Health assessment of liquorice

Liquorice is a luxury food. It contains the glycoside glycyrrhizin from the root of the liquorice plant, which gives it its typical flavour. Continuous consumption of liquorice with large amounts of glycyrrhizin (more than 200 milligrams/100 grams of liquorice) can lead to a change in mineral metabolism with sodium accumulation and potassium loss. The consequences are increased blood pressure, water retention in the tissue and muscle weakness. The intake of glycyrrhizin should be limited to less than 100 milligrams per day per consumer.

Another problematic ingredient is ammonium chloride (sal ammoniac) in salt liquorice. In higher doses, ammonium chloride leads to metabolic acidosis and impairment of the normal ion balance with nausea, vomiting and neurological disorders.