The Chocolate Alternative (Carob)

If you’ve never tried carob, you’re missing out on a sweet and healthy treat. Carob is one of my favorite sweet treats, in fact I find myself opting for carob chips on my frozen yogurt instead of chocolate chips. Or occasionally I’ll stop by Clark’s Nutritional Centers for a few yummy carbo malted balls that can be found in the bulk bins. Carob malted balls are like Whoppers malted milk balls but have more flavor and are lower in fat and calories. Carob is closely related to chocolate and has many of the same health benefits as chocolate. Carob is known for it’s hint of cocoa and coffee flavor but is without caffeine. Carbo is also lower in calories and fat compared to chocolate. It’s also high in fiber and low in sugar. Its low sugar content is because it’s naturally sweeter compared to chocolate, thus requiring less sugar during processing. Some health benefits to eating carob include a higher protein and calcium content. When comparing carob to chocolate, carob does not contain oxalic acid, which can get in the way of calcium being absorbed in the body. Carob is also lower in sodium and is a good source of copper, manganese, potassium, and magnesium. It naturally has a high level of vitamin A and B vitamins. There is also some research to show that carob can help reduce migraines and acts as a remedy for diarrhea.

If your wondering how to use carbo, you can pretty much use it the same way you would use chocolate in a recipe. It comes in powder or solid form and can be found at a natural foods store such as Clark's Nutritional Centers, Sprouts or Whole Foods Market.

Mind Over Health

Are you in a mental state of wellness or has your thoughts reeked havoc on your health? Our minds are so powerful that it can literally make us sick. Having a positive attitude and being happy overall can have a good effect on health. We may not have control over everything in this life but we certainly can have control over our thoughts, the choices we make and the actions we take. Studies have shown that people who are happier about their home life, work environment and life overall have lower blood pressure, decreased cortisol levels (stress hormone), less anxiety, stress and other ailments. In addition, the bible tells us in Proverbs 17:22 that “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Even the Greek philosopher Plato believed that being happy could decrease burdens on the soul and have a positive effect on health. Another example of mind over health is Emile Coue who was a French psychologist and pharmacist in the 1900’s who was renowned for using a method called autosuggestion to help heal people of ailments. Many people who followed his method were told by him to recite “Every day, in every way, I’m getting better and better.” As a result, many people were healed of their ailments.

Like everyone else, I to am faced with my share of daily stress. In fact, some days may be more or less than others. But regardless I try to tell myself, no matter what the source of the stressor is, “it’s not worth poor health.” After telling myself this, it makes the stressor a little more manageable. Besides, most of the time I’m the one who brings on the stress (lol).

If your current mental state is poor, ask yourself, “is it worth poor health?” Life will continue to throw us all curve balls and challenges but it’s up to us as to how we take on those challenges. Keep in mind that some stress can be beneficial but it too should be in moderation;).