Most sugars are stripped of so many of the nutrients that were originally part of it.  This is usually because of the processing that takes place.  When you use blackstrap molasses you are getting a natural sweetener that is healthy because of the high levels of minerals that it provides a person.

Molasses is one way to get iron into the human system.  This is great for those who are either iron deficient or it can provide an extra boost of iron for women who are menstruating.  Molasses can help provide the body with approximately 13.3% of the iron that anyone needs.  It is also important for children to make sure they get plenty of iron in their body as well.

Molasses can also help with providing the body with some calcium.  Calcium is important for the body; it is what helps the body function.  Without calcium bones and teeth cannot grow strong, which is important not only for young children, but also those who are further along in years.

Molasses is a great way to help naturally energize the body.  Many times we look for ways to keep energized and we go about it all the wrong ways.  Molasses is one of the great ways to do that in a way that won’t hurt the body as bad as other ways that energizers might.

Magnesium is also important for the body.  It helps with the bones along with calcium.  It also helps you with your energy level.  When someone has lower amounts of magnesium in their body, they have a higher chance of things like high blood pressure, migraines, muscle cramps and even fatigue.

But it is also important to make sure that you are taking a moderate amount of molasses in your diet.  Even though it is natural and healthier than other types of sugar, it is important to make sure that it is in moderation.  Without moderation, you can potential get too much of something that can eventually harm you.  It still does contain sugar in it, which if too much is taken in, can still be bad for a person.

If you are looking for some of the healthiest molasses to use it would need to be unsulfured blackstrap molasses.

If the molasses jar hasn’t been opened, you can expect it to have a shelf life of at least two years as long as you are not storing it over the stove or something equally silly. Unfortunately, there isn’t total agreement on just how long molasses will last once you have opened the jar. Many say that if the molasses has been opened that it has to be used within 6 months of being opened.    Some say 8 – 12 months if opened. It may also ferment if it sits around unused for very long or in warm spots.  It also depends on how tight the lid is once it is opened as well.

To determine whether your molasses is still good, pay attention to its appearance and odor. It is important to look and see if there is either mold or if it has begun to crystallize.  If either of those begin to happen, it may be wise to get rid of it.  Also keeping it in a very warm spot can make it start to ferment and get really runny.  It is wise to not keep it near the stove or oven or anywhere that is a heat source that can affect it, such as a radiator or even in front of a window.  Since it is a liquid sugar substance, it will begin to crystallize if not used fast enough or left in the wrong kind of environment.

One of the ways to make it last longer before potentially going bad is to put it in the refrigerator.  Although if it is too cool it can really get thick, this makes it harder to pour. If it happens to get to thick you can just sit the bottle in some warm water.  It is suggested that it be kept at room temperature or even a little cooler and to keep it in a glass jar or bottle that has a lid that twist shut.  Make sure that the lid is as tight as possible on the jar or bottle.

Also when storing molasses it is important to remember that air and moisture can affect the color and flavor, along with potentially causing it to crystallize faster.  Don’t open it until you are ready to put it in the recipe or when you are about to use it.  It is probably a good idea to not leave it sitting open waiting for someone to use it.  Opening of molasses when it is not going to be used can affect the quality of the molasses.  Keeping it in something that has a tight lid can really help make it keep a lot better.

Also, if you are one who doesn’t use a lot of molasses you might consider buying smaller amounts of it until you see how much of demand you have for it.  There is nothing worse than getting something and having it go bad because you didn’t use it fast enough.  Once you know how much you need on a regular basis it will be easier to make sure you have what you need without running out or having too much.

Depending on the number of times it is boiled, the color of the molasses will vary.  Blackstrap molasses can provide 20% of the daily value of iron, potassium, magnesium and calcium when 1 tablespoon is eaten.

Molasses doesn’t help with fats and proteins when it comes to the nutritional value.  Most of the calories in molasses is from sugar, which is not necessarily good.  What is good is that it is low in Saturated fat, sodium and cholesterol.  It provides a good amount of things like Vitamin B6.

Also a part of the 1 cup nutritional value is that it contains 69% of the calcium a body needs and about 88% of the iron a body needs.  Most of the calories that come from molasses are carbohydrates.

Blackstrap Molasses Nutrition Info in a Nutshell:

• Blackstrap molasses contains 13.3% of the daily recommended value a person needs in iron.
• Blackstrap molasses contains about 11.8% of the daily recommended value a person needs for the calcium.
• Blackstrap molasses also contains about 14% of the daily recommended value of copper that a person needs to be healthy.
• Manganese is also important and blackstrap molasses contains 18% of the daily value that is recommended.
• 9.7% is what blackstrap molasses provides in the daily recommended value for potassium.

