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Facts About Black Licorice
Black licorice is made from the licorice plant, a member of the bean family, found in parts of Europe and Asia 1. It has long been used as a folk remedy to treat a variety of illnesses. One of the active ingredients in natural licorice -- glycyrrhizin -- has both positive and potentially life-threatening side effects 1. Do not consume black licorice without discussing its use with your doctor 1.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Ingredients
Black licorice sold as candy may not contain the ingredients considered responsible for most of the herb’s effects, both good and bad 1. Black licorice candy often contains anise, which has a similar flavor to licorice but no active ingredients 1. Red licorice does not contain any real licorice 1. Black licorice can also be made with deglycyrrhizinated extract, also called DGL, which does not have the same effects as glycyrrhizin 1. To know if your black licorice contains the "real thing," read the label carefully 1.
Benefits
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Health benefits claimed for black licorice containing actual licorice root include improvement in lipid levels, including total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein, the “bad” cholesterol, and triglycerides 1. Both DGL and licorice containing glycyrrhizin may help heal stomach ulcers, probably by preventing the breakdown of prostaglandins, which have a protective effect on the stomach 1. DGL, however, may have fewer serious side effects. Real black licorice may also help nausea and vomiting as well as heartburn and acid reflux 1. Licorice is also purported to help heal coughs and congestion, including asthma 1. More studies are needed to test all the claims made for licorice, UMMC states 1.
Risks
Licorice taken in large amounts can have serious side effects 1. The glycyrrhizin in black licorice can cause:
- fluid retention
- leg swelling
- high blood pressure
- congestive heart failure
- fatigue
- lethargy
- headaches
- muscle weakness
- an increased risk of heart attack 1
Glycyrrhizin can also cause the kidneys to release excess amounts of potassium, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns, which leads to abnormal heart rhythms. Potential hormonal effects from black licorice include impotence in men, menstrual abnormalities in women and decreased sex drive in both sexes 1.
Serving Limit
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The FDA warns that consuming more than 2 oz. of black licorice daily, for 14 days or longer, can cause potassium levels to fall to dangerous levels 1. If you stop eating black licorice, potassium levels usually rise to previous levels without any long-lasting effects 1. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not eat black licorice in any amount 1.
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References
- eMedTV: Licorice
- University of California, Los Angeles: Spices, Exotic Flavors and Midicines: Licorice
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Licorice
- NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Licorice root. Updated December 1, 2016.
- Raveendra KR, Jayachandra, Srinivasa V, et al. An extract of glycyrrhiza glabra (GutGard)alleviates symptoms of functional dyspepsia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2012;2012:1-9. doi:10.1155/2012/216970
- Messier C, Epifano F, Genovese S, Grenier D. Licorice and its potential beneficial effects in common oro-dental diseases. Oral Dis. 2012;18(1):32-39. doi:10.1111/j.1601-0825.2011.01842.x
- Shi Q, Hou Y, Yang Y, Bai G. Protective effects of glycyrrhizin against β2-adrenergic receptor agonist-induced receptor internalization and cell apoptosis. Biol. Pharm. Bull. 2011;34(5):609-617. doi:10.1248/bpb.34.609
- Tsao S, Yin M. Antioxidative and antiinflammatory activities of asiatic acid, glycyrrhizic Acid, and oleanolic acid in human bronchial epithelial cells. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2015;63(12):3196-3204.
- Zhao H, Zhang X, Chen X, et al. Isoliquiritigenin, a flavonoid from licorice, blocks M2 macrophage polarization in colitis-associated tumorigenesis through downregulating PGE2 and IL-6. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. 2014;279(3):311-321. doi:10.1016/j.taap.2014.07.001
- Nahidi F, Zare E, Mojab F, Alavi-Majd H. Effects of licorice on relief and recurrence of menopausal hot flashes. Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research: IJPR. 2012;11(2):541-8.
- Hajiaghamohammadi AA, Zargar A, Oveisi S, Samimi R, Reisian S. To evaluate of the effect of adding licorice to the standard treatment regimen of helicobacter pylori. The Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2016;20(6):534-538. doi: 10.1016/j.bjid.2016.07.015
- Irani M, Sarmadi M, Bernard F, Ebrahimi Pour GH, Shaker Bazarnov H. Leaves antimicrobial activity of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research: IJPR. 2010;9(4):425-8.
- Penn State Hershey Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Licorice.
- Omar HR, Komarova I, El-Ghonemi M, et al. Licorice abuse: time to send a warning message. Therapeutic Advances in Endocrinology. 2012;3(4):125-138. doi:10.1177/2042018812454322
- Räikkönen K, Martikainen S, Pesonen A, et al. Maternal licorice consumption during pregnancy and pubertal, cognitive, and psychiatric outcomes in children. Am J Epidemiol. 2017;185(5):317-328. doi:10.1093/aje/kww172
- Consumer Reports. Food and drug interactions you need to know about. Updated November 4, 2018.
- Winchester Hospital. Library. Updated April 11, 2011.
- Consumer Reports. How to choose supplements wisely. Updated October 30, 2019.
- FDA. Black licorice: Trick or treat? Updated November 6, 2017.
Writer Bio
A registered nurse with more than 25 years of experience in oncology, labor/delivery, neonatal intensive care, infertility and ophthalmology, Sharon Perkins has also coauthored and edited numerous health books for the Wiley "Dummies" series. Perkins also has extensive experience working in home health with medically fragile pediatric patients.