Why is Molasses good for you?
Molasses has grown in popularity in recent years as many health practitioners and nutritionists have latched on to the great nutrition it provides, and have started promoting the wonders of this lovely dark, sticky stuff.
Many cooks and foodies know molasses produces fantastic results in the kitchen, whether used in bread, cakes, biscuits or marinades and sauces – but what exactly are the health benefits of molasses?
Molasses added as a sweetener to drinks and food won’t spike your blood sugar like processed white cane sugar. It has a far lower GI, making it the wise choice for diabetics and those monitoring their sugar intake but who still have a sweet tooth!
Having molasses every day during pregnancy can help with swollen ankles, and also provides minerals essential for the bone formation and strength of your baby. Taking molasses every day during your period can also help replenish your depleted iron levels.
Brilliant for joints and bones
Molasses contains iron, selenium and copper, all of which are excellent to keep your bones healthy and strong. Osteoporosis often occurs as people get older, and one of its main characteristics is loss of bone density. The manganese in molasses is excellent to prevent this happening. Three teaspoons of molasses every day will provide you with 30% of the managanese you need. There’s evidence that molasses also relieves swollen joints.
Molasses contains vitamins B1, B3, B5 and B6, all of which are water-soluble nutrients which provide valuable support for your body’s metabolic processes, such as the production of hormones.
Vitamin B6 regulates the production of serotonin, and a recent research paper concluded that low levels of vitamin B6 are associated with symptoms of depression.
The list of minerals to be found in one simple teaspoon of molasses is a long one, and includes selenium, calcium, magnesium, iron, managanese, potassium and copper. All of these are essential and powerful nutrients which contribute hugely to good health, both physical and mental.
The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant nature of molasses makes it an excellent ingredient to help curing conditions such as neuralgia and rheumatism, and these properties in blackstrap molasses ease the discomfort and symptoms of arthritis by reducing swelling, joint inflammation, and pain.
Whether you’re after something to sweeten your coffee, a great ingredient for baking or an all-round health panacea, we have a fantastic range of molasses here.