Molasses nutritional benefits are superior to those offered by white sugar, corn syrup and other sweeteners that are considered fake.  Also, for those who may always have molasses on hand and not things like honey and corn syrup, it is able to be substituted and still be healthy and nutritious.  It it were being graded on its nutritional value, I would say it would be about a B+.

It is important to remember that the molasses nutrition values are based on what your caloric intake is on a daily basis.  This means that what works for a 2000 calorie diet may not and will not work for a 1200 calorie or a 2500 calorie diet.  Also the amount of molasses that is used will make all the difference as well.  Also, whether you are using blackstrap or other forms of the molasses will also affect what the nutritional value is as well.

A lot of times it is up to what the cookie maker is wanting and the taste they are trying to get when it comes to making molasses cookies.  If you are looking for a basic, tasty recipe though, here is one that you can try.

Molasses Cookie Recipe

• 3/4 cup shortening (3/4 cup correct amount)
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• ¼-1/2 teaspoon salt (Depending on the taste you are wanting.) •
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon allspice (Again, optional.  Some recipes call for it while others  don’t.)
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• Granulated sugar for rolling cookies (Optional. Depends if you like the idea like a sugar cookie.)

Preparation:

1. Cream together shortening and brown sugar.
2. Stir in egg and molasses and mix well.
3. Fold in dry ingredients (except for granulated sugar) and stir.
4. Cover and chill till firm, for at least 1 hour and it could be 2 hours if needed.

Baking:

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Roll dough into small balls and roll in white sugar (optional, but tastes and looks yummy).
3. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet. Make sure the cookies have room to spread.
4. Bake at 350° for 8 – 12 minutes. It is always wise to start with 8 minutes and then add more time as needed.
5. Leave on sheet one to two minutes until set.
6. Remove to cooling rack.

The amount of molasses cookies made will vary on the size of the cookie you made. If you prefer uniform cookies, you can roll out the dough and use an 8 oz. glass or a cookie cutter to cut out the cookies. Another option, is to just make cookie drops and then mash them a bit flat with the bottom of a glass. There are many other options you can try with the molasses cookie recipe as well. We’ll try and post them as we find them!

Most of the substitution options are ingredients that most people will find in their cupboards at home.  When it comes to substituting for one cup of molasses there are a few options and they are as follows:

• ¾ cup granulated sugar, plus ¼ cup water
• 1 cup honey, dark corn syrup, or maple syrup; or
• ¾ cup brown sugar, firmly packed

It doesn’t really matter which choice you choose if you just need to substitute something for the molasses.  Now, if the flavor of molasses is important for the recipe, then you may want to use the brown sugar substitution option as that will come closest to matching the unique flavor of molasses since brown sugar actually has molasses in it.

It is important to know what may not be good to use when substituting items for molasses.  Even though there is a certain flavor when it comes to molasses there are things to remember, like it isn’t suggested to substitute blackstrap molasses for regular molasses unless you are happy to change the flavor significantly.  The different types of molasses have different flavors and can do different things for the food it is added to.

If using the sugar and water option for substitution, you may want to add spices to help when it comes to the recipe.  The seasonings that are added will vary based on what you are cooking or baking.  For example, beans will have one flavor if molasses is used and a different flavor if sugar and water is used.  Also, when the substitute ingredient is added to your recipe can make a difference as well; for example, it may need to be cooked longer and slower if added at the beginning versus at the end.

There are different types of molasses, mainly going from light to dark.  Depending on the color will determine the taste of the molasses, making how the food will taste vary based on the different molasses being used.  So based on what you want the food to taste like will determine what kind of molasses to use or what substitution to use.

It isn’t a bad idea to try different things if you do not have molasses or don’t plan on having it around because it is too expensive or difficult to locate in your area.

The difference between just plain ole molasses and the blackstrap molasses is which boiling it comes from.  Regular molasses comes from the first or second boiling of the cane sugar syrup.  Blackstrap comes from the third boiling, which causes the iron to increase by about 5%.

Some of the many different health conditions that there may be useful blackstrap molasses cures for include, but are not limited to:

• Heart palpitations
• edema
• anxiety
• constipation
• joint pain
• acne
• arthritic pain
• anemia
• diabetes
• fibroid tumors; and
• Cancerous tumors

It has also been said that blackstrap molasses does wonders as a skin softener.  Another thing molasses is said to help is taking gray hair and turning it back to its original color.  It can also help with excessive bleeding.

Blackstrap molasses is also good because of its source of iron and the many minerals that it contains. If someone has cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure, the chromium in the blackstrap molasses can help with that.  It also helps to balance and build the bloodstream, eliminate toxic conditions that may lead to high blood pressure.  The molasses can also help build strong blood plasma, which will in turn help the heart tissues.

