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"Black licorice can lead to heart
arrhythmias and other health problems when consumed by adults in large quantities, the FDA
noted in its pre-holiday alert.
Experts say that consuming 2 ounces
of black licorice per day for two weeks can set the heart stuttering in
susceptible individuals. The culprit is a compound called glycyrrhizin, which
is what gives licorice its sweet flavor.
Glycyrrhizin causes the kidneys to
excrete potassium. And low levels of potassium can make the heart beat
dangerously fast or out of sync, says Dr. Gregg Fonarow, a professor of
cardiovascular medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of
Medicine.
The compound also leads to salt and
water retention which can be a problem for people with heart failure or high
blood pressure, Fonarow said.
It’s long been known in some
cultures that licorice was more than just a sweet indulgence. In certain parts
of the world, the chewy stuff is prescribed to treat everything from heartburn
to bronchitis to viral infections. So far, though, there hasn’t been a study
proving that licorice can cure anything, the FDA alert noted.
Because licorice is a
bioactive food, which means it can tweak metabolic processes in the body,
you also have to worry about interactions with medications, Fonarow said."
Source: msnbc.com
(Anyone who ate 2 ounces of black licorice per day over a couple days, let alone weeks, would have to clear their calendars.... It is a strong laxative. )
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