Molasses: A Truly Healthy Sweetener

Molasses is made from sugar beets or sugarcane.  It is the byproduct that remains after the sucrose is removed.  That sucrose is used to make table sugar, which is non-nutritive and should be avoided.  Molasses is rich in minerals like magnesium, manganese, potassium, iron, copper, calcium, and selenium.  A tablespoon has 60 calories and a low glycemic load of 9¹.

I choose only organic unsulphured blackstrap molasses in a glass bottle.
 
Why do I choose organic molasses?  Molasses is made from sugar beets or sugarcane.  Sugar beets are genetically modified (GMO).  Non-organic sugar cane is sprayed with pesticides and/or herbicides like glyphosate².  Organic foods are not GMO and are not sprayed with herbicides like glyphosate, which has been listed as a possible carcinogen by the WHO [World Health Organization].
 
Blackstrap is the most concentrated source of nutrients, as it is the form of molasses that has the most sugar (the non-nutritive sucrose) removed. 

Unsulphured is not treated with sulfur dioxide to preserve.  Unsulphured molasses is made from matured cane plants that have been allowed to ripen naturally in the field. Sulfur dioxide is listed as GRAS (generally recognized as safe) by the FDA, except when it isn’t.  GRAS items are not rigorously tested for safety, if at all.
 
Why do I choose Plantation brand over other organic brands? Another leading brand is organic and is listed as blackstrap-style.  Well, is that truly blackstrap?  I don't know, so I would rather err on the side of caution.  Regardless, this brand sells its molasses in a plastic bottle, so it would lose on that fact if all other things were equal.  Plantation brand meets all of my criteria and I have yet to find another brand that does. 
Please let me know in the comments, if you know of a brand that meets these criteria: Organic, unsulphured, blackstrap, in glass.

Plantation Organic (Unsulphured) Blackstrap Molasses is available online from various retailers including Amazon and VitaCost – both of which that I have an affiliate relationship (see the link to my Affiliate Disclosure above and to the right).  I have only found one brick-and-mortar retailer at this time that carries this product – MOM's Organic Market (located primarily in the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore region with a few stores in the Philadelphia area as well).  I have no affiliation with MOM’s, aside from being a regular customer.

Amazon describes Plantation Organic (Unsulphured) Blackstrap Molasses (link below):

• Thick viscous syrup with a distinct taste
• Byproduct of refining sugar cane
• Third boiling or crystallization of sugar syrup
• Source of minerals that promotes your health
• Energy giving iron and calcium

Other sweeteners that I use:

• Raw Honey from pesticide free areas (organic and/or local, if possible)
• Organic Maple Syrup
• Organic Stevia (not with additives like maltodextrin or dextrose – both of which have extremely high glycemic loads, which escalates blood sugar.)  Please see “Common Fillers and Additives in Stevia” at One Green Planet http://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-food/fillers-and-additives-what-to-watch-out-for-when-buying-stevia/                                                                                                   I recently ordered Frontier Organic Stevia from VitaCost.  It is 100% Stevia.  There is a link below, for anyone interested.  [UPDATE on 11/10/17: I am rethinking Stevia, as there is evidence to suggest it negatively impacts the endocrine system and may cause blood sugar imbalances.)
• Organic Coconut Sugar (aka Coconut Palm Sugar)
• Organic Jaggery (traditional non-centrifugal sugar that may be made with date, cane juice, or palm sap (aka palm sugar).  It retains the nutrients without the separation of the molasses and crystals.)

NOTE: I never use table sugar or high fructose corn syrup (both are which have no nutrients).  These may be sourced from GMO sugar beets or GMO corn, respectively.  That concern – along with the fact that these sweeteners provide empty calories and have high glycemic indices³ – are enough reasons to know that these are not healthy or safe for consumption, in my opinion.

Also I avoid all sweeteners during my parasite cleanses, unless part of a protocol like Jaggery & Carom Seeds or Turpentine & Sugar Cubes. 

Thanks for reading and for your support! 

Sources:
The World's Healthiest Foods
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=dailytip&dbid=88

What Is the Difference Between Blackstrap Molasses & Unsulphured Molasses?
http://www.livestrong.com/article/507716-what-is-the-difference-between-blackstrap-molasses-unsulphured-molasses/

References:
¹SELF Nutrition Data – Molasses
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/sweets/5573/2

²Lower Dalley, C., & Richard, E. (2010). Herbicides as Ripeners for Sugarcane. Weed Science, 58(3), 329-333. doi:10.1614/WS-D-09-00001.1

³Hung CT. Effects of high-fructose (90%) corn syrup on plasma glucose, insulin, and C-peptide in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and normal subjects. Taiwan Yi Xue Hui Za Zhi. 1989;88(9):883–885. [PubMed - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2695593]

Please see my Affiliate Disclosure above & to the right.

VitaCost Links - Click the Icons Below:  

Amazon Link - Click the Icons Below: