Many people enjoy eating licorice because of its special sweet and salty taste.
But a new study from researchers at Linköping University in Sweden shows that even small amounts of licorice can raise your blood pressure. This could be dangerous, especially for people who are more sensitive to its effects.
Licorice comes from the root of a plant called Glycyrrhiza. It has been used for a long time in both medicine and candy. The sweet flavor in licorice comes from a natural chemical called glycyrrhizic acid.
This substance can change how your kidneys work and upset the fluid balance in your body. When that balance is off, it can lead to higher blood pressure. High blood pressure is a risk factor for heart disease.
Health groups like the European Union and the World Health Organization say that up to 100 milligrams of glycyrrhizic acid per day is safe for most people. But reports from Sweden show that about 5% of people there may be eating more than this safe amount.
The new study was published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The researchers wanted to find out if the 100 mg limit is really safe. Because the amount of glycyrrhizic acid in licorice products varies a lot and isn’t usually listed on labels, they created a careful experiment to study it.
They chose 28 healthy young adults between the ages of 18 and 30. These participants were split into two groups and given different products in two phases. In one phase, they ate licorice with 100 mg of glycyrrhizic acid.
In the other phase, they ate a candy made with salmiak (a salty flavor) but no licorice. There was a two-week break between the phases. This way, the researchers could compare the effects of licorice in the same people.
During the study, each person measured their blood pressure at home every day. The scientists also checked hormone levels, fluid balance, and how hard the heart was working at the end of each test period.
What they found was surprising. Even this “safe” amount of licorice caused blood pressure to rise. On average, blood pressure increased by 3.1 mmHg. They also found that the levels of two important hormones—renin and aldosterone—went down. These hormones help control how much water and salt the body keeps.
Some people in the study gained weight, most likely from holding on to extra water. These same people also had higher levels of a marker called NT-proBNP. This marker shows when the heart is working harder than usual.
This study suggests that even small amounts of licorice might not be as safe as we thought. People who are sensitive to glycyrrhizic acid could be at risk of high blood pressure and more stress on their heart.
Because of this, experts are calling for better labels on licorice products and more public education. People should know that licorice, though it tastes good, can affect your health. If you have high blood pressure or are at risk for heart problems, it might be a good idea to avoid licorice or eat it only once in a while.
Other foods and diets can also affect blood pressure. For example, eating more potassium-rich foods like bananas and potatoes can help lower your blood pressure. Research shows that good nutrition plays an important role in heart health.
If you want to learn more, look up recent studies on how vitamins and healthy diets affect blood pressure. And remember—just because something is natural or tastes good doesn’t mean it’s always safe.
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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