Wednesday, November 01, 2017

The Black Death (or sickness, at least)

I don't mind licorice, but don't eat it often.   I had read before that eating large amounts was not good for your health, but Vox explains in more detail:
According to the Food and Drug Administration, if you eat 2 ounces of black licorice — the equivalent of about four Twizzler vines — daily for at least two weeks, you could wind up in the hospital with an irregular heartbeat or even heart failure. 

That’s a lot of licorice — maybe more than most licorice lovers eat in a day. But the FDA is onto something: Licorice root contains a medically active compound called glycyrrhizin acid, and researchers have been discussing its potential health complications for years. Glycyrrhizin can elevate a person’s blood pressure, leading some to experience abnormal heart rhythms, lethargy, even congestive heart failure. Glycyrrhizin can also interfere with other medications and supplements, the FDA warned.

“No matter what your age, don’t eat large amounts of black licorice at one time,” the agency said, adding that people over 40 with a history of heart disease or high blood pressure seem to be most at risk of black licorice-related health complications.

2 comments:

TimT said...

I looooooooooove liquorice straps but I find the Darrel Lea stuff in the supermarket revolting. Maybe they use more aniseed?

Steve said...

I think most things Darrel Lea make are awful. I have no idea how they were a success in the first place.

But as for their licorice - can't remember if I have tried it. Aniseed being the flavour, I am not sure that would put me off.

I don't care for ouzo, but I do like the aniseedy flavour of the French drink Pernod. One with soda water before dinner is very nice, I find. I think I just made my mouth salivate a bit by thinking about it, in fact. (I am hungry at the moment.)

By the way, I am reliably told that aniseed is not a flavour generally appreciated by Asians at all. Hence, boxes of liquorice are not a recommended gift to take to Japan for your Japanese hosts.