Many people enjoy the sweet and unique taste of licorice, whether as candy, tea, or a herbal supplement.
But new research from Linköping University in Sweden shows that even a small amount of licorice could raise your blood pressure. This goes against the old belief that a little licorice is safe for everyone.
Licorice comes from the root of the Glycyrrhiza plant and has been used for thousands of years. In ancient times, people used it as medicine to treat coughs, sore throats, and stomach problems.
Today, it is still popular as a natural remedy and a flavoring in food and drinks. The sweetness in licorice mainly comes from a natural chemical called glycyrrhizic acid.
This compound might taste good, but it can also cause problems. Glycyrrhizic acid can stop the body from managing salt and water correctly. This can cause the body to hold onto more fluid, which raises blood pressure. High blood pressure, in turn, increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Health experts in Europe and the World Health Organization have said that eating up to 100 milligrams of glycyrrhizic acid each day is safe. However, studies in Sweden have shown that about 5% of the population regularly eats more than this amount. That means some people may be putting their heart health at risk without realizing it.
The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, tested this “safe” limit to see if it truly protects people. Researchers asked 28 healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 30 to join the experiment.
These participants were split into two groups. One group ate licorice with 100 milligrams of glycyrrhizic acid, while the other group ate a similar-tasting product without any real licorice. After two weeks, the groups switched, so each person got to try both types.
Participants measured their blood pressure at home every day. Scientists also looked at their hormone levels and checked for signs that the heart was under stress.
The results were clear. Eating licorice raised blood pressure by about 3.1 mmHg on average, even though the amount was considered safe.
Hormones that help the body control salt and water, like renin and aldosterone, dropped. Some people who were more sensitive to these changes also gained a bit of weight, held more fluid, and had higher levels of a heart stress marker called NT-proBNP.
This means that even small amounts of licorice may not be safe for everyone. People with high blood pressure or heart problems should be extra careful. Even if you feel healthy, eating licorice every day might still affect your heart.
One big problem is that many licorice products do not tell you how much glycyrrhizic acid they contain. Without this information, people may eat too much without knowing it.
This study also reminds us how much our diet affects our health. Foods can either help or harm our blood pressure. While scientists are still learning about which foods protect the heart, we already know that too much salt and too little potassium can be harmful. Even foods like potatoes and tea may affect blood pressure in some people.
As science continues to explore how food affects health, one thing is clear: it’s smart to be careful with licorice. A small treat once in a while might be fine, but eating it regularly—even in small doses—could be bad for your heart.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and natural coconut sugar could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness.
For more health information, please see recent studies about added sugar in your diet linked to higher blood pressure, and results showing vitamin D could improve blood pressure in people with diabetes.
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