- Delicious and healthy chocolate alternative
- High in fibre - supports healthy digestion
- Naturally caffeine free
- Re-sealable air tight, foil pouch
- 100% pure botanical ingredients, absolutely nothing added
Organic Carob Powder from Indigo Herbs is a high quality Carob Powder with a full sweet and malty taste. Carob powder can be used as a natural sweetener, chocolate replacement in cakes, cookies and desserts. This delicious powder makes a healthy alternative to hot chocolate and is a wonderful addition to smoothies.
At Indigo Herbs we are passionate about premium quality botanicals. Explore the tabs on this page to find out more about the health benefits, quality, manufacture and suggested use of this superfood. At Indigo Herbs we are committed to empowering optimum health and nutrition and assisting you to take responsibility for your own health and wellbeing, by having access to many of nature’s healing botanicals.
Organic Carob Powder can be used to make a delicious, healthy alternative to hot chocolate. It can be used as a substitute for chocolate in desserts and makes a wonderful addition to smoothies.
Serving:
There are no minimum or maximum servings for carob. Although ingesting too much may result in an upset stomach.
Need more information on natural sweeteners, please read How to use natural sweeteners.
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All trees are grown to full European Organic Certification standards. When mature, the pods of the Carob tree are knocked from the tree taking care not to disturb the flowers which are open around the same time. The Carob pods are gently dried at a temperature of 90 degrees for 150 minutes, the pods must be reduced to around 8% moisture so they do not rot. After separation from the beans the pods are selected with the only the best examples being used for powder. The selected pods are milled to a fine powder that is fully tested for heavy metals, foreign bodies and toxic chemicals. The Carob Powder is then made ready for shipping.
Vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin, is a water soluble vitamin. It is one of the eight B vitamins that are essential for human health and is found in a variety of foods, both plant based and animal based, and is not lost in cooking like many of the other vitamins. Vitamin B2 is critical to the breakdown of dietary carbohydrates, fats and proteins into energy that you can use. Without adequate riboflavin in the diet the enzymes involved in energy production do not function optimally which can lead to tiredness and stress.
Working in tandem with other B vitamins, vitamin B2 helps to protect the nervous system and plays an important role in saving your body from oxidative stress caused by free radicals, serving as a component of the enzyme glutathione reductase which helps to neutralize free radicals. Essential for the formation of fresh red blood cells, vitamin B2 also interacts with iron which is used to synthesize haemoglobin, allowing your body to get the oxygen rich blood needed to perform the daily functions of life. Along with vitamin A, riboflavin also helps to maintain the mucous membranes in the digestive system. Playing a major role in ensuring healthy corneas, perfect vision and radiant skin, vitamin B2 is best consumed as nature intended! Dietary sources rich in this important vitamin include; dark leafy green vegetables, barleygrass, mushrooms, avocados, dairy products and wild rice.
Vitamin B2 contributes to:
· normal energy yielding metabolism
· the normal functioning of the nervous system
· the maintenance of normal mucous membranes
· the maintenance of normal red blood cells
· the maintenance of normal skin
Potassium, the third most abundant mineral in the human body, is an essential mineral whose ions are vital for the functioning of all living cells! Potassium plays a role at both the cellular and electrical level – considered and electrolyte because it carries a tiny electrical charge – it is found in red blood cells, muscles and bones. Our bodies use potassium ions to conduct electrical impulses along muscle and nerve cells, it helps to boost the efficiency of nerve reflexes that transmit messages from one body part to another, this in turn helps in muscle contraction to perform various activities without tiring quickly.
Potassium also has vasodilating properties that work to relieve the tension of blood vessels which is one of the main causes of high blood pressure. It is helpful in reversing the role of sodium in unbalancing normal blood pressure thus acting as a vital component that maintains the normality of blood pressure in the human body. The importance of potassium should not be underestimated in your dietary plan, most famously found in bananas other rich sources of potassium include spinach, avocados and coconut water.
Potassium contributes to:
· normal functioning of the nervous system
· normal muscle function
· the maintenance of normal blood pressure
Forming 2% of total body weight in adults, calcium’s best known role is in bone and tooth health. It forms a part of hydroxyapatite, the mineral complex that makes your bones and teeth hard and maintains bone density. It is especially important that children consume an adequate amount of calcium to maximise their bone mass prior to adult years. Also an important part of the blood clotting process, calcium works together with vitamin K and a protein called fibrinogen in the clotting cascade, without adequate levels of calcium and vitamin K the blood will take longer to clot. Calcium helps your muscles contract in response to nerve stimulation, it activates a protein called calmodulin that your muscle cells need to provide the fuel they need to function. Assisting in the transmission of neural impulses, the calcium in your body also aids other types of cell communication – it acts as a “second messenger” in your cells which means it responds to chemical signals from outside your cells and then triggers a response inside your cell.
