College of Natural Diet & Digestion

College of Natural Diet & Digestion

 

AYURVEDIC FOODS

Molasses Benefits (According to Ayurveda)


How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Recipes with Molasses: Star Anise & Cinnamon Black Bean Chili with Molasses & Chipotle
Recipes with Molasses: Star Anise & Cinnamon Black Bean Chili with Molasses & Chipotle

Introduction


You'll feel warmed to the bone and relaxed after eating molasses. The gooey and thick nature of this sweetener gave rise to the famous phrase "as slow as molasses."

Molasses is not your average sweetener. Its sour and bitter undertones are in stark contrast with molasses' strong sweet taste, making it an attractive option for desserts and cookies. This contrast in tastes also gives molasses a more balanced profile as a sweetener, Ayurvedcally. An added bonus of baking with molasses is the rich, sweet aroma of caramelized (slightly burnt) sugar that will waft through your home as you cook with it. Pouring this dense, dark, sticky syrup resembles the spreading of thick, hot tar on a new road. While its dark color may be off putting to some, molasses hosts a number of unique benefits.

Molasses is made by boiling sugar cane juice and extracting the sugar crystals. There are several varieties of molasses, the difference being how many times it has been boiled. The sweetener has a dramatic history that you may not know about. In 1919, there was the Great Boston Molasses Flood. A distilling company was fermenting molasses into alcohol and their storage tank burst. This released a powerful and disastrous wave of thick molasses, traveling at 35 mph. The force of this wave was strong enough to demolish everything in its path, tearing down infrastructure, killing 21 people, and injuring many more. Locals in the affected neighborhood claim they can still smell the sweet, sticky molasses on a hot summer day, almost 100 years later.

Recipes with Molasses: Wild Persimmon Pudding
Recipes with Molasses: Wild Persimmon Pudding

Build Strong Blood


Molasses's dark, earthy color is a sign that molasses is a strong blood tonic. Hot, liquid, and mobile, molasses shares many qualities of the warm blood circulating through your veins. Its bitter sweet taste benefits the blood by cleansing toxins and building strength. The bitter taste clears congestion, stagnation, and excess heat in the blood. It also helps purify the bloodstream by drying out digestive toxins (ama). The sweet taste builds, strengthens, and nourishes blood and plasma tissue, when taken in small quantities.

In excess, however, molasses can actually clog circulation. Molasses is considered an abhisyandi in Ayurveda, meaning a substance that causes secretions which clog the minute channels of the body. The signs of abhisyandi include increased Kapha dosha, heaviness in the body, along with watery, sticky corners of the eyes where sleep gathers in the mornings. For this reason, it is best taken moderation and when digestion is strong.

Mineral rich molasses is well known as a potent blood tonic. It has a particularly affinity for the blood (rakta dhatu) and can help restore strength in certain cases of deficiencies. Molasses is a rich source of iron, an integral component for the creation of new red blood cells. This iron content also helps maintain healthy levels of hemoglobin, which is responsible for transporting oxygen in the blood. Like maple syrup, molasses offers a richer nutritional profile than refined sugars.

The puckering sour taste of molasses increases secretions in the body, rehydrating the blood. It is also a source of electrolytes including magnesium, potassium, sodium, calcium, and phosphorus.

Regulate Menstrual Cycle


Molasses also affects the blood by regulating menstrual flow. Its high iron levels can help reduce and prevent menorrhagia, or abnormally heavy or prolonged bleeding. Its iron content makes it a useful tonic for anemic women as a result of heavy menstruation. Molasses may also help encourage menses in scant conditions due to nutritional deficiencies in the blood. It is warming and mobile which stimulates a cold or dry body and increases circulation of blood. Its sourness and warmth ease circulation and tension in the uterus, and have a relaxing effect during menstruation, reducing cramps. A glass of hot milk with a spoon of molasses can also be used as a rejuvenative tonic for rebuilding the blood after a woman has given birth.

