blackstrap molasses

[ladycolorado]

some of the weird things from the past folks ate for a reason, and blackstrap molasses is one of them. perhaps because of the heath benefits: This chart graphically details the %DV that a serving of Blackstrap molasses provides for each of the nutrients of which it is a good, very good, or excellent source according to our Food Rating System. Additional information about the amount of these nutrients provided by Blackstrap molasses can be found in the Food Rating System Chart. A link that takes you to the In-Depth Nutritional Profile for Blackstrap molasses, featuring information over 80 nutrients, can be found under the Food Rating System Chart.

Health Benefits
Description
History
How to Select and Store
How to Enjoy
Safety
Nutritional Profile
References
Health Benefits

Blackstrap molasses is a sweetener that is actually good for you. Unlike refined white sugar and corn syrup, which are stripped of virtually all nutrients except simple carbohydrates, or artificial sweeteners like saccharine or aspartame, which not only provide no useful nutrients but have been shown to cause health problems in sensitive individuals, blackstrap molasses is a healthful sweetener that contains significant amounts of a variety of minerals that promote your health.

Iron for Energy

In addition to providing quickly assimilated carbohydrates, blackstrap molasses can increase your energy by helping to replenish your iron stores. Blackstrap molasses is a very good source of iron. Particularly for menstruating women, who are more at risk for iron deficiency, boosting iron stores with blackstrap molasses is a good idea--especially because, in comparison to red meat, a well known source of iron, blackstrap molasses provides more iron for less calories and is totally fat-free. Iron is an integral component of hemoglobin, which transports oxygen from the lungs to all body cells, and is also part of key enzyme systems for energy production and metabolism. And, if you're pregnant or lactating, your needs for iron increase. Growing children and adolescents also have increased needs for iron. Just 2 teaspoons of blackstrap molasses will sweetly provide you with 13.3% of the daily recommended value for iron.

A Spoonful of Molasses Helps Your Calcium Needs Go Down

Blackstrap molasses is a very good source of calcium. Calcium, one of the most important minerals in the body, is involved in a variety of physiological activities essential to life, including the ability of the heart and other muscles to contract, blood clotting, the conduction of nerve impulses to and from the brain, regulation of enzyme activity, and cell membrane function. Calcium is needed to form and maintain strong bones and teeth during youth and adolescence, and to help prevent the loss of bone that can occur during menopause and as a result of rheumatoid arthritis. Calcium binds to and removes toxins from the colon, thus reducing the risk of colon cancer, and because it is involved in nerve conduction, may help prevent migraine attacks. Two teaspoons of blackstrap molasses will meet 11.8% of your daily needs for calcium.

An Energizing Mineral-Dense Sweetener

Molasses is also an excellent source of copper and manganese and a very good source of potassium, and magnesium.

Copper, an essential component of many enzymes, plays a role in a wide range of physiological processes including iron utilization, elimination of free radicals, development of bone and connective tissue, and the production of the skin and hair pigment called melanin. Numerous health problems can develop when copper intake is inadequate, including iron deficiency anemia, ruptured blood vessels, osteoporosis, joint problems such as rheumatoid arthritis, brain disturbances, elevated LDL (bad) cholesterol and reduced HDL (good) cholesterol levels, irregular heartbeat, and increased susceptibility to infections. Using two teaspoons of blackstrap molasses to sweeten your morning cereal and the coffee or tea you drink during the day will supply you with 14.0% of the daily recommended value for copper.

That same amount of blackstrap molasses will also provide you with 18.0% of the day's needs for manganese. This trace mineral helps produce energy from protein and carbohydrates, and is involved in the synthesis of fatty acids that are important for a healthy nervous system and in the production of cholesterol that is used by the body to produce sex hormones. Manganese is also a critical component of an important antioxidant enzyme called superoxide dismutase. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is found exclusively inside the body's mitochondria (the oxygen-based energy factories inside most of our cells) where it provides protection against damage from the free radicals produced during energy production.

Like calcium, potassium plays an important role in muscle contraction and nerve transmission. When potassium is deficient in the diet, activity of both muscles and nerves can become compromised. Potassium is an especially important mineral for atheletes since it is involved in carbohydrate storage for use by muscles as fuel and is also important in maintaining the body's proper electrolyte and acid-base (pH) balance. When potassium levels drop too low, muscles get weak, and athletes tire more easily during exercise, as potassium deficiency causes a decrease in glycogen (the fuel used by exercising muscles) storage. Simply by adding two teaspoons of blackstrap molasses to your morning smoothie, you can supply 9.7% of your potassium needs for the day along with a healthy dose of carbohydrates to burn.

