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NP063 Carob ExtractTAGS: ANTIOXIDANTS/HERBAL FORMULAS | DIGESTION | ENERGY PRODUCTION Carob and cocoa drink mix that helps reduce blood sugar, cholesterol and bacterial overgrowth INTRODUCTION Carob Extract™ is a pleasant tasting carob extract formulated by Dr. Peter D'Adamo to provide nutritive support for simple fatigue and digestive imbalance. DESCRIPTION/ BACKGROUND In a world with increasing mental and physical stressors, an abundance of dietary and environmental toxins leading to gastrointestinal dysbiosis, and a paucity of the nutrients and beneficial flora to protect our digestive and immune systems from this constant barrage; regular supplementation of the nutrients found in Carob Extract help via:
Carob Extract comprises 4 synergistic ingredients that provide all of these benefits and more. Carob or Ceratonia siliqua refers to a species of flowering evergreen shrub or tree in the pea family, Fabaceae, that is originally from the eastern Mediterranean and West Asia. The gum from carob seeds is called locust bean gum because of its association with John the Baptist’s wilderness subsistence diet. (1) Carob gum is sometimes used as a thickener in foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Glycerine, also known as Glycerol, is an organic, colourless, odourless, viscous liquid. It has approximately 27 calories per teaspoon and is 60% as sweet as sucrose. It is soluble in water but forms the backbone for triglycerides and other lipid compounds. (10) Agave Nectar or Agave was cultivated for centuries by the Native American population for its strong fibers, used as a food, and for the production of pulque, mescal, and tequila drinks. Agave plants have been popular in many Mediterranean gardens in Europe since they were brought back from Mexico by the Spaniards in the 17th century. (13) The agave plant’s fleshy leaves cover the pineapple-shaped heart (piña) of the plant, which contains a sweet sticky juice called agave nectar. This nectar is quite tasty and has a composition, color, flavor and texture similar to honey; but it is not as thick, flows more easily, and is thought to elicit a lower glycemic response. (14) Cocoa. The Cocoa bean, seed of Theobroma cacao and most famously known by its tasty derivatives chocolate and the Cocoa drink, is rich in antioxidants called polyphenols and procyanidins. (19) The Cocoa polyphenols share the basic structure of catechins and epicatechins with those found in green tea. Cocoa’s procyanidins are related to the cardioprotective antioxidants found in berries. (20)
TABLE 1: Key agents in Carob Extract. Carob has enjoyed increased popularity in recent years as a low-fat, low-calorie, and caffeine-free alternative to chocolate. Carob contains traces of naturally-occurring theobromine, a mild energy enhancer also found in chocolate. (2) The dried, powdered pods of the carob plant are used as a dietary supplement and in herbal medicine. For example, the glyconutrients that function as prebiotics specific for beneficial flora and inhibit overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria make Carob a safe treatment for quickly and effectively relieving toxic diarrhea in children. (3) High levels of insoluble fiber seem to inhibit the absorption of dietary cholesterol and some cholesterogenic fats in the diet, as regular consumption of Carob has been shown to lower LDL and triglyceride levels. (4) Carob fiber is also high in gallic acid, a compound known to decrease the risk and severity of cardiovascular events. (5,6) Carob fiber is also rich in both quantity and variety of antioxidant polyphenols, the beneficial components found in green tea, and its inclusion in the diet may have chemopreventive properties. (7) In murine models, carob leaf and pod extracts were able to induce apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. (8) Carob also contains small amounts of compounds with a high affinity for central and peripheral benzodiazepine receptors, making it a superb stress-reducing addition to the diet of anyone in our overworked population. (9) Glycerine. Its unique structure is what imparts its fairly innocuous effects on blood sugar levels. Although it has about the same food energy as table sugar, it does not raise blood sugar levels, nor does it feed the bacteria that form plaques, cause dental cavities, or lead to gastrointestinal dysbiosis. (11, 12) Agave Nectar. Many of agave’s health benefits come from its saponins and fructans. Polysaccharide fructans such as inulin and the agavins found in Agave are known to function as prebiotics, increasing the levels of beneficial intestinal flora and preventing dysbiotic bacterial overgrowth. (15, 16) Steroidal glycosides, or saponins are found in many plant roots, ginseng being the most famous. Agave saponins have been shown to induce apoptosis in human leukemia cells and combat the parasite that causes trichomoniasis. (17, 18) Cocoa. Research indicates that regular intake of such products increases the plasma level of antioxidants that inactivate the reactive oxygen species underlying the development of most chronic diseases. The antioxidants in cocoa can prevent the oxidation of LDL-cholesterol and thereby protect against the development of atherosclerosis, the first step in the development of heart disease. (21,22) The DNA damage caused by reactive oxygen species and associated with the carcinogenesis is similarly inhibited by these compounds in cocoa. (23) Studies on people consuming cocoa regularly show a decrease in blood pressure via increased nitric oxide production, protection of red blood cells, and an increase in vascular flexibility, indicating a potential reversal of atherosclerosis. (24-26) Researchers have also discovered improvements in insulin sensitivity, anti-inflammatory activity and preventive effects on the development of gum disease. (27-29) Cocoa is also the greatest plant source of the methylxanthine theobromine, a potent mood and energy boosting phytochemical, as well as the trace amine phenylethylamine, better known as the so-called “love chemical.” (30,31) TYPICAL DOSAGE 2 to 4 teaspoons per day is the recommended dosage. PRODUCT HISTORY This product was introduced by NAP in the last few years after first being specifically designed for use in The D’Adamo Clinic. REFERENCES
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