

This is due to the fact that carob does not contain oxalates, compounds that inhibit the intestinal absorption of this mineral.

4. Carob flour, an ally to reduce cholesterol in the blood

The soluble fibers present in carob flour trap cholesterol and inhibit its absorption. The positive consequence of this: cholesterol does not pass into the blood and is eliminated.

In addition, this flour does not contain tyramine, a substance found in cocoa and which is linked to the onset of headaches and worsening migraines.

5. A prebiotic effect

The soluble fibers in carob flour help to improve the fermentation intestinal flora. It was used as an anti-diarrheal but also as a laxative, and it allows a correct peristalsis. In addition, it promotes healing of infections as well as gastrointestinal problems.

The dietary fiber present in carob forms gels in the intestine, which promotes better evacuation. It also has an astringent effect due to its tannin content.

6. A source of antioxidants

Carob flour contains polyphenols, substances that help reduce oxidative damage and maintain healthy cells. In short, it helps prevent the effects of premature aging, among other things.

As you may have noticed, most of the benefits of carob flour are linked to the presence of soluble fiber. This type of fiber helps regulate bowel function and significantly lowers cholesterol levels in the blood. In addition, they do not contain gluten, so carob flour is suitable for people with celiac disease.

Carob flour also has a good percentage of protein. And that’s not all … It also contains B vitamins, iron, calcium and potassium.

Did you know all the properties of carob flour? Now that you know how good this food is for you, don’t hesitate to incorporate it into your favorite recipes.