Calcium's balancing major mineral, magnesium is also necessary for healthy bones and energy production. About two-thirds of the magnesium in the human body is found in our bones. Some helps give bones their physical structure, while the rest is found on the surface of the bone where it is stored for the body to draw upon as needed. Magnesium, by balancing calcium, helps regulate nerve and muscle tone. In many nerve cells, magnesium serves as Nature's own calcium channel blocker, preventing calcium from rushing into the nerve cell and activating the nerve. By blocking calcium's entry, magnesium keeps our nerves (and the blood vessels and muscles they ennervate) relaxed. If our diet provides us with too little magnesium, however, calcium can gain free entry, and the nerve cell can become overactivated, sending too many messages and causing excessive contraction. Insufficient magnesium can thus contribute to high blood pressure, muscle spasms (including spasms of the heart muscle or the spasms of the airways symptomatic of asthma), and migraine headaches, as well as muscle cramps, tension, soreness and fatigue. In two teaspoons of blackstrap molasses, you will receive 7.3% of the daily value for magnesium.

Switching from nutrient-poor sweeteners like white sugar or corn syrup, or from potentially harmful fake sweeteners like aspartame or saccharin to nutrient-dense blackstrap molasses is one simple way that eating healthy can sweeten your life.

Description

The truth behind the phrase "slow as molasses" becomes apparent when you reflect on molasses's thick, viscous, syrupy texture. Featuring a robust bittersweet flavor, blackstrap molasses helps create the distinctive taste of dishes such as baked beans and gingerbread. Blackstrap molasses is very dark in color, having a black-brown hue.

Blackstrap molasses is just one type of molasses, the dark liquid that is the byproduct of the process of refining sugar cane into table sugar. Blackstrap molasses is made from the third boiling of the sugar syrup and is therefore the concentrated byproduct left over after the sugar's sucrose has been crystallized.

History

Molasses has been imported into the United States from the Caribbean Islands since the time of the early colonists. In fact, it was the most popular sweetener used until the late 19th century since it was much more affordable than refined sugar, which was very expensive at that time.

In some respects, molasses has had a rather sticky history with at least two important historical events centering around this sweet food product. The first is the Molasses Act of 1733, a tariff passed by England to try to discourage the colonists from trading with areas of the West Indies that were not under British rule. This legislation is thought to be one of the events that catalyzed pre-revolutionary colonial dissent and unrest.

It is not often that a fateful tragedy occurs that centers around a food, but unfortunately, in 1919, one such event did occur. The event is referred to as the Great Molasses Flood and occurred when a molasses storage tank holding over two million gallons of molasses broke, and its sticky content came pouring throughout the city streets of Boston, Massachussetts, traveling as fast as 35 miles per hour and creating a thirty foot tidal wave of sweetener. Unfortunately, this was not a sweet matter as twenty-one people died and significant amounts of property was destroyed.

Blackstrap molasses gained in popularity in the mid-20th century with the advent of the health food movement. Today, the largest producers of molasses are India, Brazil, Taiwan, Thailand, the Phillipines and the United States.

How to Select and Store

Look for blackstrap molasses that is unsulphured since not only does it not contain this processing chemical to which some people are sensitive, but it has a cleaner and more clarified taste. Blackstrap molasses made from organic sugar cane is also available in some markets.

Molasses should be stored in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator or a cool, dry place. Unopened containers should keep for about one year, while opened containers should keep for about six months.

How to Enjoy

For some of our favorite recipes, click Recipes.

A Few Quick Serving Ideas:

Adding molasses to baked beans will give them that traditionally robust flavor.

Molasses imparts a wonderfully distinctive flavor to cookies and gingerbread cakes.

Basting chicken or turkey with molasses will give it both a rich color and rich taste.

Safety

Blackstrap molasses is not a commonly allergenic food and is not known to contain measurable amounts of goitrogens, oxalates, or purines.

Nutritional Profile

Blackstrap molasses is an excellent source of manganese and copper. It is a very good source of iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium. In addition, blackstrap molasses is a good source of vitamin B6 and selenium.

For an in-depth nutritional profile click here: Blackstrap molasses.

In-Depth Nutritional Profile

In addition to the nutrients highlighted in our ratings chart, an in-depth nutritional profile for Blackstrap molasses is also available. This profile includes information on a full array of nutrients, including carbohydrates, sugar, soluble and insoluble fiber, sodium, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids and more.
Introduction to Food Rating System Chart

The following chart shows the nutrients for which this food is either an excellent, very good or good source. Next to the nutrient name you will find the following information: the amount of the nutrient that is included in the noted serving of this food; the %Daily Value (DV) that that amount represents; the nutrient density rating; and the food's World's Healthiest Foods Rating. Underneath the chart is a table that summarizes how the ratings were devised. Read detailed information on our Food and Recipe Rating System.
Blackstrap molasses
2.00 tsp
13.67 grams
32.12 calories
Nutrient Amount DV
(%) Nutrient
Density World's Healthiest
Foods Rating
manganese 0.36 mg 18.0 10.1 excellent
copper 0.28 mg 14.0 7.8 excellent
iron 2.39 mg 13.3 7.4 very good
calcium 117.53 mg 11.8 6.6 very good
potassium 340.57 mg 9.7 5.5 very good
magnesium 29.38 mg 7.3 4.1 very good
vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) 0.10 mg 5.0 2.8 good
selenium 2.43 mcg 3.5 1.9 good
World's Healthiest
Foods Rating Rule
excellent DV>=75% OR Density>=7.6 AND DV>=10%
very good DV>=50% OR Density>=3.4 AND DV>=5%
good DV>=25% OR Density>=1.5 AND DV>=2.5%