Reduce Anxiety


Sweet, heavy, and warm, molasses has a soothing effect on the nervous system. These hearty qualities pacify and warm a cold Vata constitution, reducing feelings of anxiety on a cold, rough, fall day. Molasses is also mobile, so if taken in excess, it may have the opposite effect. To avoid this, you can pair it with some stable, grounding foods like a bowl of warm oatmeal.

The secondary taste of sour stimulates the secretion of fluid in the body, countering the Vata dryness that can irritate the nerves. This warm, juicy effect adds a sense of comfort to a dry, Vata body that feels relaxing and grounding.

The sweet taste of molasses is naturally rewarding. It stimulates the release of serotonin in the brain, helping eliminate excess stress hormones and reduce anxiety. Eating large amounts of processed sugary treats will cause dramatic highs and lows with mood and should be avoided. However, small amounts of naturally sweet food can keep you feeling stable and happy.

Fire Up Metabolism


Most sweeteners have a cooling and suppressing effect on digestion. But molasses, similar to honey, actually stokes your digestive fire and warms up metabolism. Molasses is best for cold Vata types that need a little extra warmth in their diet.

The mobile quality of molasses means its warming effect is not just isolated to the digestive organs, but can spread throughout the body.

While most sweeteners are Kapha aggravating, molasses can be enjoyed occasionally by Kaphas as it is warm and bitter. It is too heating for Pitta types.

Recipes with Molasses: Barbecue Portobello Mushrooms
Recipes with Molasses: Barbecue Portobello Mushrooms

Soothe Tense Muscles


Soft, warm, and dense, a spoon of molasses is enough to make anyone slow down and relax. The heavy and warm qualities help relieve tension and relax the muscles, particularly in the colder months of the year. A little molasses can help reduce tightness, constriction, and tension in both vessels and muscles. A client who practices yoga felt these effects in their body, The magnesium content in molasses helps support proper nervous system functioning, keeping nerves, blood vessels, and muscles relaxed. It also helps relieve muscle cramps and spasms, including menstrual cramps.

Effect on Digestion


How molasses affects your digestion is dependent on your unique body type, or constitution. The sweet, sour and warm, molasses is particularly beneficial to a cold, dry Vata type, as it moistens the digestive tract and stimulates digestive strength. Bowel movements will be more satisfying given the mild laxative effects of molases. The sour taste of molasses stimulates the secretion of saliva which can help hydrate a dry, Vata digestive tract.

Kaphas will benefit from the warm and bitter qualities of molasses, but it may be too heavy and sweet for some, weighing down already sluggish digestion. The heat of molasses will likely overstimulate and irritate a Pitta digestive tract.

Most people experience improved elimination with molasses, as it acts as a stool softener and promotes regular bowel movements. The sour quality softens the stools, while the sticky quality and astringency leads to better stool formation.

The warmth of molasses also relaxes the colon for easy elimination.

Conclusion


Molasses is one of the rare sweeteners that can actually stimulate your digestive fire. Its bitter and hot qualities help lighten the load on digestion when enjoying a home baked sweet treat, like gingerbread cookies. Molasses has a certain depth that most other sweeteners can't offer. Its sour tastes make this thick, dark, syrup a particularly useful addition to a Vata diet. Best known as a nutritive blood tonic due to its rich mineral profile, molasses can help restore deficient blood and add strength to the body. Heavy and warm, molasses will relax tense, tired muscles and ease anxious thoughts.

Learn about the health benefits of molasses for FREE

You'll receive free access to our entire website including healthy recipes, nutritional diet plans, medicinal uses of ingredients, & ayurvedic health tips. Sign in once and you can use our website indefinitely..

Please register or sign in to continue.

first name
e-mail address*
confirm your e-mail*
enter a password*
(
find out more
Frequency: You'll receive our most popular Ayurvedic health tips every day for a week, and then 1-2 emails a week ongoing.
).
Yes No
Register

browse recipes

Are Molasses Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Molasses' is a good fit. Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.

