Carob Coconut Date Smoothie
Chances are you don’t get the same cravings for carob that you do for chocolate. But if you want to avoid the caffeine buzz of chocolate, or just wean yourself off from chocolate for a little while, then carob is a great substitute to try. Carob actually comes from long pods on an evergreen tree and has long been eaten as food. It is sometimes called St. John’s bread because John the Baptist is said to have eaten it. The pods are picked, dried, and then ground into a fine powder that looks very similar to cocoa powder. Powdered carob pods have been used medicinally for centuries for the treatment of diarrhea.
Modern clinical trials have confirmed this use of carob. The tannins present in carob have an astringent effect in the gastrointestinal tract which makes it useful for treating diarrhea. They also bind to toxins and help inhibit the growth of bacteria. Carob doesn’t contain caffeine or theobromine, two constituents of chocolate that render chocolate unsafe for dog and toddlers. Theoretically it would be safe to feed carob as an occasional treat for both children and furry friends. Try adding a teaspoon of carob powder to a smoothie. Here’s an example:
Serves 2
1 1/2 cups soy milk
1 teaspoon carob powder
1/4 cup dates, pitted and chopped
1 Tablespoon dried coconut
1/2 each banana
4 ice cube
2 tablespoons vanilla yogurt, lowfat
2 tablespoons vanilla whey protein powder
Add all of the above ingredients to a blender and puree until smooth. Nutritional composition will depend on type of yogurt and protein powder added. The nutritional information below includes lowfat yogurt without the addition of protein powder.
Per Serving: 175 Calories; 5g Fat (23.4% calories from fat); 7g Protein; 30g Carbohydrate; 5g Dietary Fiber; 1mg Cholesterol; 41mg Sodium.
February 1, 2010
by Optimum WellnessComments
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