In-Depth Nutritional Profile for Blackstrap molasses

References

Aslan Y, Erduran E, Mocan H, et al. Absorption of iron from grape-molasses and ferrous sulfate: a comparative study in normal subjects and subjects with iron deficiency anemia. Turk J Pediatr 1997 Oct-1997 Dec 31;39(4):465-71. PMID:16410.
Ensminger AH, Ensminger, ME, Kondale JE, Robson JRK. Foods & Nutriton Encyclopedia. Pegus Press, Clovis, California 1983.
Ensminger AH, Esminger M. K. J. e. al. Food for Health: A Nutrition Encyclopedia. Clovis, California: Pegus Press; 1986. PMID:15210.
Fortin, Francois, Editorial Director. The Visual Foods Encyclopedia. Macmillan, New York 1996.
Wood, Rebecca. The Whole Foods Encyclopedia. New York, NY: Prentice-Hall Press; 1988. PMID:15220.
here is a article telling of supposed molasses "cures" from idividuals: Molasses Cures
From the feedback we have received over the past few years, it appears that blackstrap molasses ranks as one of the best home remedies around! We have reports of it curing cancerous tumors, fibroid tumors, anxiety, constipation, edema, heart palpitations, anemia, arthritic pain, joint pain, and acne, just to name a few. It has also been reported that molasses turns gray hair back to its original color and is a wonderful skin softener!

How it works: Molasses contains loads of minerals and is a good source of iron.

Suggested Amounts: 1 Tablespoon of Black Strap Molasses, first thing in the morning.

AVAILABLE BOOKS ON MOLASSES:
Crude Black Molasses by Cyril Scott



*** 9/4/2007: We have just reorganized this page to make it easier for you to find the information you need!***

ON THIS PAGE:
Multiple Cures Reported
Molasses Cures from A-Z
Where to Find Molasses

ON NEW PAGES:
Molasses Recipes
Molasses Q&A



MULTIPLE CURES REPORTED USING MOLASSES
7/21/2007: Tish from Chicago, Il writes: "My period has been always heavy that my hemoglobin level is always low that I have to take iron and shot every 2 weeks. ITs hard also to work and go to the bathroom every now and then. When I bleed it like for 10 days and more. I was diagnosed with fibroid just 2 months ago and I found your website just weeks before my surgery and its my second day of my period. I started taking the molasses and the next day my period slow down and no blood clotting and it stopped after 5 days. My daughter is always suffering from constipation and I recommended her this and she said she never pooh like this before.. THANK YOU!"

6/21/2007: Susan ) from Ripley, WV writes: "I've been taking black strap Molasses for about 6 months. One thing it's done for me is my fingernails grows fast. I never had pretty nails before now I can grow them. It has to be the Molasses. Still waiting for the fibroid tumors to go, having faith they will. I've taken apple cider vineger for 40 years. It's how I keep my weight down. I'm glad we have this website to check out. I've also used Cayenne Pepper daily for about 3 years. Something is keeping me healthy, so I'll keep doing it. Thanks to all of you that take time to post. age 72, feel like 40"

3/27/2007: ROBERT from New Glasgow, Nova Scotia writes: "Molasses (black strap) for joint and throat: arthritic joints and sore throat, plus it's a great energy producer. I would suggest an unsulfered black strap molasses."

2/28/2007: Jennifer from Greenfield, WI writes, "I went to the health food store to ask about what I could give my 15 month-old son for constipation. They suggested 1-2 tsp. of blackstrap molasses in his bottle. I bought the bottle, came home, came to this website and discovered all different things this stuff is good for. I am 8 months pregnant. I was having a lot of trouble sleeping and developing symptoms of restless leg syndrome (common in pregnancy). I decided to give it a shot. Long story short, my son is pooping like a champ and I started sleeping through the night without any jerking limbs ON THE FIRST DAY! I ran out for one day, and I had a horrible night sleep. I am amazed and delighted."

3/14/2007: Helen from Long Island, United States writes: "I have been taking molasses in warm milk and agree it is like a latte. It really tastes good. Also, my leg pain has lessened and I can go up stairs and walk much better. I am also taking the vinegar and baking soda which I didn't think was doing much, but when I added the molasses drink I think it made a big difference. (My doctor says I have very bad arthritis. This is the first relief I have had. These remedies are highly recommended by me."

