Many people enjoy licorice because of its sweet, strong flavor. It’s often eaten as candy or used in teas and herbal remedies.
But new research from Linköping University in Sweden shows that even small amounts of licorice might raise your blood pressure.
This finding is important because high blood pressure can lead to serious health problems like heart disease or stroke.
Licorice comes from the root of the Glycyrrhiza plant. It has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to treat coughs, sore throats, and stomach problems.
The sweet taste of licorice is mostly due to a natural chemical in the plant called glycyrrhizic acid. This compound can affect how your body manages salt and water. When that balance is disrupted, your blood pressure can go up.
Health organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union have said that it is generally safe to have up to 100 milligrams of glycyrrhizic acid per day. But about 5% of people in Sweden regularly eat more than that amount. This means some people could be taking a health risk without realizing it.
To understand more about this, researchers ran a study with 28 healthy adults aged 18 to 30. These people were split into two groups. One group was given licorice that contained exactly 100 milligrams of glycyrrhizic acid.
The other group was given a salty candy that tasted like licorice but had no licorice root in it. After two weeks, the groups switched, so that every person tried both types.
During the study, the participants checked their own blood pressure every day. The researchers also looked at their hormones, salt and water levels, and signs of strain on the heart.
The results were surprising. Even the small amount of glycyrrhizic acid—100 milligrams per day—made blood pressure go up by an average of 3.1 mmHg. That may sound small, but even a little rise in blood pressure can be harmful over time, especially for people who already have heart problems.
The researchers also noticed changes in two important hormones, renin and aldosterone. These hormones help the body control fluid levels.
When their levels dropped, it was a sign that the body was holding onto more water. Some participants gained a little weight and had higher levels of a chemical that signals heart stress.
One big problem is that many licorice candies or supplements don’t say how much glycyrrhizic acid they contain. So people might eat too much without knowing it.
This study is a reminder that what we eat matters, even small things like candy. It also shows the need for clearer labeling on foods that contain licorice.
While it’s fine to enjoy licorice once in a while, people who have high blood pressure or heart problems should be extra careful. Even a daily treat could be affecting their health more than they realize.
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