Is Black Licorice Bad for You?

Black licorice may cause an abnormal heart rhythm or high blood pressure if you consume too much. Eating it in moderation may help prevent these health risks.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies black licorice as “generally regarded as safe” (GRAS). The FDA has warned that black licorice could become toxic when you eat it in excess.

Glycyrrhizin, the main component in black licorice, is a sweet compound found in licorice root. Consuming it in large amounts can temporarily drop your potassium levels.

Low potassium levels may lead to symptoms like:

• An abnormal heart rhythm
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Swelling
• Lethargy
• Heart failure

These symptoms usually go away after you stop consuming black licorice.

A 2021 case report from one medical center found that six people were admitted to the ICU with black licorice toxicity between 2018 and 2020.

Other symptoms they had included muscle pain, paralysis, and weakness. All six recovered with potassium replacement therapy and diuretics.

Black licorice has been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese, herbal, and Ayurvedic (Indian) medicine.

It contains components that may have properties like:

• Anti-inflammatory
• Anticancer
• Antidepressant
• Antioxidant
• Antiviral
• Hepatoprotective (protects the liver)
• Neuroprotective (prevents nerve cell death)
• Pain management

Black licorice may help manage metabolic syndrome. Research indicates it could lower high blood sugar and cholesterol. However, it can also increase blood pressure, which is not ideal for managing metabolic syndrome.

Black licorice contains various nutrients, including:

• Amino acids
• Calcium
• Iron
• Magnesium
• Manganese
• Phosphorus
• Potassium
• Silicon
• Selenium
• Zinc

Eat black licorice in moderation if you enjoy it. Check the label for the serving size and stick with this limit, typically 2 ounces or less per day.

Get medical attention right away if you have abnormal heart rhythms or muscle weakness after eating black licorice.

Talk with a doctor if you are taking any medications or have high blood pressure, heart disease, or kidney disease. Black licorice may interact poorly with certain drugs, such as aspirin, oral contraceptives, and herbal supplements.

Overindulging in black licorice during pregnancy has been shown to increase the risk of premature birth. It might be best to forgo it during pregnancy.

Some candies—including ones labeled “black licorice”—do not contain licorice. They are made with anise oil, which smells and tastes like black licorice. Anise oil may be an alternative for people at higher risk of adverse reactions.