The most important benefit of molasses is its high mineral content. Most sweeteners are white because they’ve been stripped of all their natural goodness. Organic Molasses is dark in color because it contains the concentrated goodness of sugar cane.

One tablespoon of Organic Molasses contains 20% of the daily recommended daily intake for calcium, 22.5% of the daily recommended daily intake for magnesium and almost 40% of the recommended daily intake for iron.

Molasses as medicine cures:

Chronic fatigue syndrome
Depression, anxiety, and related nervous disorders
Chronic ailments, such as arthritis and rheumatism
Tumors and fibroids
Constipation
Heart palpitations
Anemia
Acne

How to Reap the Health Benefits of Molasses

If you are interested in taking molasses (blackstrap or otherwise) as a health supplement, then it might be a good idea to consider the following:

- Since molasses is both an energy-booster as well as a natural laxative (much like fruit), it is best taken first thing in the morning before food. This will allow the molasses to re-mineralize your body without obstruction, providing a healthy start to the day.

- The molasses is best taken dissolved in water, and drunk through a straw so that the sugar bypasses your teeth. If you dislike the taste of molasses, you add a little milk to the mix.

- Try and purchase organic and unsulfured molasses when possible. Sulfured molasses has been treated with sulfites, so much of its nutritional content is reduced.

- Finally, note that you will not notice the health benefits of molasses immediately. Re-introducing the body to nutrients of which it has long been deprived takes time before balance is returned. But stick with it; unless you are diabetic or have a need to avoid sugars, the health benefits of molasses are available for everyone. You will experience improved moods, improved energy levels, clearer skin, renewed hair growth and a return to natural hair colors, and more regular and softer bowel movements.

Ironically, molasses is the by product or “waste” from processing sugar cane or beet into table sugar. Refined table sugar creates blood sugar and insulin instability while providing no nutrients. Actually, refined sugar will pull nutrients, especially minerals, out of the body if consumed enough.

How Molasses is Made

Sugar canes are harvested and machines are used to press the juice out of the cane. The sugar cane roots go very deeply into the soil, commonly 15 feet down and ranging from 6.5 to 19 feet – deep enough to bypass nutrient depleted topsoils that have become the norm and take in more nutrients. That juice is boiled then put through centrifugal machinery to extract the sugar crystals from the liquid. There are three grades of molasses: sulphured, unsulphured, and blackstrap.

Sulphur is used to process unripe green sugar cane. This chemical sulphur is not so good for most human consumption. Sun ripened sugar cane is processed without using sulphur. So unsulphered molasses is a better choice. The third boiling necessary to extract table sugar from sugar cane or beet sugar produces a thick dark substance known as blackstrap molasses, which is the most nutrient dense of all.

Why Use It?

It is well established that synthetically derived or composed mineral supplements are not as beneficial as whole food sources naturally nutrient dense. Iron supplements, for example, tend to create constipation and other digestive problems. Minerals are not only removed by processing foods, they tend to be lacking in depleted topsoils used for raising crops.

Many health sources claim that minerals and enzymes are even more important than vitamins for our health. For example, magnesium is essential to the metabolism and synthesis of almost all the other minerals and vitamins. Yet several health practitioners have gone on record saying that most of the population is lacking even sufficient magnesium levels. Might there be some health problems associated with that?

So What’s It Got?

First thing for the sugar wary (and weary) to consider is blackstrap molasses has a low glycemic index. This means the glucose and carbohydrates are metabolized slowly, demanding less insulin production and stabilizing blood sugar. The result is less lipids or fats occurring in the blood. And it means that you’re chances of becoming diabetic while satisfying your sweet tooth is virtually nil.

Because of its high iron content, many use blackstrap molasses to holistically overcome anemia. Iron is essential to creating red blood cells. In addition to iron, blackstrap molasses contains folate, a natural source for folic acid, along with some other B vitamins, which all combine to form the synergistic mix that promotes red blood cell production.

