This Sugar Makes You Skinny?
Dear Living Well Daily Reader,
The holidays are brutal if you’re trying to watch your sugar intake. Everywhere you look, there are candies, cookies and cakes tempting your sweet tooth.
Fortunately, these aren’t the only Yuletide dessert options for the sugar-conscious.
Researchers have discovered there’s an all-natural sweetener that has fewer calories than sugar, is packed full of minerals and may even help you lose weight.
And the best part — it’s easy to get your hands on.
This waist-trimming sweetener is molasses, a byproduct of sugar production.
For the study, scientists fed mice either a high-fat diet or a high-fat diet with 2% or 4% molasses extract added.
After the 12-week study, the researchers found that the mice that ate the most molasses extract (the 4% group) had lower body weights and reduced body fat.
Even better, they had reduced levels of leptin, a hormone that’s produced by fat cells.
While experts don’t fully understand why molasses helps reduce body weight, they suspect it’s due to its high mineral count. It’s rich in vital minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, potassium and chromium, which is known for helping regulate blood sugar.
Plus molasses has a much lower glycemic index (GI), which measures of a food’s ability to rapidly increase blood sugar. The higher the GI, the faster and higher the spike in blood sugar.
Regular sugar has a GI of 80, and molasses has a GI of 55. This means eating sweets made with molasses may have less impact on your blood sugar than eating those made with other sweeteners.
And believe it or not — molasses can be substituted for sugar in just about any recipe and make your dishes taste even better!
While all added sugars should be consumed in moderation, this is one sweetener you can actually feel good about using, and it may even help you burn off some of the holiday bulge.
When choosing a molasses, go for the blackstrap variety. It has the most nutrients and lowest GI and is available at health food stores, grocers and online retailers.
Live well,
Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily
Ed. Note: Please send your feedback: nmoore@lfb.org – and click here to like us on Facebook.
Sources
[1] Molasses extract decreases obesity caused by a high-fat diet, research suggests
[2] Blackstrap Molasses Nutrition
Written By Natalie Moore
Natalie Moore is a dedicated health researcher with a passion for finding healthy, natural, and science-based solutions. After a decade of direct healthcare experience in western and natural medicine, she was involved in public health research before joining Living Well Daily.
View More Free Articles
Is Daylight Saving Time Damaging Your Health?
You’ve no doubt seen all the troubling headlines about daylight-saving time. After all, they hit like, well, clockwork twice a year—first in March and again around this time of year, when daylight saving time ends. They warn about heart attacks spiking, car accidents soaring, and how your precious sleep gets thrown into chaos. But what...
The Hobby Secret to Better Brain Health
We all enjoy our hobbies. After all, that’s WHY we do them. But it turns out your favorite pastimes could be far more than simply enjoyable… New research reveals your hobbies could be the key to keeping your brain sharp as you age. Researchers say whether you’re a crossword enthusiast, a knitting fan, or a...
Natural Soothing Solutions BANISH Dry Skin
You’re in good company if your skin feels tight, itchy, or flaky as the season changes. Millions battle dry skin daily, and it’s more than just a cosmetic nuisance. Dry skin can cause discomfort, disrupt sleep, and even increase your risk of infections. But before you reach for that tube of chemical-laden lotion, consider this:...
Is Your Eyesight Putting You at Risk of Alzheimer's?
You know the drill when it comes to maintaining your brain health. Diet, exercise, and keeping your mind active are key components. However, that’s just the start. New research reveals a crucial step to protecting cognitive function and dodging the development of dementia and Alzheimer’s that could be right in front of our very eyes…...
Is A Home Blood Pressure Cuff Worth the Money?
We all know that keeping blood pressure under control is crucial for heart health. If you’re like most people, you get yours checked every year at your annual physical. But should it be looked at MORE often? And is a home blood pressure cuff worth the investment? Keep reading to find out… I’ll get right...
Is Aspirin Really a Colon Cancer Fix? (Not So Fast!)
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. Scientists discover a pill that might help prevent a serious disease. Sounds great, right? Well, not so fast. The latest “miracle cure” making headlines is none other than good old aspirin, which researchers now claim might help reduce colorectal cancer risk in people with unhealthy lifestyles. But...
Mailbag: Diarrhea Remedies That Really Work
“I have had diarrhea for 6 months. I’m going crazy and don’t know how to stop it! Please help!” – Can’t Stop Running Dear Can’t Stop, Few things disrupt life like battling a bout of diarrhea. Diarrhea is typically defined as having three or more loose, watery stools daily. If you experience this for over...
Take the SHORTER Path to Dramatically Better Health
Are you tired of fitness gurus preaching the virtues of 5 AM workouts and pushing Olympic-level training regimens? Their narrative can feel exhausting and entirely unattainable. But before you toss in the towel completely, I’ve got news that might just put a spring back into your step. A groundbreaking new study reveals that the key...
Unexpected Perks of Your Coffee Habit Revealed!
We all know that the first cup of coffee in the morning can FEEL like a lifesaver. But what if it might actually BE saving your life? A groundbreaking new study suggests that your daily coffee habit could be protecting you from not just one but multiple chronic diseases. Let’s pour over this fascinating research…...
The TRUTH About Diabetes Drugs and Brain Aging
You’ve probably seen the gushing headlines… Most say something like, “Common diabetes drug protects the brain against aging!” And let’s face it, that sounds fantastic. After all, who doesn’t want to keep their brain young and in tip-top shape? The headlines refer to the results of a new study that suggests the widely prescribed type...