Unsulfured Blackstrap Molasses

Unsulfured blackstrap molasses is more than just a natural sweetener. It's full of health promoting vitamins and minerals and makes a great nutritional supplement.

Molasses is the dark, syrupy liquid that is left behind when sugar cane is made into white sugar.

There are 3 different grades of molasses.

The first and second grades are fairly sweet. Blackstrap molasses is the third grade.

It's not very sweet, but it does have the highest vitamin and mineral content of all three grades.

What kind of Molasses is the Best?

The best choice is unsulfured organic blackstrap molasses from organic sugar cane. Organic cane is more likely to be grown in mineral rich soil. That will help the end product to be especially high in nutrients.

Try to avoid non-organic molasses if you can. Sugar cane harvesters of non-organic sugar cane may use defoliant chemicals to make the sugar cane leaves fall off. The defoliant makes the cane much easier to harvest, but the chemical residues can end up in your molasses! Non-organic brands may also contain other chemical sprays and fertilizers.

Look for brands that say "unsulfured." Sulfur is an unhealthy chemical additive. It is used as a preservative. Some people are sensitive to sulfur, so it's best to avoid it altogether.

Wholesome Sweeteners Organic Blackstrap Molasses doesn't contain any sulfur. This molasses has a really nice flavor.

Nutrients in Blackstrap Molasses

Blackstrap molasses is a fat-free food which gives you about 48 calories per tablespoon.

Here are some of the nutrients you'll get in one tablespoon:

4.5 mg of useable iron - You'll get more iron per serving than red meat! And, there's no need to worry about fat or cholesterol. That makes molasses an excellent addition to your diet if you're vegan, vegetarian, pregnant, or suffering from anemia. It is also great for children and adolescents who need more iron.

Calcium - About the same amount of calcium that you'd get in a glass of cow's milk.

Magnesium and Potassium - about 20 percent of the RDA (recommended daily allowance).

Vitamin B - Molasses is high in vitamin B complex. B vitamins help your body cope with stress.

Chromium - Your body uses chromium to help keep your blood sugar levels stable. You'll find a fair amount of this trace mineral in molasses.

Other Minerals - Molasses also contains manganese, copper, and selenium.

Other Health Benefits

Adding this healthy sweetener to your diet can help your body to heal. Here is how blackstrap molasses can help you:

Arthritis - It can help to relieve your stiff joints.

Anemia - It can help you feel energized again if you're experiencing the chronic fatigue of iron-deficiency anemia.

Grey hair - Rumor has it that taking molasses often enough can help your grey hairs return to their original color. If it works for you, drop me a line and let me know.

Your Stories!

Has taking molasses helped you get healthier? I'd love to hear your stories. Click here to share your experience with molasses and to read what other people are saying about it.

Adding Molasses to your Diet

If you are like me and like the slightly bitter taste of blackstrap molasses, go ahead and eat it right out of the spoon! :-)

If eating it straight does not sound appealing to you, try these tasty ideas:

• Add it to your morning cereal
• Add it to your smoothies
• Make it into a delicious hot drink by adding 1 - 3 tsp. to warm or hot soy milk, rice milk, almond milk, or another milk type beverage of your choice. This is one of my favorite hot drinks. Yummy!
• If you don't want to take molasses with milk, try adding it to some water. The taste reminds me of prune juice. You can also try adding it to juice.
• Use it to replace some of the sugar or other sweeteners in your favorite recipes. It tastes great in cookies and gingerbread.
• Add it to baked beans to give them a more robust flavor

How Much to Take?

Like anything else that is good for you, moderation is the key!

Keep in mind that molasses does contain a fair amount of sugar. You definitely do not want to overdo it.

If you're worried about low iron levels, here's my suggestion: Add a wide variety of iron rich foods to your diet. Don't rely on just one iron rich food item.

Shelf Life

Unopened containers of molasses can last for 2 years or longer. To help your molasses stay fresh, be sure to store it in a tightly sealed container. Keep it in the fridge or in a clean, dry place.

Related pages:

Health Benefits of Molasses