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At Healthfully, we strive to deliver objective content that is accurate and up-to-date. Our team periodically reviews articles in order to ensure content quality. The sources cited below consist of evidence from peer-reviewed journals, prominent medical organizations, academic associations, and government data.
- "Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology and Diabetes"; History of the Endocrine Effects of Licorice; D. Armanini, et al.; September 2002
- "Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology and Diabetes"; History of the Endocrine Effects of Licorice; D. Armanini, et al.; September 2002
- PubMed Health; Tests and Treatments: Cortisol Level; November 2009
- PubMed Health; Tests and Treatments: Cortisol Level; November 2009
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Licorice & Cortisol
Licorice is an ancient extract that is used extensively in a variety of industries. It is commonly studied in the medical field because it naturally contains a substance that affects many biological pathways in the human body. In particular, natural licorice heavily impacts cortisol, commonly known as the stress hormone. Its influence on cortisol may change how you feel about this popular candy and flavor additive.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
About Cortisol
Cortisol is a steroid hormone excreted by the adrenal glands, which are at the top of each kidney. It serves a variety of functions and is essential to optimal health. Most commonly, cortisol is recognized for its role in stress responses and the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. Increases in the secretion of cortisol during periods of prolonged stress often result in stalled weight loss and excess fat storage around the abdomen. In some cases, secretion can be extremely high or extremely low. These conditions are often associated with disease states such as hypopituitarism, Addison's disease, Cushing's syndrome or adrenal tumors.
- Cortisol is a steroid hormone excreted by the adrenal glands, which are at the top of each kidney.
- Increases in the secretion of cortisol during periods of prolonged stress often result in stalled weight loss and excess fat storage around the abdomen.
About Licorice
Natural Sources of Cortisol
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Licorice is an age-old extract from the roots of a five-foot shrub known as Glycyrrhiza glabra, commonly found growing in Europe, the Middle East and Western Asia. Licorice has a multitude of uses in the food, tobacco and medicinal industries. Natural licorice contains glycyrrhizic acid, or GZA, which is known to have dangerous side effects when consumed on a regular to frequent basis. In the United States, however; a majority of food items flavored by or containing licorice do not contain GZA, eliminating the associated health risks.
- Licorice is an age-old extract from the roots of a five-foot shrub known as Glycyrrhiza glabra, commonly found growing in Europe, the Middle East and Western Asia.
- Natural licorice contains glycyrrhizic acid, or GZA, which is known to have dangerous side effects when consumed on a regular to frequent basis.
How Licorice Affects Cortisol
Although licorice produced or sold in the United States does not contain GZA, it is important to be aware of how some licorice supplements or licorice obtained from foreign travels can affect your health. The GZA substance found in natural licorice enhances cortisol production and action. GZA deactivates enzymes that keep cortisol levels balanced, causing a cascade of reactions that disrupt your body's delicate balance of essential ions. Sodium retention substantially increases, while potassium and hydrogen ions are excreted in excess. The results are significant spikes in blood pressure, muscle spasms and a disturbance of the acid-base balance in the body's tissues. Discontinuing consumption of licorice and GZA will reverse these symptoms.
- Although licorice produced or sold in the United States does not contain GZA, it is important to be aware of how some licorice supplements or licorice obtained from foreign travels can affect your health.
- The results are significant spikes in blood pressure, muscle spasms and a disturbance of the acid-base balance in the body's tissues.
Treating Disease
Licorice Tea & Blood Pressure
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Frequent consumption of licorice may be hazardous to healthy individuals, but for patients suffering from Addison's disease, it is just what the doctor ordered. Addison's disease is a rare, and sometimes fatal, condition symptomatic of impaired cortisol production. In a 2007 report in the "Annals of Clinical Biochemistry," a woman unknowingly stricken with Addison's disease staved off its fatal effects with a steady "diet of licorice sticks and soy sauce." Modern medicine has replaced this "creative" method of self-treatment through the use of synthetic compounds that essentially mimic licorice's natural effects on the adrenal system 3.
- Frequent consumption of licorice may be hazardous to healthy individuals, but for patients suffering from Addison's disease, it is just what the doctor ordered.
Related Articles
References
- Medscape Reference; Licorice Poisioning; S. Schonwald, M.D.; April 2011
- "Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology and Diabetes"; History of the Endocrine Effects of Licorice; D. Armanini, et al.; September 2002
- "Annals of Clinical Biochemistry"; Liquorice and Soy Sauce, a Life-Saving Concoction in a Patient with Addison's disease; H. Cooper, et al.; 2007
- 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
Based in Florida, Danielle C. Tworek covers health news and medical topics for various online publications. She is a certified personal trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine, as well as a Schwinn indoor cycling instructor. Tworek holds a Bachelor of Science in human nutrition.