Health Food

Is carob healthier than dark chocolate in recipes for health food bars?

Public Comments

1. yea carob is healthier for u, but dark chocolate compared to carob tastes alot better
2. carob has fibers and minerals but dark chocolate has antioxidants- so if you like the taste of the carob or specific potassium/fiber need, I would pick carob but it has awful aftertaste
3. No, it is not necessarily healthier. Carob was considered "healthy" in the early health kick days when we thought all fat was a dietary evil. However, while chocolate is rich in fats, carob is a carbohydrate-rich food. There are all those new diets now calling for stopping eating of carbs. So it depends on what fad you want to believe. Having said that... newer studies have shown that dark chocolate can lower blood pressure and Bad LDL cholesterol. It also makes blood vessels more flexible, and reduces insulin resistance. Also, chocolate helps your body produce endorphins - which are in essence "feel good" chemicals - the same that are released in your brain during sex (!! It's true). These are opiate-like biochemical compounds that are "natural pain-killers" in addition to giving a feeling of exhilaration, and sometimes euphoria (usually attributed by major chocolate-lovers). So in this way, I would say that the hands-down favorite would be chocolate all the way. Carob is fine, but it seems that most people - including the medical community - would agree that it's OK to indulge in the real thing (chocolate), and leave the carobs out of it. Also, although they both come from tropical trees, carob really tastes nothing like chocolate, and has a tendency to leave a bad aftertaste.