Black strap molases

It does not have to be Black Strap, which is a brand name. Molasses is very high in Iron which has always been an issue particularly for women in their diets. It is high in several minerals that are hard to get into todays diet. Some of my older realatives took it by the teaspoon or eat it like jam or honey on toast and biscuits. I beleive it is an aquired taste. Very southern. My grangmothers all thought that it kept their hair from turning grey. I doubt that that is true but who knows a lot of those old treatments have turned out to be true. Lots of recepies from days past used molasses in place of sugar. It was the sugar during the depression when people could not afford the white stuff that we have become so accustomed to eating. Iron deficiency = amemia.

blackstrap molasses is the product of the third boiling of the sugar cane syrup. though it is mostly sugar, it contains significant amount of vitamins and minerals and is a good source of calcium, magnesium, potassium and iron. they said a teaspoon of this provides about 20% of the daily value of these nutrients. i usually use this in baking fruit cakes and dates bars.

I have just looked at my bottle of molasses and the only nutrient listed is Potassium. molasses is the second boiling of the sugar cane. Blackstrap molasses is the third boiling and is the by product of cane sugar. It is the one that contains manganese, copper, iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, vitamin B6, selenium. Blackstrap molasses provides more iron for less calories when compared to red meat. Blackstrap molasses has 32 calories per 2 teaspoons and molasses has 60 per 1 teaspoon. World's healthiest foods has the run down on blackstrap molasses at http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?dbid=118&tname=foodspice#healthbenefits

dixie1 my mother always told me that any brand of molasses is good for you as they all contain iron, many of us women are anemic so we need' to consume more foods that contain iron. you can use it as you would pancake syrup, like on toast or pancakes or waffles or french toast. it is very tasty too.

Unsulfered black strap molasses is indeed high in iron, B vitamins and many trace minerals necessary for proper body function. Some health gurus say not to buy the kind in the grocery store because it may bear a false lable saying it's unsulfured when it isn't. You can put a table spoon full in a glass of milk or warm water for a quick energy boost or, after acquiring a taste for it, you can spread a little on your toast, pancakes etc. It's nutrients are quickly assimilated by the body giving you quick energy, but if taken daily, the effects can be long lasting. As for the lady who said her grandmothers swore it kept their hair from turning gray, that may very well have some truth in it as molasses contains manganese and copper in trace amounts, and these minerals have been proven to retard graying.