2/11/2007: Kim from Westport, MA writes, "Hi there I have been reading and applying the remedies on this site now for over a week with positive results. Since I have added taking 1 tablespoon full of blackstrap molasses every morning before or after my acv concoction, I have noticed something different about the hair growth I suffer from on my face. It I feel has retarded the growth, slowing it down so I don't have to pluck so often. Could it be true? I have suffered for years and years with this condition, I think due to polycystic syndrome. Is it possible that possibly the magnesium in the molasses is affecting my hormones in such a positive way? All I know is, I will keep taking the acv and backing soda for general well-being and pain reduction, along with my tablespoon of black strap molasses to help with female issues and help reduce pain as well. I have noticed my knee pain that was really bad, has almost totally gone away. When I mention what I do to others they simply shake there head roll there eyes, and decide its not for them. But I have to say my excitement and testimonials are making some wonder! All I know is my contact dermatitis disappeared, and pain has greatly diminished and now facial hair slowing down...I am waiting for my body to begin showing me more signs of all of the natural elements being to cure/heal& be gone! I am in awe of this site and appreciate all the feedback I read. Kim"

12/27/2006: Mitch from Honey Brook, PA writes, "I work in quality control at a molasses company in PA. Since, working here I have found a ton of sources for the health benefits of blackstrap molasses. My wife and I have been taking it now for about 4 months and have not been sick. She used to get sore necks and since we started taking the molasses, she hasn't had any. Also, a friend of ours that we got hooked on molasses had been taking arthritis medicine for the last 6 months. He's been taking blackstrap molasses for a few weeks and just recently stopped taking the arthritis medicine. If anybody is interested, you can buy blackstrap molasses off my company's website www.goldenbarrel.com and have it sent right to you."

12/12/2006: Jeanne from Monroe, MI writes, "blackstrap molasses cures restless leg syndrome, arthritic pain and swelling, joint pains, and increased bone density."

7/7/2006: Claire from the UK writes, "i had a problem with my left ankle giving way and also suffered badly from carpal syndrome. i was not sure if the molasses would work but i read the comments here and thought i would give it a go. I have been taking 3 tsp regularly since 3 weeks ago. I am amazed -- it has cured my ankle which i no longer have to strap up. Also my carpal syndrome was incredibly painful especially at night. Thankfully i don't have pain anymore. Finally i was astonished to notice that i had actually lost 10 lbs in weight. i think it has cured my sugar craving as i don't feel as hungry anymore. I have been telling my family and friends to take it as it's like a miracle cure for many things. Also my skin is fresh looking, nails are stronger and my hair is shinier."

4/24/2006:Maggie from Bartlesville, Oklahoma writes, "1 Tblsp. blackstrap molasses, three times a day cured heart palpitations,and edema in my hands and ankles. Also my fingernails are much stronger. During my 4 day stay at the hospital for hip surgery, I was given 2 potassium pills as my potassium was very low. When i arrived home, i gave blackstrap molasses a try. Never dreaming that in less than a week my ankles and hands didn't swell anymore, and the heart flutters that i had for many years were gone. Oh , I almost forgot, I now have fingernails. I'm telling everyone i meet about my miracle cure."



AILMENTS CURED WITH MOLASSES, FROM A-Z

ACID REFLUX
8/19/2007: Kita from Detroit, Michigan writes: "I had acid reflux bad for the past two years. Oneday my aunt went to a health food store. Her and a lady got to talking about blackstrap. The lady had tried everything for her acid reflux so the doctor finally told her about blackstrap molasses. My aunt brought some for me and within days the acid reflux started to go down. Now I have been taking it for4 months now. It is just about cured! It is the best thing for acid reflux. I took two teapsoons of it everyday in april and now I take less because it doesnt bother me. One or two teaspoons will help get you through the whole day."



ACNE
7/24/2006: Nathan from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam writes, "Supplementing my diet with molasses has decreased my acne about 97% in two weeks. I take two tablespoons when I wake up in the morning, and two before I go to bed at night. It eases digestive problems, so if your acne is related to constipation, it's a sure-fire bet. It also supplements you with minerals such as Chromium, which about 90% of Americans are deficient in."

An anonymous reader writes that Molasses & Sulphur (MSM) can cure Acne, "2 teaspoons of black strap molasses with one teaspoon of sulphur once or twice daily to cleanse the blood. Skin eruptions may increase initially -- an indication that the blood is being cleansed."



ANXIETY
8/21/2005: Victoria from united state virgin islands writes, "I was suffering from anxiety -- was afraid of traveling by myself and after drinking black strap molasses I was able to travel to switzerland all by myself without any fear."



ANEMIA
6/4/2007: Katy from Astoria, Oregon writes: "Molasses (Remedy): Molasses is packed with iron and other nutrients. I have a large fibroid and have been losing lots of blood during period, this caused my iron deficiency! I was diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia and was not craving ice like many of the other writers, but was eating tons of MINTS. Ice craving, I have read many times, is associated with iron deficiency! It's actually called "Pica," or a craving for unusual substances without nutritional value. People often eat dirt as well. I noticed that when I ate molasses as well as started an iron supplement along with my usual multivitamin, my mint craving went away. I see that people say their ice craving went away after taking molasses and that made me want to mention the link with iron deficiency and this strange craving! Thanks, Katy."

5/5/2007: Maria from Houston, Texas writes: "I was suffering for years with anemia and I had even been let go from my job due to the fact that I could not keep my strength up. I had been told by several doctors that my multiple fibroids required a hysterectomy. I had no tolerance for ANY type of iron supplement. I was steadily getting worse. One doctor even gave up treating me. When that happened I was greatly distressed. I began to recall an island friend telling me that I needed to take blackstrap molasses. So I began using it and lo and behold I improved immediately. My blood count went up from 6 to 7.8 in one month. I now am going through menopause and have found that it helps even with that. I love it and tell everyone about it. My husband takes it daily. I also have no more symptoms of anemia and fibroid issues. I take it now for the calcium and other minerals that are great for menopause troubles."

