Carob

Thecarob tree is a tree whose fruit is used to make medicine. Carob is used to treat digestive problems including diarrhea, heartburn and the inability of the digestive tract to absorb certain nutrients from food. These absorption disorders include gluten intolerance. Other uses of carob include the treatment of obesity, vomiting during pregnancy and high cholesterol levels. In infants, carob is used for vomiting, choking coughs and diarrhea. Carob is used in food as a flavoring agent and as a substitute for chocolate. Carob flour and extracts are also used as ingredients in foods.

How does carob work?

Carob contains chemicals called tannins that can reduce the efficiency of certain digestive enzymes. Carob may support weight loss and lower blood sugar levels, insulin levels and cholesterol levels.

How effective is carob?

There is not enough scientific data to make a statement about the effectiveness of carob in the treatment of obesity. New research suggests that a carob and bean pod extract may lower blood lipid levels and increase the excretion of fat via the stool in overweight people. There is also not enough scientific information on the effectiveness of carob for gluten intolerance, diarrhea, heartburn and vomiting during pregnancy. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of carob in all these areas of application.

Safety and side effects

Carob appears to be safe and harmless for most people. Carob does not appear to have any adverse side effects.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Carob is safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women in amounts found in food. However, larger medicinal amounts should be avoided until more is known about their safety.

Interactions

At this time, there is no information on interactions of carob with medications or supplements.

Dosage

An appropriate dosage of carob depends on various factors such as age, health status and others. At the present time, there is insufficient scientific data to make a statement about appropriate dosage ranges for carob. For this reason, you should follow the dosage instructions on the label and/or consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.