And You Chose the Carob

The carob fruit is familiar to us from the Talmudic story about Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his son who stayed in a cave for 12 years and survived on carobs. Actually, the carob that we know ripens at the end of summer, but it can be stored for a long period and eaten all year round. Usually, carob grows wild, meaning it is not sprayed or treated, making it an organic fruit.

What is in carob that could sustain Rabbi Shimon and his son for 12 years? First, even though the fruit looks dry, eating it allows us to enjoy its sweet, soothing, and nourishing flavor. However, upon closer inspection, we find that it has many nutritional and health benefits. Carob is very rich in various minerals:

Calcium - Calcium is essential for the formation of bones and teeth and other vital processes in the body.

Magnesium - Magnesium is crucial for many processes in the body including the relaxation of various muscles such as the heart muscle and blood vessels, which can positively affect blood pressure, constipation, headaches, and more.

Potassium - Potassium is very important for preventing high blood pressure and heart disease, maintaining heart rhythm, and more.

Carob is also very rich in dietary fibers. Some fibers are water-soluble, causing them to swell and absorb substances like excess cholesterol and sugar, removing them from the body. They also slow down the rate of stomach emptying, offering a long-lasting feeling of fullness and contributing to weight loss. Carob also contains protein, B vitamins, and carbohydrates. All these ingredients together make it a building and nourishing food.

Carob can be eaten as is, thereby serving as a natural snack. Today, carob is also available as a powder. The powder's uses are varied and it can be a tasty and healthy substitute for cocoa or to sweeten drinks. Carobs can serve as a drink on their own. The powder can be used for baking cakes and sprinkling on porridges such as oatmeal. It can be used to make natural sweets and more, as far as imagination goes. A nice and simple usage example is to put a few tablespoons of tahini in a cup, add honey and carob powder as needed. Mix it all together and eat.

Tasty and nutritious, it can serve as a meal and a spread. It can also be blended with water for a tasty, nutritious, and refreshing drink. To health!

Eliahu Shechter is an iridologist and natural therapist