Calcium helps to activate several digestive enzymes and there is considerable evidence that calcium and vitamin D intake are influential in modulating energy metabolism in humans. Like all minerals, calcium doesn’t work alone but in tandem with other nutrients such as magnesium and vitamin D, for this reason, obtaining our calcium from whole foods – foods whose nutrient profiles have been optimised by nature for superior absorption – is the best way to remain healthy! Excellent natural calcium sources include; chia seeds, sesame seeds, seaweed (such as kelp and Kombu), dark leafy greens and dairy products (such as yoghurt, cheese and kefir).
Calcium contributes to:
· normal blood clotting
· normal energy-yielding metabolism
· normal muscle function
· normal neurotransmission
· the normal function of digestive enzymes
· Calcium has a role in the process of cell division and specialisation
· Calcium is needed for the maintenance of normal bones
· Calcium is needed for the maintenance of normal teeth
· Calcium is needed for normal growth and development of bone in children
An essential trace mineral in the body, copper has long been known to play a role in human health – its use dates back to 400 BC when Hippocrates is said to have employed it as a treatment for a variety of disorders. Playing a beneficial role in immune function, you need copper for healthy white blood cells – the cell type tasked with seeking out, identifying and destroying pathogens. Low copper levels lower your white blood count leaving you vulnerable to infection.
Copper is a vital element of the dark pigment melanin which imparts colouration to the hair and skin, intake of copper is said to protect greying hair. Copper helps in the absorption of iron from the intestinal tract and releases it from its primary storage sites like the liver. Also playing a significant role in the synthesis of haemoglobin, myelin and collagen, copper helps to protect the myelin sheath surrounding the nerves and is actively involved in the production of an element of connective tissue, elastin. Functioning as a coenzyme for energy metabolism from the macronutrients in food we consume, copper enables a normal metabolic process in association with amino acids and vitamins. Oxidative stress is a characteristic of copper deficiency, when obtained from dietary sources it acts as an antioxidant, getting rid of free radicals which can damage your cells and DNA. For your body to use copper you need to have a balance of zinc and manganese which is why it is best to obtain your copper from dietary sources where it is already in bioavailable form. Topping the chart as the best source of copper are oysters! Closely followed by kale, shitake mushrooms, seeds, nuts and nut butters.
Copper Contributes to:
· the maintenance of normal connective tissues
· normal energy-yielding metabolism
· the normal functioning of the nervous system
· normal hair pigmentation
· normal iron transport in the body
· normal skin pigmentation
· the normal function of the immune system
· the protection of cells from oxidative stress
Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, plays an essential role in human life and is the most versatile of all the B vitamins! Working closely with the other B vitamins, vitamin B6 contributes to numerous functions in the body. It plays an important role in refurbishing the immune system to the required functional level, this potential health benefit appears to be associated with its role in the metabolism of the amino acid tryptophan. Also referred to as the “mood vitamin”, B6 is needed for proper brain development and function, preventing mental fatigue and helping the body make the feel good hormones serotonin and [censored] that relax and lift your spirits, along with melatonin, the hormone which regulates the body clock.
Vitamin B6 is functional in working with a number of enzymatic systems to make these enzymes work in the desired manner, this association contributes to the proper functioning of the nervous system. It is also involved at several steps in the metabolism of carbohydrates, in particular the enzyme that pulls carbohydrates out of storage in the cell - in the form of a molecule called glycogen – which requires vitamin B6 for its activity and it metabolises a number of other nutrients to extract energy. Vitamin B6 is a key factor in the manufacture of haemoglobin – the oxygen carrying component of red blood cells – and has a role in preventing heart disease. Without enough B6 a compound called homocysteine builds up in the body which can damage blood vessel linings, setting the stage for plaque build-up when the body tries to heal the damage. Vitamin B6 prevents this build-up thereby reducing the risk of heart attack. The availability of this important vitamin is highest in foods like spirulina, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, green beans, walnuts and wheat germ.