AYURVEDA'S GUIDE TO VITALITY & WHOLESOME NOURISHMENT

Your Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body and your specific imbalances. With an Ayurvedic diet you feel joy and satisfaction because what you are eating truly nourishes and balances you. Disease results from diets and lifestyles that are incompatible with your nature. By eating a personalized diet matched to your body, you experience optimal health. See How it Works.

Health Virtues of Molasses

Personalized medicine systems use biocharacteristics to classify the metabolic nature of food, hebs, lifestyle choices, indivdual constitutions, and disease.

METABOLIC NATURE / BIOCHARACTERISTICS

Metabolic Nature / Biocharacteristics

Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (vital qualtiies). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.

Find Out More

MOBILE

ABOUT MOBILE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Mobile refers to anything that stimulates the nervous system, muscles, or activity.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MOBILE

HOT

ABOUT HOT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot is identified by increased body temperature, metabolism, or inflammation.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HOT

TASTES

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

Find Out More

BITTER

ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Bitter taste has cholagogue action - it is cold, clear, light, and stimulating. It increases digestive enzymes and is laxative, and drying.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BITTER

SOUR

ABOUT SOUR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Sour refers to anything fermented or acidic.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SOUR

SWEET

ABOUT SWEET BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Sweet refers to anything builds tissue, including macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SWEET

AYURVEDA BODY TYPES (DOSHAS)

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.

Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.

Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.

Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.

The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).

Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.

Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
Vata pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Kapha aggravating Pitta aggravating

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

AGGRAVATES
CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHOLERIC

PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A Phlegmatic has a cold and wet metabolic nature. The coldness implies a slow metabolism, the moisture that you are well-nourished. Phlegmatics tend towards sluggishness and thickened fluids, including mucus.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A hot and oily nature with a moderate metabolism and a well nourished body makes Sanguine individuals vigorous, vivacious, outgoing and generous, and prone to impulsivity and self indulgence. Bullish and intense when out of balance.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

Other Health Virtues

Acrid

ACRID

Acrid taste is a combination of bitter and pungent tastes. Example include radish, turnip, and coffee.

SEE ALL 'ACRID' FOODS / HERBS

Red Blood

RED-BLOOD

Red blood (Rakta Dhatu) includes red blood cells and blood vessels.

SEE ALL 'RED-BLOOD' FOODS / HERBS

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Molasses
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

(see all)
Quenches Thirst

QUENCHES-THIRST

An herb or substance that relieves thirst.

SEE ALL 'QUENCHES-THIRST' FOODS / HERBS

,
Warms Abdomen

WARMS-ABDOMEN

Warms the muscles and organs of the abdomen, stimulating digestion and metabolism.

SEE ALL 'WARMS-ABDOMEN' FOODS / HERBS

,
Sialogogue

SIALOGOGUE

A sialogogue increases saliva. Sour foods are often great sialogogues, and increase output of all exocrine glands. Salty taste is very moistening as well. Bitter, pungent and sweettastes also increase salivary output but to a lesser degree. Astringents.

SEE ALL 'SIALOGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Spleen Tonic

SPLEEN-TONIC

An herb that strengthens spleen function by improving strength of the blood. Spleen tonics Builds agni, brighten the person's appearances & firms up tissues.

SEE ALL 'SPLEEN-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Stool Softener

STOOL-SOFTENER

Softens hard and difficult to eliminate stool. Stool softeners are the safest and most gentle type of laxative. Examples include warm milk with ghee.

SEE ALL 'STOOL-SOFTENER' FOODS / HERBS

Stimulates Energy

STIMULATES-ENERGY

This category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbs.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-ENERGY' FOODS / HERBS

,
Nutritive

NUTRITIVE

An herb that is strengthening and nourishing.

SEE ALL 'NUTRITIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Warms Chest

WARMS-CHEST

Warms the chest and lungs, clearing mucus and allowing for clear breathing. Often these herbs are hot, aromatic, and pungent.

