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Black Strap Molasses Safety

Molasses is a highly nutritious food that contains many vital nutrients. Blackstrap molasses particularly is known for its nutrient density. Despite being a sugar cane product, molasses does not have the effect of causing an insulin spike in your blood. There are no official health or safety concerns regarding molasses; however, several health professionals have speculated on the potential dangers excessive molasses could have on a body.

  1. Unsulphured vs. Sulphured Molasses

    • Unsulphured molasses is the sweetest. All types of molasses go through a process of boiling. This type of molasses has only been boiled once and therefore contains most of the sugar and nutrients that were present in the molasses. Sulphured molasses has been boiled twice and has, during the course of this process, been treated with sulphur. This type of molasses is less sweet than unsulphured because more sugar has been removed from it. There are few safety concerns regarding either of these types of molasses except for an environmental one. Sulphur dioxide is a pollutant, and a molasses plant that treats molasses with sulphur will be pumping sulphur into the atmosphere.

    Blackstrap Molasses

    • Blackstrap molasses is the product of the third boil. Blackstrap molasses was originally used in cattle feed and for industrial purposes but has now become a popular health food supplement. It is the highest in minerals of all three types of molasses and is especially high in iron. While there are no medical safety issues concerning molasses, some health experts are cautious about the effects of increasing iron absorption as this can lead to health problems especially for the liver.

    Benefits of Molasses

    • Molasses contains many minerals and it is now being used to treat a number of illnesses derived from lack of minerals such as anemia or iron deficiency.

    List of Minerals

    • Blackstrap molasses contains manganese, copper, iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, vitamin B6 and selenium. All of these minerals are highly important for human beings. Some of them, however, if taken in excessive quantities, such as iron and potassium, can produce health problems.

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