4/27/2007: Misty from Harrisonville, Missouri writes: "Hello, I have written before about the blackstrap molasses offering an idea on how to drink it. I have been fighting a fibroid tumor for a long time now and began several months ago with the molasses. I just had a sono yesterday and there was no change with my tumor. I did however notice some great changes when I began the molasses. It did get rid of my anemic symptoms, it will keep you regular and I think if you include this in your daily diet it may help to prevent fibroid tumors from forming, or help shrink small tumors when caught early enough. I think over all my health has improved greatly since I began eating at home and avoid eating out as much as possible. Coconut oil is great for the skin I can't live without it. I like the A.C.V. it does work great external and can help you loose weight, but I don't think it is the miracle cure for weight loss. I still have to eat healthier and get active or the weight will remain the same or I will gain. Pretty much everything I have tried so far on this site I have had great results with. Be healthy and God Bless."

3/28/2007: Wikid Willow (mandcclark@frontiernet.net) from Naples, USA writes: "I had SEVERE anemia after the birth of my son 29 years ago... Was already on prenatal vitamins with lots of iron. The Dr. suggested Black Strap molasses, and after the intial tast encounter, learned to LOVE it. My anemia went away and I felt better than I had in years. Great news, yes? Well, where do I find Black Strap molasses now... there is dark, etc., but I never see Black Strap! I really need to locate a source of it because my father is having some serious troubles... I think that since modern medicine cannot find or do anything for him, and based on what is happening (he is slipping away) that Black Strap cannot hurt... PLEASE HELP! Thanks, Willow"

3/10/2007: Connie from Rochester, NY writes: "I have always had heavy periods, and had a fibroid tumor removed several years ago. I was anemic often as a teenager, but couldn't stomach any iron pills. Now as a 40-year-old woman, I'm starting to become "normal" in terms of menstrual flow, but often feel weak and fatigued. I had my thyroid checked, but that turned out to be okay. I then figured I was probably lacking iron. I remembered reading somewhere that blackstrap molasses was high in iron. I bought an inexpensive bottle ($2.79) of House of Herbs blackstrap molasses and was quite impressed to see that one tablespoon contains 70% of the RDA for iron. For the past two months, I've been adding a tablespoon to my coffee every morning in place of sugar. It tastes great, and I haven't felt tired or drained. I see here from others' comments that molasses is also a good remedy for constipation (which had also frequently plagued me, despite my high-fiber diet and increased intake of water), and thinking back over the past several weeks, I realize that I haven't been constipated. Great to know that it works that way, too!"

2/27/2007: Averell from Fort Washington, Maryland writes, "Being extremely weak and anemic from my monthly cycle. I decided to try black strap molasses. I put a Tbs. in my green tea several times a day. I feel so much better, not weak,faint or light headed.My husband even got into it and he said it gave him energy. The doctor who lives next door recommended Floridine from the Natural Health Food Store, it smells and tastes just like molasses only more expensive. I wish I would have found the benefits of molasses a long time ago. I remember my mom used to have some in her kitchen cabinet and put it in baked beans."

2/1/2007: Debbi from Greenwich, CT writes, "I became very anemic last year almost to the point of having an endometrial ablation and blood transfusions! I took my health into my own hands and did lots of research. Blackstrap molasses (unsulfured) restored my iron levels and my energy! I still take it everyday!"

12/13/2006: Krystal from Memphis, TN writes, "I have been anemic all my life. When I decided to change my eating habits and study herbalism, I came across a book that talked about how black strap molasses could shrink tumors and how high it was in iron. I use to have the ice cravings but no more. For the first time in my life I am not anemic. My mother was very surprised and has started using the product for herself. It works! I am living proof; if you're anemic, take 1 tablespoon each morning in a half cup of warm water and it will do the trick! Nature is a wonderful thing!"

12/3/2006: Laurie from Los Angeles, CA writes, "I use Plantation Unsulphered blackstrap molasses. It cured anemia and increased my iron levels. Prior to taking molasses again, I used otc iron pills with minimal visible results. I now take two TBS daily of the molasses, and my iron levels rose. Although the molasses tastes different, it's better to take molasses now then chemo later in life."

10/11/2006: Kati from Traverse City, MI writes, "I am extremely Anemic, especially during that time of month. I have tried Iron pills and Iron efficient foods such as spinach, but nothing really helped. So I looked in a natural cure book and I found out that pure black strap molasses has a high Iron proficiency so I mixed two heaping tablespoons of molasses in a glass with 16 oz of cold milk. I drank this concoction once or twice a day. It gave me so much energy and I didn't feel so sluggish during that time of month. Plus This molasses drink tastes so good (Much better than taking it straight), and just as effective. the sad part is pure black strap molasses is kind of expensive so I am not able to take it all the time. I would appreciate it if someone knows where I could get pure molasses for a cheap price to post it on this site, as I visit it frequently to find different cures."

7/4/2006: Janet from Hot springs, AR writes, "I take a tblsp of blackstrap in the morning and "chase it" with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, with the mother in it, with 3 tablespoons of warm water. In 1994, I was diagnosed with metatastic breast cancer at the age of 53. I had my femur replaced, took 10 radiation treatments and 6months of chemo. I have been on this regimen and KNOW that these things are from GOD made ingredients and, therefore, have kept me well. I have always been a borderline anemic. My blood counts are better than they have EVER been in my entire life. I believe if I had been doing these things for myself BEFORE I got cancer that I would NOT have had cancer in the first place."

7/10/2006: Loreeli from Brodhead, WI writes, "I have been extremely anemic most of my life. When I was pregnant they gave me the iron pills and they will constipate you and are not even a good source of iron. I got on the House of herbs black strap molasses and it made such a difference. It has 70% iron and I haven't found any other with such high content. I lost a baby and they wanted me to have a blood transfusion, but I didn't want to so instead to build my blood back up fast, I used the black strap molasses. I was recently diagnosed with degenerative disc disease and rheumatoid arthritis and am more anemic with the disease and recently I have been so fatigued and in reading about my disease and realizing I was just extremely anemic, I got the molasses out and instantly, I felt better in my head and had more energy. I have now ran out of it and have not been able to find the House of Herbs kind anywhere. This is why I got on here and if anybody can tell me where to order it, I would sure appreciate it. It is a life saver and the difference between feeling good and not. Thank you!"

5/18/2006: Delann from chewelah washington writes, "my iron levels were dangerously low, my doctor had me taking 40,000mls. a week of procrit and 975mlgs. daily iron supplements. after 2 months of this i had been told that i was going to have to restart my iron treatments again. so instead of putting all those chemicals into my system again, i started drinking a glass of warm milk with 3tblspn of molasses every day. I am happy to report that after 3 weeks of this my iron levels and energy levels have steadily improved."

Wanda, from Memphis, TN writes: "I have tried the blackstrap molasses and it's wonderful. I'm anemic and have to take iron pills once a day. I haven't taken them in almost 3 weeks since I been using the blackstrap molasses. I'm full of energy and my fingernails are growing strong. I don't suffer with constipation anymore or irregular bowel movements."

1/30/2006: Jan from TX writes, "One teaspoon daily dipped and dripping with Blackstrap Molasses (House of Herbs 70% iron content) totally eliminated my anemia, dizziness and fatigue. I drink it in hot water or eat it straight off the spoon. If I forget to take it or run out, all symptoms return within days."

WARNING
11/7/2006: Carol from Pocatello, Idaho writes us, "I work as a Nurse Practitioner in a hematology clinic. Please remember that not all patients with anemia have it because of low iron stores. Too much iron can have significant medical side effects. Therefore, I would recommend having your iron blood levels checked prior to starting any replacement iron, molasses, or other herbal products."



ARRHYTHMIA
6/7/2007: Renee from El Dorado, Kansas writes: "I too found Molasses an instant treatment for my heart problem. Every night my heart has a delayed beat (confirmed with overnight monitor) but doctor gave me no treatment beyond giving up caffiene. While that helps, it doesn't totally eliminate it and I admit no caffiene is difficult for me.

After the first day of 2 Tbls Molasses, I sleep through the night with no problems. And this is such a relief as it really is extremely scarey to awaken to no heart beat, over and over and over."

10/11/2006: Peg from Omaha, NE writes, "I was low on potassium, and having heart arrhythmia because of it. 1 tbs each morning, and occasionally another tsp in the early evening keeps it away!"



ARTHRITIC PAIN
Jan writes, "Two weeks of two tablespoons each morning have reduced the arthritic pain in my knees. Does anyone else have knowledge of black strap molasses working on arthritis?"



CANCER
Glen, from St. Mary's Newfoundland, sent us this information: "A friend of mine who's dog was riddled with cancerous tumors gave him black strap molasses each day for a month. she took him back to the Veterinarian and the cancer and tumor were gone! Her mother, who was a medicine woman in the hills of West Virginia suggested she do this as the ancient egyptians used the remedy for consumption (cancer)."

Pam from the UK writes, "my daughter was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor 13 years ago. i was told she had not long to live . i gave her black molasses after reading a book. last week she was told the tumor was still there but had not grown in 13 years."



this was just a site that does not sell anything where these folks actually wrote in telling how molasses helped them (LC)

[ladycolorado]

here is another site tells of the health benefits of blackstrap molasses:

Blackstrap molasses

The thick viscous syrup we call blackstrap molasses that provides the robust bittersweet flavor to baked beans and gingerbread is available throughout the year.

Blackstrap molasses is just one type of molasses, the dark liquid byproduct of the process of refining sugar cane into table sugar. It is made from the third boiling of the sugar syrup and is therefore the concentrated byproduct left over after the sugar’s sucrose has been crystallized.



