Blackstrap Molasses

pixiesis

pixiesis

Cathlete
Hi all,

I thought I'd share this with those of you who aren't already in the know. I picked up some blackstrap molasses for a chili recipe I made this weekend (which was excellent btw-from my fave vegan cookbook Vegan with a Vengeance by Isa Chandra). I checked out the nutrition information and was amazed at what I saw. 1 serving, which is only 1 tbsp, contains 20% of the iron and calcium needed in a day. I'm always excited to get my vitamins from food so I was thrilled about this.

Now, by itself I find the smell and taste of it to be a bit off-putting and bitter, but this isn't really a problem when you cook with it. I also made a wonderful smoothie with it. I used a ripe banana, 1 cup of soymilk, 1 tbsp of cocoa powder, 1 tbsp of blackstrap molasses, and some ice. I can definitely taste it in the smoothie, but it actually adds a deep, rich, malty like flavor. Between the soymilk and the molasses, the smoothie has 50% of the calcium I need in a day! This is definitely going to become part of my smoothie recipe. I'm so happy that I found another thing to add to my smoothie to make it super healthy!

Anyway, thought I'd share...

Amy
 
Blackstrap molasses is also used in some good gingerbread recipes (like the one in the Farm Vegetarian Cookbook).

On the flip side, molasses is what is extracted from sugar cane to make white sugar, so just goes to show how nutrient poor white sugar is.
 
I also add Blackstrap Molasses to smoothies. I did not like the taste at first but if you add it to the right things it tastes good.
 
I have a question for the nutritionally advanced people.

I have read (I wish I could quote this) that if ingesting calcium and iron together causes a precipitate and they do not get absorbed. Therefore there is no nutritional benefit from ingesting them ( iron & clacium) together. I am confused on this matter. Can any one clarify, confirm or deny with references???? Please and thank you!


[font color=purple][font size +1]Judy "Likes2bfit"

***We are here to add what we can to life, not to get what we can from it.
William Osler [/font]
 
Judy, here's a link answering your question:

http://www.tinajuanfitness.info/articles/030204.htm

It does say that iron should be taken on an empty stomach and not with calcium. It also says that most people do not need an iron supplement either. Based on what I read, it doesn't sound like it would be a problem if taken together (if they happen to be in the same smoothie for instance), if you're not in need of an iron supplement.

HTH!
Carolyn:)
 
Thanks Carolyn. Judy, based on what I read too, the iron in bs molasses is not completely absorbed because of the calcium. But the calcium is absorbable. So it still sounds like a good source of calcium. In fact, I saw it listed many places as a source of calcium, but not as a source of iron. Oh well, I was more into the calcium anyway!

Amy
 
Thank you for the link explaining the calcium iron relationship :)

[font color=purple][font size +1]Judy "Likes2bfit"

***We are here to add what we can to life, not to get what we can from it.
William Osler [/font]
 
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