Liquorice is one herb that has been long used in the traditional Chinese medicine to cure many illnesses. One of the main benefits of liquorice is treating coughs. The licorice roots extract is drunk to relieve cough and also to cure colds and flu.
Nowadays, there are already licorice sweets available in the market. Liquorice sweets are made from liqourice root extracts and sweeteners such as natural glycyrrhizin. It is also mixed with binders such as flour, gelatin or gum Arabic. Beeswax is then sprayed on the mixed ingredients that are hardened up to 135 degrees Celsius to make the shiny surface of licorice sweets. These retro sweets are available in many flavors and have become a common favorite to many people of all ages. It is also available in many designs to make it attractive. The sweet flavor of the retro sweets may be one of the reasons why some people can’t enough of eating too much of licorice sweets.
What most of them do not know is that excess liquorice is dangerous to the body. It is toxic to the liver. It can cause edema and hypertension and it can bring about hypokalemia (low potassium in the blood). A decrease in levels of potassium in the blood can cause cardiac arrhythmias and it can depress the muscle function. This can result to inability to move and most dangerous complication of all is respiratory depression which results to death. Therefore, liquorice sweets must be taken in moderation in order to prevent its dangerous effects to the body.
Most experts that have conducted study on the effects of Liquorice recommend that licorice sweets intake must not exceed more than 100mg a day and if possible, it should not be taken everyday. This can prevent the unwanted cardiovascular and muscular effects and it can also prevent liver toxicity.
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