Hypertension, or high blood pressure, has many causes, including stress, lack of exercise, high-fat diet and excess body weight. Licorice is a far less common cause of hypertension, and it functions essentially by disturbing the fluid balance in your body.
Natural Licorice
Artificially flavored licorice candies do not pose the same risk of hypertension as natural candies. Only treats that are made from glycyrrhiza root interfere with your body's ability to balance fluids. In addition to natural licorice candies, products like licorice tea pose a threat of hypertension.
Hyperaldosteronism
The mechanism of action by which licorice leads to hypertension begins with elevated cortisol concentrations. As a result of elevated coritsol caused by licorice, your body can develop pseudohyperaldosteronism. Hyperaldosteronism is a condition in which your body makes too much of the hormone aldosterone. Excess aldosterone causes your body to excrete potassium and retain sodium, leading to a fluid imbalance.
Sodium-Potassium Balance
Your body keeps a delicate balance of fluid inside and outside of its cells by use of sodium-potassium pumps. Fluid flows to areas of high concentration from areas of low concentration, so keeping your body's fluids regulated depends upon keeping appropriate concentrations of potassium and sodium inside your body's cells and out. When concentrations of sodium increase and concentrations of potassium decrease, the result is water retention and edema, or swelling. A higher volume of fluid in your body means a higher volume of blood flowing through your blood vessels, placing greater pressure on the walls of your arteries and veins. High blood pressure is, by definition, increased pressure on the walls of your blood vessels.
Drug Interactions
Although small amounts of licorice candy or tea should pose little to no risk for healthy individuals, people who have hypertension or pre-hypertension should avoid foods made with extracts from glycyrrhiza root. These foods also antagonize the action of antihypertensive drugs and diuretics, and should be avoided for as long as you take the medications. Always consult your doctor regarding drug interactions and possible adverse reactions to foods.
References
- "Handbook of Nephrology and Hypertension"; Christopher S. Wilcox and Craig Tisher; 2008
- "Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde"; Hypertension Also Caused By Licorice Tea; Albert Schweitzer Ziekenhuis, et al.; April 2001
- Mayo Clinic; Primary Aldosteronism; January 2011
- "Human Anatomy & Physiology, Seventh Edition"; Elaine N. Marieb and Katja Hoehn; 2007
- "Food Medication Interactions, Fifteenth Edition"; Zaneta M. Pronsky; 2008
