Eating licorice-flavored candy is unlikely to cause any adverse reactions, but eating natural black licorice can lead to a variety of negative health effects. Natural black licorice is available in candy form and is also an active ingredient in some cough drops and herbal teas, as Joe Graedon and Teresa Graedon note in their book, "The People's Pharmacy Guide to Home and Herbal Remedies." Black licorice contains a compound called glycyrrhizin and it is this substance that can cause health problems.
Sodium Retention
A diet that includes a large amount of natural black licorice in candy, tea or any other form can make your body retain too much sodium. The glycyrrhizin in black licorice causes your adrenal glands to enhance their function, Ronald L. Hoffman reports in his book, "Intelligent Medicine: A Guide to Optimizing Health and Preventing Illness for the Baby-Boomer Generation." Proper function of your adrenal glands is necessary to regulate the sodium level in your body so you do not hold onto an unhealthy amount. Too much sodium in your body can cause fluid retention and cause more dangerous health conditions.
Increased Blood Pressure
Glycyrrhizin is also responsible for an increase in blood pressure that often accompanies a diet high in black licorice tea or natural black licorice candy. Hoffman reports that glycyrrhizin causes the adrenal glands to work overtime, which can cause your blood pressure to spike to dangerous levels. The negative effects that glycyrrhizin has on blood pressure can happen in just a few months of daily black licorice consumption and can cause damage throughout your body. Black licorice is particularly dangerous if you already have high blood pressure because it can lead to dangerous increases in a very short time, Hoffman adds. If you are under the care of a doctor for high blood pressure, speak with him about drinking licorice tea or eating black licorice candy and cough drops.
Decreased Potassium
Potassium is a mineral that is crucial for the function of your muscles, including your heart. A deficiency in potassium can lead to heart problems, Graedon and Graedon note. Your heart is considered a muscle and needs adequate amounts of potassium to pump efficiently and effectively. Eating a large amount of natural black licorice in any form can lead to a drop in potassium that can lead to heart trouble. Black licorice may also effect other muscles by causing weakness that prevents you from engaging in normal activities.
References
- "The People's Pharmacy Guide to Home and Herbal Remedies"; Joe Graedon and Teresa Graedon; 2002
- "Intelligent Medicine: A Guide to Optimizing Health and Preventing Illness for the Baby-Boomer Generation"; Ronald L. Hoffman; 1997
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