It is a good laxative when mixed with warm water.  It is a natural way to help clean the body of toxins that are in the colon that can lead to appendicitis.   When it comes to acne, the acne will increase for a couple of weeks, but then it will decrease dramatically.

It is also said that for those who get iron build up due to using blackstrap molasses there can be side effects.  Some of these may include, but are not limited to; lowering of the sex drive, skin color can change, and joints may be painful.  To see if there is an overload of iron it is a simple blood test that can check the iron levels.

For those who have had hemorrhoids, blackstrap molasses can help out.  This is a natural way to take care of them and know that there aren’t any added chemicals.

It is suggested to take it first thing in the morning for best results and to mix it with hot water and milk or soymilk.  Then ice is added.  The blackstrap molasses can also be added to tea in place of sugar.  This particular recipe is what is suggested to help for any of the above problems.

The folk remedies are kind of like old wives tales.  So many times people wonder if they really work, but they do, if followed properly and with the advice of a doctor.  It may not be wise to just try something new without talking to a Doctor.  This is because people may not know what the interaction of these remedies will have with other medications or issues going on in the life of the person.

Blackstrap molasses is also good in increasing energy because it is a good source of iron.  This can be very helpful when it comes to women who are menstruating and may have problems with iron deficiency during this time.  This type of molasses can provide more iron in fewer calories and is completely fat-free.  Iron is part of the hemoglobin, which is what helps transport oxygen from the lungs to body cells.  It is also an important part of the enzyme system when it comes to metabolism and energy production.

Another health benefit of Blackstrap molasses is the good source of calcium that it provides.  Calcium comes in handing for forming and maintaining strong bones and even teeth.  With the help of calcium it helps bind and remove toxins from things like the colon, which may  help reduce colon cancer.  It is also believed to help with preventing migraine attacks.

Potassium also plays an important role with the muscle contraction and even the nerve transmission.  Potassium is really important for athletes as it helps with the storage of carbohydrates, which is what the muscles use for fuel.  Muscles can get weak if there is not enough potassium in the body, which means that athletes can get tired easier.

Not only is blackstrap molasses a great source of copper, manganese, iron, potassium, magnesium and calcium, it is also a good source of vitamin B6.  Another benefit of molasses it the help it provides when it comes to Anemia.  When people have a good level of iron, they will have a higher energy level.  It can also help with easing menopause symptoms.  This is because it does help with symptoms like cramping, mood swings, PMS and even hot flashes.  It has also been known to help reduce the size of the fibroid tumors.

Some other areas that blackstrap molasses seems to help with is constipation, anxiety, heart palpitations, arthritic pain and to turn gray hair back to the original color.

Knowing some of the health benefits of the blackstrap molasses can help people either use it in their cooking or look for it as one of the ingredients when it comes to food they buy.

There is something that people may not realize is that blackstrap molasses has a trace of vitamins. The blackstrap molasses is also a source of magnesium, iron, potassium and calcium.  There is still sugar in the molasses, but to know it does have a trace of something healthy can be something that is a great feeling.  It may also be a sold as a health supplement.

Molasses is commonly used in baking. It is also used in the cuisine for the Middle East as well.  But in the Middle East they may use many different other materials to produce molasses.  Sometimes the syrup is what provides the bittersweet flavor when it comes to baked beans.  Blackstrap molasses can also give chicken or turkey a rich color and taste when used to baste.

There are also many other ways to use molasses.  Who knew there were so many different uses?  Some of them include, but are not limited to some of the following:

• It can be used as the base for fermentation for things like rum.
• Commonly used for dark brewed alcohol, some examples include stout and dark heavy ales.
• Used as an iron supplements for those who have a hard time tolerating other things associated with iron supplements.
• Used as additives for livestock grains.
• In Australia it fermented and used as ethanol for motor vehicles as far as alternative fuel.

The phrase “slow as molasses” comes from the thick and syrupy texture of the molasses.  The blackstrap molasses has a robust bittersweet flavor and is dark in color, almost a black-brown hue.  This type of molasses is made during the third boiling of sugar syrup.  This means it is a concentrated by-product left over after they take the sugar’s sucrose crystallized.

The blackstrap molasses is unsulphured, which means it does not contain some of the processed chemicals that people are sensitive to.  But people need to know it is cleaner and has a more clarified taste.  It is also made from organic sugar cane.  Containers that are not opened can be kept for one year and opened containers will keep for about six month.

The popularity of the blackstrap molasses came around the mid-20^th century.  Some of the largest producers include India, Taiwan, Brazil, Thailand, the United States and the Philippines.

There are many different ways that the blackstrap molasses can be used.  Who would have thought of all of these options a long time ago?  Knowing all that molasses can do and how it is made is great to know.