If you have high blood pressure, you might want to give up licorice. Researchers in Iceland determined that eating even small amounts of licorice each day caused a noticeable increase in blood pressure. The study was triggered by three women who presented at a doctor\'s office with very high blood pressure. It turned out they were all eating large quantities of licorice and when they stopped eating the candy, their blood pressure dropped. Licorice contains a natural chemical called glycyrrhetinic acid that affects hormones, which help regulate blood pressure. While eating large amounts of licorice can lead to a rise in blood pressure, can eating small amounts have an effect?
To answer this question a study was done in 64 people who volunteered to eat specific amounts of licorice each day for two to four weeks. Licorice intake ranged from 50g a day (about the size of a few jellybeans) to 200g (about the size of a Mars Bar). At the end of two weeks, people in all three groups had higher blood pressure. The larger the portion of licorice, the higher the rise in blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure and don�t want to give up licorice, switch to red licorice which contains cherry flavoring, but not any real licorice.
To answer this question a study was done in 64 people who volunteered to eat specific amounts of licorice each day for two to four weeks. Licorice intake ranged from 50g a day (about the size of a few jellybeans) to 200g (about the size of a Mars Bar). At the end of two weeks, people in all three groups had higher blood pressure. The larger the portion of licorice, the higher the rise in blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure and don�t want to give up licorice, switch to red licorice which contains cherry flavoring, but not any real licorice.
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