Even Small Amounts Of Licorice Could Raise Blood Pressure
Even small amounts of licorice can elevate blood pressure and strain the heart, according to a study by researchers at Linköping University in Sweden. Licorice contains glycyrrhizic acid, which can increase fluid retention in the body, contributing to high blood pressure. The study involved people ages 18 to 30, who were randomly assigned to consume licorice or a control product for two weeks, followed by a two-week break, and then consume the other confection for two weeks. The licorice used in the investigation weighed 3.3 grams and contained 100 mg of glycyrrhizic acid, which is considered a safe daily amount. Participants were asked to measure their blood pressure at home daily. At the end of each intake period, researchers measured levels of various hormones, salt balance, and heart workload.
They found that even at the recommended safe level (up to 100 mg a day), licorice raised blood pressure in young, healthy people by an average of 3.1 mmHg. They also identified a decrease in hormones that regulate fluid balance and increases in fluid volume and heart workload in those most sensitive to licorice’s effects. “Our results give reason to be more cautious when it comes to recommendations and labelling for food containing licorice,” says the study’s senior author.
Source
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916524000194?via%3Dihub
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