Can Too Much Black Licorice Lead to ‘Abnormal Heart Rhythms?’
- Posted on October 31, 2011 at 3:03pm by
Liz Klimas
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You may think you’re doing your kids a favor by taking on their black licorice from their trick-or-treat stash, but the Food and Drug Administration says if you’re over 40-years-old, you should think twice.
Why? Because it could cause you some heart problems. According to FDA Consumer Updates (via Food Consumer), the FDA said eating two ounces of black licorice per day for two weeks could lead to an irregular heart beat or arrhythmia:
FDA experts say black licorice contains the compound glycyrrhizin, which is the sweetening compound derived from licorice root. Glycyrrhizin can cause potassium levels in the body to fall. When that happens, some people experience abnormal heart rhythms, as well as high blood pressure, edema (swelling), lethargy, and congestive heart failure.
If you’re a frequent eater of this treat for which adults generally favor compared to children, potassium levels will return to normal after you stop eating it. Also, just because something is licorice flavored doesn’t mean it has glycyrrhizin in it. Many licorice flavored treats are made with anise oil, according to the FDA.
Here’s what the FDA recommends for those with an affinity to licorice:
- No matter what your age, don’t eat large amounts of black licorice at one time.
- If you have been eating a lot of black licorice and have an irregular heart rhythm or muscle weakness, stop eating it immediately and contact your healthcare provider.
- Black licorice can interact with some medications, herbs and dietary supplements. Consult a health care professional if you have questions about possible interactions with a drug or supplement you take.
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Comments (57)
Captain Crunch
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 7:36pmHaters! You’re a bunch of black licorice haters. You all can send me all yours because I love it. Red licorice is lame.
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 8:30pmDepends upon where it’s made. I love Licorice and have been eating it since I was in single digits. But, I had two people give me Licorice from Denmark and Holland…. I spit it out before I threw up.
Report Post »Omaof19
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 10:19pmThe dutch licorce is just the best. Salty licorce, yummy yummy. Better when you eat it along with a mentho peppermint. Swedish fish are soft and salty. They are very good too. Even the grandkids like it.
Report Post »FlowerBell
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 7:26pmIf I can’t have licorice
Report Post »how about something liquorish?
Meyvn
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 7:22pmToo much of anything probably can.
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 7:08pmYAAAAAAAA!!
Finally! A food that I don’t like is bad for me………For a change!
Report Post »drftrapani
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 6:36pmWhat is confusing most people is that licorice contains a substance (chemical) called glycyrrhizin.
Report Post »This chemical has the unique ability to raise the blood pressure which can be useful in cases of low blood pressure, but it may also have other effects on he heart.
If you like licorice tea or candy, there is a form of licorice with this chemical removed. It is called Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice and can be purchased from specialty sources. Check the internet.
drftrapani
ErinLindsey
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 6:32pmCharlie Chaplin found out the hard way that licorice is a laxative when he was filming his silent movie “The Gold Rush” in 1925. His character, The Little Tramp, was trapped in a cabin in Alaska with another man and no food. In one scene they’re cooking and eating a boot. The boot and it’s laces were made out of licorice. They shot the scene 63 times. Chaplin ended up in the hospital from insulin shock and a serious case of diarrhea. The other actor in the movie, Mack Swain, also got pretty sick too.
Licorice causing heart arrhythmia isnt a new warning. I see this mentioned in the news every few years.
Report Post »Papa Joe
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 6:23pmYou can’t say black anymore!
Report Post »Tickdog
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 5:21pmi cant believe anyone still eats this nasty crap…
Report Post »Godrulz
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 5:16pmThis is racist.
Report Post »motonutt
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 5:24pmWho cares…..how many millions did someone spend on this study?
Report Post »Fly Old Glory 24/7 365
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 4:58pmthey can have my black licorice when they pry it from my cold dead fingers….
Report Post »TheLeftMadeMeRight
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 4:42pmCrap there goes my Good-n-plenty…
Report Post »PilgrimStuckInBizarroWorld
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 4:28pmAnd next week they will tell us it cures heart disease. Moderation is the answer.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 4:22pma renowned cardiologist warned us about NO black licorice while a family member in their 50s was on cardiac meds as far back as the 1990s. of course they had to test it out after being told NO.. and apparently there WAS a bad reaction. scary.
Report Post »4XGrace
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 4:13pmThink “sources of sodium” and cut down.
Report Post »Bonesaw
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 4:30pmNotice it doesn’t tell you HOW MUCH “glycyrrhizin” a person would have to consume to cause potassium levels to fall enough to cause irregular heart rythms. With the TRACE ammounts of “glycyrrhizin” present in the candy, I am sure a person would have to consume more than what is humanly possible.