Health Benefits - Blackstrap molasses is a sweetener that is actually good for you. Unlike refined white sugar and corn syrup, which are stripped of virtually all nutrients except simple carbohydrates, or artificial sweeteners like saccharine or aspartame, which not only provide no useful nutrients but have been shown to cause health problems in sensitive individuals, blackstrap molasses is a healthful sweetener that contains significant amounts of a variety of minerals that promote your health.

Iron for Energy - In addition to providing quickly assimilated carbohydrates, blackstrap molasses can increase your energy by helping to replenish your iron stores. Blackstrap molasses is a very good source of iron. Particularly for menstruating women, who are more at risk for iron deficiency, boosting iron stores with blackstrap molasses is a good idea--especially because, in comparison to red meat, a well known source of iron, blackstrap molasses provides more iron for less calories and is totally fat-free. Iron is an integral component of hemoglobin, which transports oxygen from the lungs to all body cells, and is also part of key enzyme systems for energy production and metabolism. And, if you're pregnant or lactating, your needs for iron increase. Growing children and adolescents also have increased needs for iron. Just 2 teaspoons of blackstrap molasses will sweetly provide you with 13.3% of the daily recommended value for iron.
A Spoonful of Molasses Helps Your Calcium Needs Go Down

Blackstrap molasses is a very good source of calcium. Calcium, one of the most important minerals in the body, is involved in a variety of physiological activities essential to life, including the ability of the heart and other muscles to contract, blood clotting, the conduction of nerve impulses to and from the brain, regulation of enzyme activity, and cell membrane function. Calcium is needed to form and maintain strong bones and teeth during youth and adolescence, and to help prevent the loss of bone that can occur during menopause and as a result of rheumatoid arthritis. Calcium binds to and removes toxins from the colon, thus reducing the risk of colon cancer, and because it is involved in nerve conduction, may help prevent migraine attacks. Two teaspoons of blackstrap molasses will meet 11.8% of your daily needs for calcium.
An Energizing Mineral-Dense Sweetener

Molasses is also an excellent source of copper and manganese and a very good source of potassium, and magnesium.

Copper, an essential component of many enzymes, plays a role in a wide range of physiological processes including iron utilization, elimination of free radicals, development of bone and connective tissue, and the production of the skin and hair pigment called melanin. Numerous health problems can develop when copper intake is inadequate, including iron deficiency anemia, ruptured blood vessels, osteoporosis, joint problems such as rheumatoid arthritis, brain disturbances, elevated LDL (bad) cholesterol and reduced HDL (good) cholesterol levels, irregular heartbeat, and increased susceptibility to infections. Using two teaspoons of blackstrap molasses to sweeten your morning cereal and the coffee or tea you drink during the day will supply you with 14.0% of the daily recommended value for copper.

That same amount of blackstrap molasses will also provide you with 18.0% of the day's needs for manganese. This trace mineral helps produce energy from protein and carbohydrates, and is involved in the synthesis of fatty acids that are important for a healthy nervous system and in the production of cholesterol that is used by the body to produce sex hormones. Manganese is also a critical component of an important antioxidant enzyme called superoxide dismutase. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is found exclusively inside the body's mitochondria (the oxygen-based energy factories inside most of our cells) where it provides protection against damage from the free radicals produced during energy production.

Like calcium, potassium plays an important role in muscle contraction and nerve transmission. When potassium is deficient in the diet, activity of both muscles and nerves can become compromised. Potassium is an especially important mineral for atheletes since it is involved in carbohydrate storage for use by muscles as fuel and is also important in maintaining the body’s proper electrolyte and acid-base (pH) balance. When potassium levels drop too low, muscles get weak, and athletes tire more easily during exercise, as potassium deficiency causes a decrease in glycogen (the fuel used by exercising muscles) storage. Simply by adding two teaspoons of blackstrap molasses to your morning smoothie, you can supply 9.7% of your potassium needs for the day along with a healthy dose of carbohydrates to burn.

Calcium's balancing major mineral, magnesium is also necessary for healthy bones and energy production. About two-thirds of the magnesium in the human body is found in our bones. Some helps give bones their physical structure, while the rest is found on the surface of the bone where it is stored for the body to draw upon as needed. Magnesium, by balancing calcium, helps regulate nerve and muscle tone. In many nerve cells, magnesium serves as Nature's own calcium channel blocker, preventing calcium from rushing into the nerve cell and activating the nerve. By blocking calcium's entry, magnesium keeps our nerves (and the blood vessels and muscles they ennervate) relaxed. If our diet provides us with too little magnesium, however, calcium can gain free entry, and the nerve cell can become overactivated, sending too many messages and causing excessive contraction. Insufficient magnesium can thus contribute to high blood pressure, muscle spasms (including spasms of the heart muscle or the spasms of the airways symptomatic of asthma), and migraine headaches, as well as muscle cramps, tension, soreness and fatigue. In two teaspoons of blackstrap molasses, you will receive 7.3% of the daily value for magnesium.

Switching from nutrient-poor sweeteners like white sugar or corn syrup, or from potentially harmful fake sweeteners like aspartame or saccharin to nutrient-dense blackstrap molasses is one simple way that eating healthy can sweeten your life.