Then there is magnesium in abundance, along with calcium. Both are densely packaged within this natural food source. Magnesium is important for balancing with calcium for bone production and energy. It is necessary for the smooth function of our nervous system. It is also helpful in maintaining heart health. Insufficient magnesium levels can result in muscle spasms, including the heart muscle, which of course relates to arrhythmia or even heart attacks.

Potassium is another mineral abundant in blackstrap molasses. A deficiency in potassium results in weak muscles and is considered a factor in causing arthritis. Potassium also helps maintain a calmly functioning nervous system. It too is important for the nervous system and heart health. Even the American Heart Association has included unsulphured blackstrap molasses as a food supportive of good heart health.

Manganese, a trace mineral, is very high in content with unsulphured blackstrap molasses. Manganese ions function with a number of enzymes, and are essential to combating unusual free radicals. Like magnesium, manganese also supports cellular absorption of nutrients, and is also beneficial to the nervous system.

There certainly are a lot of nervous system supporting nutrients in this sweetener! Seems that it would be a useful alternative and deterrent to the hyperactivity and ADD in youngsters who consume too much sugar. And unsulphured blackstrap molasses has been used successfully for just that!

This trace mineral also helps synthesize fatty acids and stabilize blood sugar levels. It’s true that too much manganese can be toxic. But it takes consistent breathing of manganese dust from industrial sources for that to happen.

Other minerals that appear in abundance are copper and zinc. Zinc has been tagged as the male mineral because it helps support a healthy prostate. Working with zinc, copper helps eliminate the oxidation damage of superoxides.

All the minerals and nutrients of unsulphured blackstrap molasses are in their natural, balanced form to create a bio-accessible, nutritional synergy unavailable from supplements that are not food. Regardless of the amounts of nutrients listed in synthesized supplements, there is more bang for the buck with whole or super food sources.

A complete nutrient analysis is here:

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?pfriendly=1&tname=nutrientprofile&…

Concerns and Claims

A few health professionals recommend a clinical determination of whether any anemic condition is actually caused by an iron deficiency. The cautious thinking is that in the rare cases iron deficiency is not the cause of anemia, one might add to an already high iron storage and create iron toxicity.

There are many testimonial anecdotes concerning the use of unsulphured blackstrap molasses. Most revolve around the fact that anemia was overcome or greatly lessened without the constipation or stomach problems from iron supplements. The result was better heart health, more energy, relief from rheumatoid arthritis, improved skin conditions, and even restored hair color!

Unsulphured blackstrap molasses can be incorporated with many food items as a sweetener despite its distinctive flavor. It works in teas or hot cereals, on pancakes and waffles or desert items, or used as a glaze for cooking. Some people take right to it. Others, especially those who have taste buds conditioned for years by sugar and artificial sweeteners, find it lacking as a sweetener.

Just like any transition from unhealthy processed “tasty” foods to healthier real foods, taste can be acquired even to a point of wondering why the junk food was consumed with so much relish while wholesome food was shunned! What is more important: a long lasting healthier condition, or immediately satisfying cravings that lead to serious health problems?

Unsulphured blackstrap molasses is easily managed as a tonic. Mixing a tablespoon or two with a glass of warm water works well as a mineral tonic. Some have used this mix three times a day as a remedy for extreme conditions. Restoring or maintaining health through natural foods requires a sustained intake over time, but is still less expensive than medications or even supplements. And the results are real and permanent without side effects.

Sources:

The Mountain Laurel

http://www.mtnlaurel.com/Recipes/molasse.htm

The World’s Healthiest Foods

http://www.whfoods.com

Wikipedia: for glycemic index

Healing Foods: A Case Study About Molasses

http://teamsugar.com/group/959006/recipes/999761

Blackstrap Molasses The Iron-Rich Remedy
Because of its reputation for being used to prepare livestock feed and other commercial uses, molasses needs to be understood as a disregarded source of vital human nutrients lacking in most of our diets. Molasses provides a sweetener that is safe for most glucose or blood sugar level issues and has several naturally available minerals. It has been used to help remedy many unhealthy conditions.

Ironically, molasses is the by product or “waste” from processing sugar cane or beet into table sugar. Refined table sugar creates blood sugar and insulin instability while providing no nutrients. Actually, refined sugar will pull nutrients, especially minerals, out of the body if consumed enough.

