It has always struck me as hilarious how people can be so divisive about certain foods or herbs. Like cilantro. People love it or hate it -- and the haters just love to hate it. Same thing with black licorice. Seriously, who knew such an old-fashioned candy could incite such strong, visceral responses?! When we were eating jelly beans in The Stir offices recently, we were definitely split into two camps on the subject -- the black licorice lovers vs. the black licorice haters. And although we ended up agreeing to disagree, the haters can now rejoice, because researchers have found the candy is more than just unappetizing to some people.
The FDA claims that eating too much black licorice can lead to heart arrhythmias and other health problems. Yeah, apparently, just 2 ounces of the candy a day for two weeks can mess with your heart. Eeeek!
That's because a compound found in the treat called glycyrrhizin causes the kidneys to excrete potassium, and low levels of potassium can cause dangerously fast or erratic heartbeats. Oh, and of course, women on birth control should be extra-careful about licorice, because it can drive up your blood pressure (due to the potassium effect). (But unless you're something of a black licorice ADDICT, there are plenty of other much more major concerns beyond this when you're on the Pill!)
Now, although this will certainly give haters plenty of ammunition, a.) I'm not sure how many people eat that much licorice a day, b.) it's only said to mess with the hearts of "susceptible individuals," and c.) there are plenty of benefits to licorice as well. In fact, it's been used as a cure-all in some parts of the world for centuries -- said to treat heartburn, bronchitis, viral infections, etc. Obviously, licorice in its sugary candy form couldn't be considered real medicine. Most people take deglycyrrhizinated licorice supplements for any of these ailments.
But seems to me the FDA has MANY bigger, more important issues to examine and warn us about. After all, there are probably more people out there who HATE black licorice than those who are gorging themselves on it!
What do you think about this warning? Are you a black licorice fan?
Image via Jessica Merz/Flickr
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Comments 11
I'm with HS. What is it with you and the pill? Yes, some prescriptions have an increased risk of blood clot (and plenty of women know this and take them anyway, as is their right). But why has everything I've seen posted about hormonal birth control and sterilization on this website been negative? Both are a miracle for millions of women and it's already difficult enough to obtain either without people like those that apparently work at The Stir campaigning against them. When will you be happy? When women are forced to return to relying solely on condoms and the rhythm method? When all fertile women end up having children, whether they want them or not, because they have no more reliable options? Or have too many because they had little control over their own fertility? What is this crusade and why do you care what other people do with their bodies, so long as the information about possible side-effects is out there?
Licorice can cause spontaneous abortion, so while I eat the hell out of it normally, having to avoid it during my pregnancies was really irritating. I also dearly love anise, fennel and caraway. Mmm!
I hate black licorice. BLAH!
@tuffymama- And it's beneficial to even more people. I get reporting facts about the increased risk in certain prescriptions, but I've never seen a positive look at birth control on this site and it's disgusting. Birth control saves the lives of millions of women, mothers included, around the world every day. It allows couples to space pregnancies, heps women regulate and treat various conditions, allows women whom pregnancy could kill be safely intimate with their partners, and allows childfree women the same freedom. Is there a risk? Yes, but there's a risk with everything else in life, so instead of bashing a medical miracle that has allowed women to take control of their bodies and lives, why not just lay off? It's unnecessary and only breeds further difficulties for women and reproductive health.
I don't "hate" anything or anyone.
If I did hate anything, it wouldn't be a food.
I love black licorice...good thing I don't eat it very often though!
And to the posters that think the birth control pill isn't beneficial...I've got news for you. I have Polycysic Ovary Syndrome, and if I don't take the pill, I don't get periods, my hormones freak out and I have constant PMS, I gain weight, and I get tons of acne. The pill is SO beneficial to me that I don't even know how to thank the people that invented it. It is a lifesaver for me. I would be a hormonal mess without it, and much less healthy.