Is Carob Healthier Than Chocolate?

Q. I have heard that carob is a healthy substitute for chocolate. I don’t like it as much, but if it really is better I would consider it when I crave chocolate. How healthy is it?
A. Carob is completely different from chocolate, although they both come from tropical trees. Carob may have gotten its “healthy” reputation back when fat was considered a dietary evil. Unlike chocolate, which is rich in fat, carob is predominately a carbohydrate-rich food.
If chocolate is what you want, you’d be better off savoring a small piece. The flavor of carob won’t satisfy a chocolate craving for most people.
The most recent research (Hypertension, July 2005) shows that dark chocolate can lower blood pressure and bad LDL cholesterol. It also makes blood vessels more flexible, and reduces insulin resistance. Prior studies have shown that chocolate also helps keep blood platelets from clumping together to form clots.