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