SEE ALL 'WARMS-CHEST' FOODS / HERBS

Warms Ears

WARMS-EARS

Stimulates peripheral circulation to warm extremities, including the ears.

SEE ALL 'WARMS-EARS' FOODS / HERBS

,
Warms Head

WARMS-HEAD

An herb that increases sensations of heat and warmth in the head.

SEE ALL 'WARMS-HEAD' FOODS / HERBS

,
Blood Tonic

BLOOD-TONIC

An herb that produces more blood cells in the body, or otherwise improves blood cell quality or hemoglobin content. Helpful for anemia and other types of deficiency.

SEE ALL 'BLOOD-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Rebuild Electrolytes

REBUILD-ELECTROLYTES

Substances that increase your electrolyte balance. Electrolytes help you retain water, keep your palate moist, and truly quench your thirst.

SEE ALL 'REBUILD-ELECTROLYTES' FOODS / HERBS

Muscle Relaxant

MUSCLE-RELAXANT

Herbs that relax muscles. Helpful for chronic pain or tension as well as healing from physical trauma.

SEE ALL 'MUSCLE-RELAXANT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Relieves Tension

RELIEVES-TENSION

An herb that releases tightness, constriction, and rigidity in a muscle.

SEE ALL 'RELIEVES-TENSION' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:
Iron

IRON

Iron is necessary for the transport of oxygen in red blood cells.

SEE ALL 'IRON' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to Molasses

  • Sorghum Molasses

    Sorghum Molasses has these Actions in Common

    Muscle-relaxant, Rebuild-electrolytes, Spleen-tonic, Warms-abdomen, Warms-head, Nutritive, Relieves-tension, Stimulates-energy, Warms-chest, Blood-tonic, Quenches-thirst, Sialogogue, Stool-softener, Warms-ears

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard

    Mustard has these Actions in Common

    Relieves-tension, Warms-abdomen, Warms-head, Spleen-tonic, Warms-chest, Muscle-relaxant, Stimulates-energy, Warms-ears

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard Seed

    Mustard Seed has these Actions in Common

    Warms-ears, Relieves-tension, Warms-abdomen, Warms-head, Spleen-tonic, Warms-chest, Muscle-relaxant, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard Powder

    Mustard Powder has these Actions in Common

    Muscle-relaxant, Stimulates-energy, Warms-ears, Relieves-tension, Warms-abdomen, Warms-head, Spleen-tonic, Warms-chest

    LEARN MORE

  • Beets

    Beets has these Actions in Common

    Muscle-relaxant, Stool-softener, Nutritive, Warms-abdomen, Blood-tonic, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Allspice

    Allspice has these Actions in Common

    Warms-head, Muscle-relaxant, Stool-softener, Spleen-tonic, Warms-chest, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Peaches

    Peaches has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive, Spleen-tonic, Quenches-thirst, Stool-softener, Sialogogue

    LEARN MORE

  • Beef

    Beef has these Actions in Common

    Warms-abdomen, Blood-tonic, Warms-chest, Nutritive, Warms-ears

    LEARN MORE

  • Pineapple

    Pineapple has these Actions in Common

    Quenches-thirst, Stimulates-energy, Sialogogue, Nutritive, Spleen-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Apple (cooked)

    Apple (cooked) has these Actions in Common

    Relieves-tension, Nutritive, Stool-softener, Quenches-thirst, Warms-abdomen

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Molasses

  • Amalaki

    Amalaki has these Actions in Common

    Sialogogue, Stimulates-energy, Stool-softener, Blood-tonic, Nutritive, Quenches-thirst

    LEARN MORE

  • Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

    Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

    Muscle-relaxant, Stimulates-energy, Warms-chest, Warms-ears, Warms-head, Blood-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Epsom Salt Bath