How Molasses is Made

Sugar canes are harvested and machines are used to press the juice out of the cane. The sugar cane roots go very deeply into the soil, commonly 15 feet down and ranging from 6.5 to 19 feet – deep enough to bypass nutrient depleted topsoils that have become the norm and take in more nutrients. That juice is boiled then put through centrifugal machinery to extract the sugar crystals from the liquid. There are three grades of molasses: sulphured, unsulphured, and blackstrap.

Sulphur is used to process unripe green sugar cane. This chemical sulphur is not so good for most human consumption. Sun ripened sugar cane is processed without using sulphur. So unsulphered molasses is a better choice. The third boiling necessary to extract table sugar from sugar cane or beet sugar produces a thick dark substance known as blackstrap molasses, which is the most nutrient dense of all.

Why Use It?

It is well established that synthetically derived or composed mineral supplements are not as beneficial as whole food sources naturally nutrient dense. Iron supplements, for example, tend to create constipation and other digestive problems. Minerals are not only removed by processing foods, they tend to be lacking in depleted topsoils used for raising crops.

Many health sources claim that minerals and enzymes are even more important than vitamins for our health. For example, magnesium is essential to the metabolism and synthesis of almost all the other minerals and vitamins. Yet several health practitioners have gone on record saying that most of the population is lacking even sufficient magnesium levels. Might there be some health problems associated with that?

So What’s It Got?

First thing for the sugar wary (and weary) to consider is blackstrap molasses has a low glycemic index. This means the glucose and carbohydrates are metabolized slowly, demanding less insulin production and stabilizing blood sugar. The result is less lipids or fats occurring in the blood. And it means that you’re chances of becoming diabetic while satisfying your sweet tooth is virtually nil.

Because of its high iron content, many use blackstrap molasses to holistically overcome anemia. Iron is essential to creating red blood cells. In addition to iron, blackstrap molasses contains folate, a natural source for folic acid, along with some other B vitamins, which all combine to form the synergistic mix that promotes red blood cell production.

Then there is magnesium in abundance, along with calcium. Both are densely packaged within this natural food source. Magnesium is important for balancing with calcium for bone production and energy. It is necessary for the smooth function of our nervous system. It is also helpful in maintaining heart health. Insufficient magnesium levels can result in muscle spasms, including the heart muscle, which of course relates to arrhythmia or even heart attacks.

Potassium is another mineral abundant in blackstrap molasses. A deficiency in potassium results in weak muscles and is considered a factor in causing arthritis. Potassium also helps maintain a calmly functioning nervous system. It too is important for the nervous system and heart health. Even the American Heart Association has included unsulphured blackstrap molasses as a food supportive of good heart health.

Manganese, a trace mineral, is very high in content with unsulphured blackstrap molasses. Manganese ions function with a number of enzymes, and are essential to combating unusual free radicals. Like magnesium, manganese also supports cellular absorption of nutrients, and is also beneficial to the nervous system.

There certainly are a lot of nervous system supporting nutrients in this sweetener! Seems that it would be a useful alternative and deterrent to the hyperactivity and ADD in youngsters who consume too much sugar. And unsulphured blackstrap molasses has been used successfully for just that!

This trace mineral also helps synthesize fatty acids and stabilize blood sugar levels. It’s true that too much manganese can be toxic. But it takes consistent breathing of manganese dust from industrial sources for that to happen.

Other minerals that appear in abundance are copper and zinc. Zinc has been tagged as the male mineral because it helps support a healthy prostate. Working with zinc, copper helps eliminate the oxidation damage of superoxides.

All the minerals and nutrients of unsulphured blackstrap molasses are in their natural, balanced form to create a bio-accessible, nutritional synergy unavailable from supplements that are not food. Regardless of the amounts of nutrients listed in synthesized supplements, there is more bang for the buck with whole or super food sources.

