The black licorice candy you enjoy may raise your blood pressure. Some black licorice contains glycyrrhizin, an ingredient in licorice root extract linked with high blood pressure and other health risks. Talk with your doctor if you plan to consume licorice on a regular basis. So-called red licorice contains other flavors like strawberry and cherry and has no licorice root.
Black Licorice Candy
Black licorice candy is sometimes flavored with anise oil, which tastes and smells like licorice but has no licorice extract. Some candies contain real licorice extract, which has an ingredient called glycyrrhizin. The sweetener is linked with health risks including high blood pressure and salt and water retention. Some licorice, called DGL or deglycyrrhizinated licorice, is made without the ingredient. Side effects are likely due solely to glycyrrhizen, but the safety of DGL has not been proven, notes New York University Langone Medical Center. Check the ingredients label so you know the type of licorice you are buying.
Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is so common in the United States, one in three adults has it, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Licorice is not the only herbal supplement that increases your blood pressure. Others include St. John's wort, ginseng, bitter orange, guarana and ephedra. You might be especially cautious if you drink tea with a combination of these ingredients. If you have high blood pressure, you might not know it. Even without causing symptoms, it can damage blood vessels, your heart and your kidneys.
Black Licorice and Blood Pressure
Just 5 g of licorice root in your black licorice candy can raise your blood pressure if you have kidney or heart disease, high blood pressure or a high-salt diet. Glycyrrhizin suppresses the hormone aldosertone, which controls sodium levels in your body. For people without high blood pressure, consuming 30 g or more per day for four weeks can cause a noticeable rise in blood pressure, notes the National Institutes of Health website MedlinePlus.
When to Limit Black Licorice Intake
If you take too much glycyrrhizen, you can develop a condition that causes sensitivity to a hormone in your adrenal cortex, notes University of Maryland Medical Center. The condition leads to headaches, high blood pressure, water retention, fatigue and heart attacks. Even without high doses of licorice, you may still experience side effects. Some people have reported muscle pain or arm and leg numbness. The medical center recommends avoiding licorice if you have certain conditions, including heart disease or heart failure, kidney or liver disease, high blood pressure, diabetes or fluid retention. Avoid licorice if you are pregnant or breast feeding.
