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Liquorice is a sought after flavour to mask tastes of medicines or enhance sales of confectionery. Today it can be easily enjoyed by consuming ‘all sorts’ sweets or black liquorice sticks. These sweets have added liquorice extract and commonly anise oil. In Europe there is more added ammonium chloride to give a salty twist in liquorice sweets. In North America red liquorice is popular although it is actually strawberry or cherry flavoured (without liquorice).  This is misinformed name use, just as we still call food in cans ‘tin food’. There was a time when cans that stored foods were of the metal tin but now they are of the light metal aluminium. A natural sweetener in liquorice root extract is glycyrrhizin, which is 50 times sweeter than sucrose, common sugar! Liquorice is a spice and flavourant that has a long history of use. Thorough research studies and clinical trails have shown its effectiveness in chest related diseases and for patients with ulcers. China widely applies it as a detoxicant, to help the body detoxify. Liquorice acts as an expectorant and that is why it helps with respiratory problems. An expectorant encourages mucous removal from the lungs. Bronchitis and ‘chesty cough’ are states of excess mucous in the lungs and expectorants are useful. In fact liquorice has a known history of being used for tuberculosis in our country. It has known application for effective cough remedies. Chinese research amongst various other international researches has revealed liquorice to be as effective as Tagamet or other strong main drug treatments for peptic and duodenal ulcer patients. What really speaks volumes for deglycyrrhizinated liquorice medicine is its freedom of known toxic side effects! Extracts should be deglycyrrhizzinated (the glycyrrhizia removed) as the very sweet glycyrrhizia isn’t as ‘sweet’ as it tastes. High intakes are known to cause sodium retention and potassium loss. This unequal treatment of minerals leaves us with fluid retention (we swell) and high blood pressure. All patients with hypertension should pay attention to reducing sodium (high levels via common salt and in most processed foods) and increasing potassium (in vegetables and fruit). If you suffer from constipation liquorice can be considered (besides increasing fibre) for its mild laxative properties. Medicines and other food products are often flavoured with liquorice extract. Anise and fennel seeds are ‘back benchers’ that provide that liquorice-like flavour. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant but liquorice is the almighty superhero antioxidant. Remember when ever applying supplements for yourself or family members seek out well informed advice. The quality of a product should always be reputable. Dosages must be adhered to. Otherwise if you like ‘all sorts’ sweets refrain from excessive consumption for health reasons. That abuse of sweetness has its health consequences. Anastacia Sampson D.N. Med |