The Carob
Botanical description of the carob tree
carob is a fruit native to the
Mediterranean areas. It is also found as a crop in South Africa, the Near East,
the United States, Australia and Mexico. From the carob tree.
It is a pod consumed as food and
used as a remedy since ancient times in the Mediterranean. As well used for men
as for animals, carob is considered an energetic food. The carob tree is very
resistant to cold temperatures. In addition to food, carob trees are also used
to facilitate reforestation and reforestation. This makes it possible to offset
erosion and desertification. It must be said that this tree has benefits on the
ecological system.
• The carob tree is a dioecious tree consisting of:
- Whose size varies
between 5 and 7 m high and rarely exceeds 10 m.
-A large, twisted trunk covered with brown bark
- Evergreen, oval-shaped, shiny dark green
- Small purple or reddish flowers clustered together
- Fruit known as carob measuring between 10 and 30
centimeters.
- Oval, flat and hard seeds; separated. There are between 15
and 20 per carob. The pale yellow pulpit has a floury and juicy texture. Its
flavor is chocolate and sweet perfectly consumable. Its ovoid and leathery
leaflets range from three to five pairs. During its flowering period, between
August and October, small brownish flowers in clusters, not very decorative,
appear and will give birth to the pods after a few months.
The composition of carob
The fruits of the carob tree are the most used parts in
herbal medicine. These make it possible to obtain two very distinct products,
namely carob gum, which comes from the thin envelope of the seeds, and the
carob flour which comes from the drying, roasting and grinding of the pods.
Locust bean gum, on the other hand, contains polysaccharides, including
galactomannan. These complex sugars can replace starch.
The carob pulp contains a large majority of its active
components. Thus, the pulp is composed of: 7% protein, 35% starch and 40%
sugar. Carob also has a high level of phosphorus, calcium, iron, silica,
magnesium and pectin. However, carob has a low fat, mineral and tannin content.
The benefits
of Carob
Carob is rich in antioxidants, which help defend the body
against free radicals. Antioxidants are in a way protective of cells, and free
radicals are substances that enter and cause damage at the cellular level. A
diet rich in antioxidants has many health benefits, and protective effects
against diseases such as cancer.
Carob is a good source of fiber, which can help promote good
waste disposal in the body.
Eating carob regularly can be very good for people with
digestive problems. Indeed, tannins present in carob can increase the
effectiveness of certain substances (enzymes) that help regulate the digestive
process. In addition, the carob tree provides powerful antiviral benefits that
provide the body with essential antioxidants. Tannin-rich foods are often
recommended for the treatment of diarrhea as they reduce the production of
acids and help combat various ailments.
Carob is rich in phosphorus and calcium, which means it can
help fight osteoporosis and bone-related diseases. It has also been recommended
for children who have had polio because of high levels of calcium and gallic
acid.
As carob is rich in vitamin E, and is full of antioxidants
and phytonutrients, its use has been suggested in helping with anemia, coughs,
colds and flu.
Contraindications
The carob should be avoided:
• in subjects with known allergy or hypersensitivity to
carob, its components such as tannins or those who are allergic to plants of
the family Fabaceae.
• in patients with chromium, cobalt, copper, iron or zinc
deficiency or deficiency, as it may reduce their absorption.
• in patients with metabolic disorders, acute diarrhea or
infants underweight.
Side effects
• Carob is recognized as safe by the US health agency, the
Food and Drug Administration, if consumed in amounts commonly used in studies.
• However, it has been reported that a five-month-old baby
allergic to a milk containing locust bean gum has caused a rash within 30
minutes of infant milk administration.
• Infant milk containing locust bean gum may damage
intestinal tissue in infants with low birth weight.
