Molasses is sugar (it’s actually the stuff left over after sugarcane and sugar beets have been turned into sugar), and we generally recommend staying away from sugar, but there’s more to the story.
The Pros and Cons
Molasses also contains antioxidants and various minerals, including iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorous, copper and zinc. The nutrients help mitigate the negative effects of the sugar, so even though you might experience a spike in blood sugar after eating some molasses, the antioxidants will make sure you don’t get the same amount of inflammation you would get from table sugar.
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As always, it’s a matter of what works best for you as an individual. If you can handle a little sugar now and then without falling completely off the wagon, molasses can be a Paleo-friendly way to do that. If sugar makes you turn into the Hulk, you might want to avoid it altogether.
Mark Sisson talked about molasses in his definitive guide to sugar.