Description

The truth behind the phrase “slow as molasses” becomes apparent when you reflect on molasses’s thick, viscous, syrupy texture. Featuring a robust bittersweet flavor, blackstrap molasses helps create the distinctive taste of dishes such as baked beans and gingerbread. Blackstrap molasses is very dark in color, having a black-brown hue.

Blackstrap molasses is just one type of molasses, the dark liquid that is the byproduct of the process of refining sugar cane into table sugar. Blackstrap molasses is made from the third boiling of the sugar syrup and is therefore the concentrated byproduct left over after the sugar’s sucrose has been crystallized.
History

Molasses has been imported into the United States from the Caribbean Islands since the time of the early colonists. In fact, it was the most popular sweetener used until the late 19th century since it was much more affordable than refined sugar, which was very expensive at that time.

In some respects, molasses has had a rather sticky history with at least two important historical events centering around this sweet food product. The first is the Molasses Act of 1733, a tariff passed by England to try to discourage the colonists from trading with areas of the West Indies that were not under British rule. This legislation is thought to be one of the events that catalyzed pre-revolutionary colonial dissent and unrest.

It is not often that a fateful tragedy occurs that centers around a food, but unfortunately, in 1919, one such event did occur. The event is referred to as the Great Molasses Flood and occurred when a molasses storage tank holding over two million gallons of molasses broke, and its sticky content came pouring throughout the city streets of Boston, Massachussetts, traveling as fast as 35 miles per hour and creating a thirty foot tidal wave of sweetener. Unfortunately, this was not a sweet matter as twenty-one people died and significant amounts of property was destroyed.

Blackstrap molasses gained in popularity in the mid-20th century with the advent of the health food movement. Today, the largest producers of molasses are India, Brazil, Taiwan, Thailand, the Phillipines and the United States.

How to Select and Store
How to Enjoy

A Few Quick Serving Ideas:

Adding molasses to baked beans will give them that traditionally robust flavor.

Molasses imparts a wonderfully distinctive flavor to cookies and gingerbread cakes.

Basting chicken or turkey with molasses will give it both a rich color and rich taste.
Safety

Blackstrap molasses is not a commonly allergenic food and is not known to contain measurable amounts of goitrogens, oxalates, or purines.

Nutritional Profile
Introduction to Food Rating System Chart

The following shows the nutrients for which this food is either an excellent, very good or good source. Next to the nutrient name you will find the following information: the amount of the nutrient that is included in the noted serving of this food; the % Daily Value (DV) that that amount represents (similar to other information presented in the website, this DV is calculated for 25-50 year old healthy woman); the nutrient density rating; and, the food's rating. Underneath the chart is a table that summarizes how the ratings were devised.

Blackstrap Cane Molasses
2.00 tsp - 32.12 calories
Nutrient Amount DV, (%) Nutrient Density, Foods Rating
manganese 0.36 mg 18.0 10.1 excellent
copper 0.28 mg 14.0 7.8 excellent
iron 2.39 mg 13.3 7.4 very good
calcium 117.53 mg 11.8 6.6 very good
potassium 340.57 mg 9.7 5.5 very good
magnesium 29.38 mg 7.3 4.1 very good
vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) 0.10 mg 5.0 2.8 good
selenium 2.43 mcg 3.5 1.9 good

Foods Rating Rule
excellent DV>=75% OR Density>=7.6 AND DV>=10%
very good DV>=50% OR Density>=3.4 AND DV>=5%
good DV>=25% OR Density>=1.5 AND DV>=2.5%

References

* Aslan Y, Erduran E, Mocan H, et al. Absorption of iron from grape-molasses and ferrous sulfate: a comparative study in normal subjects and subjects with iron deficiency anemia. Turk J Pediatr 1997 Oct-1997 Dec 31;39(4):465-71.
* Ensminger AH, Ensminger, ME, Kondale JE, Robson JRK. Foods & Nutriton Encyclopedia. Pegus Press, Clovis, California.
* Ensminger AH, Esminger M. K. J. e. al. Food for Health: A Nutrition Encyclopedia. Clovis, California: Pegus Press; 1986.
* Fortin, Francois, Editorial Director. The Visual Foods Encyclopedia. Macmillan, New York.
* Wood, Rebecca. The Whole Foods Encyclopedia. New York, NY: Prentice-Hall Press; 1988.

courtesy The George Mateljan Foundation

(LC).

[ladycolorado]

this is just someplace i thought weird website but for the survivalist but blackstrap molasses dirt cheap: http://www.mredepot.com/servlet/Categories . can also find it on amazon.com. the british call it treacle, (LC).

[gumball]

hi ladycolorado i am sold i am getting some of this it sound real good i feel like i am 90 years old some days my low back hurts and my legs swelling comes and goes my hair gets greyer by the hour i think i do like that it is natural that is a plus thanks a bunch for posting this gumball

[ladycolorado]

it will have iro taste, so be aware of that. some of these things our grandmothers/mothers (like mine i actually got to like it) but have fallen out of favor because not tasty enough. all the new fangled junk that tastes good usually does not DO much. we have to sometimes revisit the old ways, to be more healthy, (LC).