Health. Licorice: Consuming too much of it is dangerous for your health.

Behind licorice lies a Mediterranean plant present in many everyday products: the famous black candies, pastis, certain syrups, digestive herbal teas and even food supplements.

What is less well known is that excessive consumption of licorice can have serious consequences for our health. The culprit? Glycyrrhizic acid, the main active ingredient in licorice. This substance, authorized as a food flavoring in Europe, can disrupt the balance of our bodies.

Worrying effects revealed by ANSES

The French National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health (ANSH) has examined more than a hundred cases of adverse effects related to licorice consumption. The findings are worrying: these incidents were primarily due to the significant and regular consumption of licorice-based drinks and sweets.

Health problems observed include a drop in blood potassium levels (hypokalemia) and an increase in blood pressure. These disorders can, in turn, trigger serious cardiovascular complications, including heart rhythm disturbances.

Some people are more vulnerable than others to the potential adverse effects of licorice. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should be especially vigilant, as should children. People with pre-existing cardiovascular problems, high blood pressure, kidney, or liver disorders are also at risk.

Furthermore, interaction phenomena have been described with several classes of medications such as "hypokalemic diuretics (which promote the elimination of potassium in the urine, editor's note), stimulant laxatives, digitalis (digoxin), antihypertensives and medications likely to cause "torsades de pointes", which are heart rhythm disorders," adds ANSES.

Better information

Anses analysis reveals that approximately 60% of adults and more than 40% of children who consume licorice exceed the safety threshold established by the agency. According to the health authorities (European Commission and World Health Organization), "for regular ingestion, the upper limit of 100 mg/day provides a sufficient level of protection for the majority of the population."

ANSES therefore recommends informing consumers of the presence of licorice by stating it on food labels whenever they contain it, even in small quantities. It also recommends avoiding the combination of licorice sources.