Molasses Gives You a Nutritious Kick
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I have long loved molasses. I love adding it into my yogurt bowls, oatmeal, smoothies, and cookies. In fact, when I was in the beginning stages of labor, I actually worked through the contractions while making a batch of molasses cookies at 3 a.m.!
While my love for molasses started with its flavor, my love has grown even stronger since learning about its nutritional powers.
Molasses—a dark, thick syrup—is the byproduct of sugar-cane processing. After the sugar-cane juice has been extracted from the sugar cane, the syrup that remains is known as molasses. And while it is used most commonly to sweeten baked goods, taste it alone and it really isn’t sweet at all.
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From a nutrition standpoint, molasses is extremely nutrient dense. While there are different grades (just like maple syrup), blackstrap is the most nutritious of the group. Nutrients include manganese, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and iron.
For those who follow a plant-based diet, incorporating molasses is a good way to boost iron intake. And, an iron-rich diet is particularly important for athletes because iron is what gives the red blood cells oxygen, specifically carrying oxygen from your lungs to your muscles.
While you can certainly bake gingerbread men and molasses cookies all day, your body will thank you even more if you drink molasses in a form that has a bit less sugar and some protein!
Here’s a delicious way to incorporate more molasses into your diet and enjoy a seasonally inspired breakfast.
THE HOLIDAY CYCLIST'S SMOOTHIE
Ingredients
1 cup nondairy milk
1-2 tablespoons blackstrap molasses
1 frozen banana
1-inch piece fresh or ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 scoop protein powder, vanilla (optional)
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in your blender and blend until smooth and creamy!
P.S. Ginger root is a great addition not just for its spicy flavor, but also for its support with digestion and inflammation. The more the merrier.
This originally appeared in Runner's World.
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