Vitamin B6 contributes to:
· the normal functioning of the nervous system
· normal homocysteine metabolism
· normal protein and glycogen metabolism
· normal psychological function
· normal red blood cell formation
· the normal function of the immune system
· the reduction of tiredness and fatigue
· the regulation of hormonal activity
· normal cysteine synthesis
· normal energy-yielding metabolism
Folate – the naturally occurring vitamin B9 – is often confused with folic acid. Folic acid is a synthetically derived molecule created in a German laboratory in the 1940s and does not occur naturally in food. Needless to say, folate metabolizes faster in the body and any excess is excreted through the urine whereas folic acid can accumulate in the blood and may adversely affect immune cell function. Nature knows best when it comes to nutrition! Folate is probably the vitamin whose essential role in pregnancy is most widely known. It is necessary for the production of new
Folate works to convert the amino acid homocysteine into methionine - a deficiency allows homocysteine levels to accumulate in the body. High levels of homocysteine are associated with heart disease and stroke and can block blood and other nutrients from reaching the brain, interfering with the production of the feel good hormones serotonin and dopamine which regulate mood. Within the body, folate is an activator – it has an influence on “natural killer” cells of the immune system which are in charge of fighting infections and malignant cells. Romaine lettuce, spinach and asparagus are especially high in folate; other good sources include egg yolks, legumes and lentils.
Folate contributes to:
- maternal tissue growth during pregnancy
- normal amino acid synthesis
- normal blood formation
- normal homocysteine metabolism
- normal psychological function
- the normal function of the immune system
- the reduction of tiredness and fatigue
- Folate has a role in the process of cell division
Iron is needed for a number of highly complex processes that continuously take place in the body on a molecular level and that are indispensable to human life. Formation of haemoglobin is the chief function of this mineral – this is the primary protein found in red blood cells and represents about two thirds of the body’s iron. Haemoglobin binds to the oxygen molecules that you breathe in from the air and releases them into your tissues. The brain receives around 20% of the blood oxygen and a proper flow of blood to the brain can stimulate cognitive activity and help to create new neural pathways, it is especially important that children consume enough iron in their diet – iron deficiency in the first two years of a child’s life is associated with delayed cognitive and psychomotor development.
Ribonucleic reductase is an iron dependant enzyme that is required for DNA synthesis (cell division), thus iron is required for a number of functions including healing and immune function - red blood cells are necessary for providing oxygen to damaged tissues, organs and cells. Iron is also involved in food metabolism and is a cofactor and activator for some enzymes which play key roles in energy production and metabolism. If iron stores are low symptoms can include tiredness, fatigue and dizziness. Dietary iron has two forms, heme (animal based) and non-heme (plant based), important sources are; grass fed beef, oysters, spinach, lentils and beans.
Iron contributes to:
· normal cognitive function
· normal energy-yielding metabolism
· normal formation of red blood cells and haemoglobin
· normal oxygen transport in the body
· normal function of the immune system
· the reduction of tiredness and fatigue
· normal cognitive development of children
· Iron has a role in the process of cell division
Derived from the Greek word for magic, manganese is a trace mineral that is present in tiny amounts in the body and is found mostly in the bones, liver, kidneys and pancreas. It is essential for the proper and normal growth of the human bone structure and is a very effective mineral in aiding in the increase of the mineral density of spinal bone. Manganese is also needed in the production and repair of connective tissue, its specific role is in the manufacture of mucopolysaccharides which are one of the main components of all connective tissues.
Regulation of the body’s metabolism is another vital function of manganese with manganese activated enzymes helping in the metabolism of cholesterol, amino acids and carbohydrates. Also a powerful contributor to the protection of cells from oxidative stress, manganese is a component of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) which helps to fight free radicals. Free radicals occur naturally in the body but can damage cell membranes and DNA, antioxidants such as SOD can help to neutralise free radicals. Rich sources of manganese include; whole grains, nuts and nut butters and leafy vegetables.
Manganese contributes to:
· normal energy-yielding metabolism
· the maintenance of normal bones
· the normal formation of connective tissue
· the protection of cells from oxidative stress
| Nutritional info | Per 100g | Serving 10g | Serving %RDA* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Portion in grams | 10 | ||
| Energy KJ | 929KJ/222Kcal | 93KJ/22Kcal | 1.11% |
| Fat | 1g | 0.1g | 0.14% |
| of which saturates | 0g | 0g | |
| Carbohydrate | 89g | 8.9g | 3.42% |
| of which sugars | 49g | 4.9g | 5.44% |
| Protein | 5g | 0.5g | 1.00% |
| Dietary Fibre | 40g | 4g | |
| Salt | 35mg | 3.5mg | 0.06% |
| Vitamin B2 | 0.5mg | 0.05mg | 3.57% |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.4mg | 0.04mg | 2.86% |
| Folate | 0.03mg | 0.00mg | 1.50% |
| Potassium | 827mg | 82.7mg | 4.14% |
| Calcium | 348mg | 34.8mg | 4.35% |
| Iron | 2.9mg | 0.29mg | 2.07% |
| Copper | 0.6mg | 0.06mg | 6.00% |
| Manganese | 0.5mg | 0.05mg | 2.50% |