A complete nutrient analysis is here:

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?pfriendly=1&tname=nutrientprofile&…

Concerns and Claims

A few health professionals recommend a clinical determination of whether any anemic condition is actually caused by an iron deficiency. The cautious thinking is that in the rare cases iron deficiency is not the cause of anemia, one might add to an already high iron storage and create iron toxicity.

There are many testimonial anecdotes concerning the use of unsulphured blackstrap molasses. Most revolve around the fact that anemia was overcome or greatly lessened without the constipation or stomach problems from iron supplements. The result was better heart health, more energy, relief from rheumatoid arthritis, improved skin conditions, and even restored hair color!

Unsulphured blackstrap molasses can be incorporated with many food items as a sweetener despite its distinctive flavor. It works in teas or hot cereals, on pancakes and waffles or desert items, or used as a glaze for cooking. Some people take right to it. Others, especially those who have taste buds conditioned for years by sugar and artificial sweeteners, find it lacking as a sweetener.

Just like any transition from unhealthy processed “tasty” foods to healthier real foods, taste can be acquired even to a point of wondering why the junk food was consumed with so much relish while wholesome food was shunned! What is more important: a long lasting healthier condition, or immediately satisfying cravings that lead to serious health problems?

Unsulphured blackstrap molasses is easily managed as a tonic. Mixing a tablespoon or two with a glass of warm water works well as a mineral tonic. Some have used this mix three times a day as a remedy for extreme conditions. Restoring or maintaining health through natural foods requires a sustained intake over time, but is still less expensive than medications or even supplements. And the results are real and permanent without side effects.

Sources:

The Mountain Laurel

http://www.mtnlaurel.com/Recipes/molasse.htm

The World’s Healthiest Foods

http://www.whfoods.com

Wikipedia: for glycemic index

Healing Foods: A Case Study About Molasses

http://teamsugar.com/group/959006/recipes/999761

Blackstrap Molasses The Iron-Rich Remedy

http://naturalsolutionsradio.com/articles/article.html?id=2440&filter…

This remarkable plant has the potential to lower carbon dioxide emissions, create jobs, reduce petroleum use and help create a healthier, cleaner planet. Watch our brief video to learn more.

” title=”Visit to our Organic Sugar Mill in Paraguay”>

As it turns out, pure cane sugar is that which is milled out of sugarcane – and sugarcane alone. This makes it different from what we have in the name of ‘ordinary sugar’ in many parts of the world — which tends to be a product of both beets and sugarcane. In some places, we even have sugar made out of beets alone. To be sure, in parts of the world where sugarcane grows abundantly, the ‘pure cane sugar’ is what you are likely to find in stores being sold as ‘ordinary sugar.’ But in temperate parts of the world where sugarcane doesn’t grow, you tend to have sugar made out of beets and sugarcane being marketed in the name of ‘ordinary sugar.’ In such markets, pure cane sugar is treated as a special product just like, say, organic sugar — and it normally goes at a higher price.

Now some of the reasons as to why some people prefer using pure cane sugar include the facts that:

1. It tastes better: there are people who hold the view that the beets used in the manufacture of ordinary sugar tend to ‘contaminate’ the taste of such sugar. Those are the people who feel that pure cane sugar tastes better, and who are often willing to pay slightly more for the better taste.

2. It performs better in certain recipes: there are people who believe that when cooking experts recommend the use of ‘sugar’ in certain recipes, the reference is to pure sugar, as opposed to the mixture of beets and sugar marketed in the name of ‘sugar’ in certain parts of the world. And, indeed, there are certain delicate recipes where the use of ‘ordinary sugar’ (that which is made out of both sugarcane and beets) tends to mess things up. Against that sort of background, and rather than take the risk of ruining their recipes, many people opt to simply use the pure cane sugar – which works perfectly in almost all recipes.

3. It looks better: there are people who simply love pure cane sugar on the basis of aesthetic considerations. These are the people who hold the view that pure cane sugar looks better (both on account of its packaging and the look of its granules). Such people are subsequently drawn to buy the pure cane sugar, on the basis of its ‘looks’ alone.