    Epsom Salt Bath has these Actions in Common

    Muscle-relaxant, Rebuild-electrolytes, Relieves-tension, Warms-chest, Warms-head

    LEARN MORE

  • Wild Ginger

    Wild Ginger has these Actions in Common

    Warms-chest, Warms-ears, Sialogogue, Spleen-tonic, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Deodar (Himalayan Cedar, Devadaru)

    Deodar (Himalayan Cedar, Devadaru) has these Actions in Common

    Warms-chest, Warms-ears, Warms-head, Muscle-relaxant, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Hot Shower

    Hot Shower has these Actions in Common

    Muscle-relaxant, Relieves-tension, Warms-chest, Warms-head

    LEARN MORE

  • Hot Bath

    Hot Bath has these Actions in Common

    Muscle-relaxant, Relieves-tension, Warms-chest, Warms-head

    LEARN MORE

  • Oats, Fresh Milky Seed

    Oats, Fresh Milky Seed has these Actions in Common

    Relieves-tension, Blood-tonic, Muscle-relaxant, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Chyavanprash Nutritive Jam

    Chyavanprash Nutritive Jam has these Actions in Common

    Stimulates-energy, Stool-softener, Blood-tonic, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Eleuthero Ginseng

    Eleuthero Ginseng has these Actions in Common

    Muscle-relaxant, Relieves-tension, Stimulates-energy, Blood-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Dong Quai

    Dong Quai has these Actions in Common

    Blood-tonic, Muscle-relaxant, Relieves-tension, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Molasses may temper these symptoms. The suitability of any food for a condition is highly dependent on the individual. Please see your doctor before using this food to treat a medical condition.

CONTRAINDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Molasses may be harmful or contraindicated for these symptoms. Note this is not a complete list of all possible contraindications. Please see your doctor before using this food to treat a medical condition.

Herb Drug Interaction Risk

Here are some potential herb drug interactions with Molasses. Please see your health care provider for more information.

View other ingredients
for Autumn-Winter

Molasses is recommended for Autumn-Winter. Check out these other Autumn-Winter foods here.
VIEW ALL AUTUMN-WINTER FOODS MORE FOODS FOR VATA MAIN INGREDIENT PAGE

HOW DOES EATING AYURVEDICALLY MAKE YOU FEEL?

Eating Ayurvedically makes you feel nourished and energized. Food digests with ease when right for your body type (dosha). Healthy digestion is seen as the cornerstone of well-being in Ayurveda. Healthy digestion generally prevents illness. If you do get sick, a strong digestive fire reduces the severity of illness and increases your resilience. It also improves your mood. Once you begin eating Ayurvedically, you will feel refreshed, vital and strong.
CONTINUE READING

Clinical Tools & Resources

Give smart recommendations to your clients, and improve efficiency in your clinic with these tools.

About the Author

John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda. His approach to Ayurveda is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful. John also directs the Joyful Belly College of Ayurveda, offering professional clinical training in Ayurveda for over 15 years.

John's hobbies & specialties include advanced digestive disorders, medieval Catholic philosophy, & botany. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University. John, his wife Natalie and their 7 kids live in Asheville, NC

Summer Diet

The season is about to shift into summer. Are you ready?

upcoming courses

Apply for Scholarship. Monhly payment plans available.

What is Ayurveda?

Founder of Joyful Belly Ayurveda, John Immel, answers the question ‘What is Ayurveda?’

Comments & Impressions of 'Molasses'

Do you like 'molasses'? Why or why not? What makes it unique? Is there something else you'd like to know about 'molasses'?

120 likes
Sign in to review or comment

Improve Enzyme output & Master your Digestion

Improve Enzyme output & Master your Digestion

BOOKS BY JOYFUL BELLY

BOOKS BY JOYFUL BELLY

Master Ayurvedic Digestion & Nutrition

Master Ayurvedic Digestion & Nutrition

Join Joyful Belly

Want our top Ayurvedic recipes and health tips?
Subscribe to our free newsletter!

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information and products on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.