Liquorice (and liquorice tea) contains glycyrrhizin. This substance, which gives liquorice its characteristic taste, causes a rise in blood pressure.
Glycyrrhizin is converted into glycyrrhetinic acid in the gastrointestinal tract, as a result of which the body retains more fluid. This effect temporarily increases blood pressure, but if large quantities of liquorice are consumed on a regular basis, blood pressure may also be raised over the long term.
Liquorice and your health
There are a number of health effects associated with consuming a lot of liquorice sweets and liquorice root.
iGene Passport
iGene offers you an insight into your personal risks of developing conditions and tells you whether limiting your consumption of liquorice sweets and liquorice root may be particularly important for you to help prevent certain conditions. In addition, an iGene Passport provides you with information on what else you can do to reduce any risks. Here we focus on behaviour that will help you maximise the benefits to your health. In the publication below you can read more about what iGene can do for you.