Without further ado, the five criteria used to define health sugar include:

1. The nature of sugarcane it was milled from: this is the scenario where, for instance, sugar milled from organically grown sugarcane (also referred to as organic sugar) would tend to be viewed as a healthier variety of sugar than that which is milled from inorganically grown sugarcane. The argument used here is something to the effect that the inorganically grown sugarcane tends to absorb the inorganic chemicals – pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers and so on – used to grow it. Subsequently, even when such sugarcane is milled to yield sugar, the resultant sugar is bound to have traces of the said chemicals. Such sugar would, on that account, be ‘unhealthy.’

2. The chemicals used in processing the sugar: it emerges that sugar millers tend to add certain chemicals to the juices obtained when sugarcane is pressed, so as to turn such cane juice into the packable solid sugar. It further emerges that there are several types of chemicals used in this process, with some being regarded as being healthier than others.

3. The ‘age’ of the sugar: it emerges that sugar (like any other type of foodstuff) tends to have an expiry date. Under this scheme, sugar that is expired, or sugar that is approaching its expiry date would tend to be viewed as unhealthy sugar. This would be the case even as ‘fresher’ sugar is viewed as being healthier.

4. The nutritional content of the sugar: this is where it emerges that some varieties of sugar may be regarded as being more ‘nutritious’ than others, on account of the sugarcane they are milled from and the additives in them.
5. The color of the sugar: this is where, according to some people at least, brown sugar is viewed as being healthier than white sugar. The basis for this perception may be hard to point out, but it is definitely part of many people’s criteria for defining ‘healthy sugar.’

That which is milled from organic sugarcane
If you ask many of the people who express interest in buying natural sugar to give you another name for such natural cane sugar, they are likely to tell you that it is also ‘organic sugar.’ Further enquiry reveals that organic sugar is that which is milled from organic sugarcane. Organic sugarcane is, in turn, that which is grown using organic methods – that is, without using chemical pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers… and so on. Where the use of such chemicals is inevitable, it is minimized — the objective being to ensure that the end products are not contaminated.

That which is unprocessed
It emerges that there are people who prefer to use cane juice (which is, essentially, unprocessed sugar) as a substitute to sugar in recipes where sugar is required. These are people whose definition of natural sugar is that of ‘unprocessed sugar.’ They are people who view the chemicals used in processing sugar (so as to turn the cane juice into the solid sugar granules) as contaminative: hence their aversion to such chemicals.

That which is not a product of sugarcane

There are people whose definition of natural sugar is that of sweeteners that are not made out sugarcane. Thus, there are folks who’d view honey as a form of ‘natural sugar,’ whilst seeing the ordinary processed (solid) sugar as ‘artificial/unnatural.’ Stevia and maple juice are other sugar substitutes. They are alternatively referred to as natural sweeteners and many of the people who express interest in buying ‘natural sugar’ tend to be actually in search of these substances.

That which is brown in color

There are folks whose definition of natural sugar is rather superficial: folks who define natural sugar as simply that which is brown in color. These are folks who may not care much about the conditions and resources used to grow the cane out which the brown sugar is milled. These are also folks who may not care much about the chemicals used in processing their beloved brown sugar. To them, so long as the substance is indeed brown in color and it is adequately sweet, it is ‘natural sugar.’

Before proceeding to look at the two things you can do with organic cane juice, we may also say something on why it is termed as being an ‘organic’ juice. That is where it would emerge that this is termed as being an organic juice simply because it is pressed from organic sugarcane: sugarcane grown in an organic manner, with minimum to zero usage of inorganic chemical agents. On account of this fact, the organic cane juice is likely to be healthier (as in, uncontaminated by inorganic chemical traces) than ‘ordinary’ cane juice.
Now, the two things you can do with organic cane juice would include:

1. Where you use the cane juice as a substitute for sugar: by opting to do this, you’d be obtaining the sweetening effect whilst bypassing the chemicals used to solidify the cane juice into sugar granules in other circumstances. In actual fact, it emerges that there are very few recipes where this organic cane juice can’t be used as a substitute for sugar. In recipes where sugar is dissolved in water, you’d simply substitute part of the water ration with the cane juice. Of course, the cane juice may not be as sweet as concentrated sugar – but that is precisely the reason as to why it is healthier than the concentrated sugar granules.