So sick of all the scare tactics and doom and gloom surrounding every food. My Grandfather turns 95 in December. Every morning he has 2 eggs, 2 strips of bacon, toast with real butter and 2 cups of black coffee. He still lives unassisted at home, works in his wood shop and stopped duck and deer hunting only 5 years ago. He has also been know to consume black licorice from time to time too.
Report Post »Brooke Lorren
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 9:23pmThe Weston A Price Foundation would say that bacon, eggs, and real butter are an excellent breakfast, especially if the hens were pasture raised and the cows were free-range.
The more we follow the new guidelines to eat lots of grains and use margarine and vegetable oils, the more unhealthy we get. People were a lot more healthy when our grandparent’s were kids. They must have been doing something right that we no longer are.
Report Post »gmoneytx
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 3:49pmCAN TOO MUCH BLACK LICORICE LEAD TO ‘ABNORMAL HEART RHYTHMS?’
nO, BUT IT will LEAD TO AN ABNORMAL TASTE IN YOUR MOUTH!
Report Post »welovetheUSA
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 3:38pmWish they would pay more attention to what goes in our waters and everyday food…than a treat that has never killed anyone.
Report Post »johnokee1
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 3:37pmI always knew it was poisonous
Report Post »ares338
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 3:30pmDumbass Arabs shouldn’t post on blog sites. Just shove black licorice in your ears and shout Alahu Licbar!
Report Post »ares338
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 3:26pmGawe’d….what a stupid topic. Who cares? Must be a slow news day!
Report Post »Fly Old Glory 24/7 365
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 4:56pmand your 2 posts certainly have improved the story..Geez…
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 3:23pmick. Is all I will say. And I eat everything! but not the black ‘ick’orice.
Report Post »Lantern
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 3:42pmNor black jelly beans, or black hard candy, or green Ny-Quil, yuck!
Report Post »TumbleBumble
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 4:09pmYum, yum and YUM!! lol! I used to love Vicks Formula 44, back when it was black.
Good’n Plenty, even Ouzo (although it has been ages)!
There are positive health benefits to black licorice as well…
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5121707_benefits-black-licorice.html
Report Post »Brooke Lorren
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 3:16pmFollow the black licorice with a banana. There! Potassium deficiency solved, LOL.
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 3:24pmReal licorice used to be banned in this country [as it was considered dangerous] We need to pass laws that nutritional supplements and food with potent additives are proved safe before being allowed to be marketed.Libertarian free market-buyer beware-can and has killed people.
Report Post »IAMMADDOG
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 3:15pmI love black licorice, but if you eat too much it works like a laxative.
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 3:28pmI was going to say that.
Report Post »Fly Old Glory 24/7 365
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 5:00pmyes, and it is an ugly laxative. But I have been hooked for 40 plus years and although I have slowed down, I’m not giving it up…
Report Post »denisp52
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 8:18amNot to mention that it will turn your poop GREEN… I LOVE black licorice and have eaten it for years. I like the banana and black licorice diet. I did have my daughter in law, who is an ER nurse, tell me about a lady that died and they couldn’t figure out why… finally found out she had no potassium in her body and had heart failure because of it.
Report Post »back to the health food diet… if it tastes good spit it out!
inferno
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 3:13pmObviously the FDA is racist. Why else would they claim Black Licorice is harmful !
Report Post »Togger
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 3:11pmGeez, I love black licorice…is nothing safe anymore? How about for dogs? My dog loves it too!
Report Post »Polly Sigh
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 3:35pmProbably shouldn’t. Dogs shouldn’t have chocolate either. I have Atrial Fibrillation (a type of arrhythmia) and if I were to eat either chocolate or licorice, I’d have to run for the meds.
I’ve been in the ER 4 times and in the hospital for a week because of it Arrhythmias are nothing to mess around with.
Report Post »Jackie Rogers, Jr.
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 5:06pm@ Polly Sigh:
You are right about atrial fibrillation. In 2004 my 76 year old mother, before retiring for the night, commented that she could feel her heart beating rapidly in her chest. She had a massive stroke while sleeping. Based on her comment the previous evening, the ER doc speculated that her heart had gone into a fib causing blood to pool and clot in heart. When her cardiac rhythm became normal again, the clots were shot out into her blood stream and one or more lodged in a vessel in her brain.
Mom never returned home. She spent the last six years of her live in a skilled care facility. Totally paralyzed on her left side. One second she was a robust, healthy woman, the next, a bed-ridden invalid. Scary, scary, scary.
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 3:09pmGee, this was a remedy for leg cramps during pregnancy, back in my day…
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