2. Where you use the cane juice as a refreshment drink: this is where you simply pour the cane juice into a glass before proceeding to drink it (just like any other juice). Cane juice tends to have a distinctive taste and it can be very refreshing. There are folks who go a step further and ferment it to form an alcoholic drink which turns out to be as intoxicating as any other type of beer. In a nutshell, organic cane juice is very versatile.

1. Organic brown sugar is perceived as ‘healthy.’ This is against a background where we have seen the market getting flooded with all manner of organic products, from organic fruits to organic corn, onto organic vegetables and now, organic sugar.
Under this scheme of things, what makes a product ‘organic’ is the process through which it is produced, at the farm level. With regard to the organic brown sugar, for instance, the key distinguishing factor is that it is made out of sugarcane which is grown with minimum (if any) chemical usage. No chemical fertilizers, no chemical pesticides, no chemical herbicides. Such sugarcane is, undoubtedly, different from that which is grown using those highly-potent (and often potentially harmful) chemicals. Subsequently, the people who are aware of such things tend to be inclined to buy it (the organic brown sugar), seeing the extra amount of money they have to pay for such sugar as a small price to pay for the expected health benefits.
In the olden days, people who had awareness of such things tended to be few – mainly the academics, researchers and other types of scientists. Those were the times when organic brown sugar tended to be a slow-moving product. Recently though, we have seen the information about the health benefits of these types of products seeping to the masses, leading to the situation where organic brown sugar has turned into a fast moving product.

2. Organic brown sugar is more attractive to the eye. Not all people who express interesting in purchasing organic brown sugar do so on account of health considerations. We have many doing so simply on account of aesthetics. This is where the organic brown sugar tends to be packaged in attractive ‘natural-themed’ packages (which are very eye-catching). The sugar itself, with its thick brown granules also tends to be extremely attractive, compared to the ordinary, plain (and rather dull) white sugar. Simply put, the brown sugar seems to have more ‘character’ whereas the ordinary white sugar tends to be described as a variety of sugar lacking in (aesthetic) character. It helps too, that based on the aesthetics alone, many people tend to get the impression that the brown sugar is likely to be sweeter.

It must have been milled from sugarcane whose farmers were fairly compensated for their (sugar farming) effort.
It must have been milled from sugarcane which was grown organically.

It must have been milled from sugarcane which was grown in a sustainable manner (with minimum environmental degradation).
And some of the key advantages of buying such fair trade sugar would include the facts that:

1. Fair trade sugar is healthier: this is mainly due to the fact we mentioned earlier, that fair trade sugar is milled from sugarcane which is actually grown in adherence to ‘organic’ practices. That makes it healthier. It is better than sugar milled from sugarcane that was grown with the help of all manner of chemicals. You have to keep it in mind that the plants grown using such chemicals tend to absorb them, and traces of the (often greatly harmful) chemicals are to be found even in milled products of such plants. Thus to the extent that it is milled from sugarcane whose farmers don’t use chemicals such as pesticides and inorganic fertilizers extensively, fair trade sugar is healthy. It is organic sugar.

2. Buying fair trade sugar helps in improving farmers’ lot: gone are the days when all we used to care about were the products, without actually bothering to think about the human cost of producing those products. Nowadays, most of us want to know something about the origin of the products we use, especially with respect to the conditions they were produced under, and the welfare of the people who produced them. If you too entertain such cares, you should take to buying fair trade sugar, whose millers at least offer some sort of assurance about the welfare of the farmers whose sugarcane they mill to come up with the sugar.

3. Buying fair trade sugar helps in conserving the environment: as mentioned earlier, for sugar to qualify for the ‘fair trade’ label, it has to have been milled from sugarcane grown with minimal environmental disruption. Thus, for instance, sugar milled out sugarcane grown in plots whose acquisition meant excising valuable rainforests or natural waterways doesn’t qualify for the ‘fair trade sugar’ label. This means that by buying fair trade sugar, you help – in your own small way – to conserve the environment at a global level.