We generally find licorice in the candy section of the grocery store. We eat them as a sweet snack between meals, so why aren't they classified as dessert? It has been used as a health aid for thousands of years, as the formerly natural licorice root is actually a root that has been used as a medicine for a very long time. This is a fact that many individuals may not know. Also, licorice is a food product that many people do not know as more than just a delicious dessert.
Today we often find licorice used as a flavoring in food products. You've probably heard of licorice drops or tea because they are common items on grocery shelves. However, the medicinal attributes and side effects of this root are still largely misunderstood by the vast majority of people who consume it.
It still appears in health products and is still purchased by some individuals strictly for this purpose. Today's medical and scientific communities know much more about the health benefits and harms of licorice than when it was first introduced for medicinal purposes hundreds of years ago.
Most of the licorice products grown commercially are exported from Greece, Turkey, China and Asia. The licorice plant, or Glycyrrhiza glabra, is a low, perennial shrub that grows wild in selected areas of Europe and Asia. It was originally considered a herb rather than a sweet. Fortunately, its benefits should not be overlooked.
The element known as Glycyrrhiza found within the roots and underground stems of the licorice plant is what explains its taste and sweetness. This name originates in ancient Greece and is appropriately translated to mean "sweet root." Glycrrhiza is about fifty times sweeter than sugar.
Components found in the roots of the plants are used to make a popular black candy that we refer to as licorice. The root is also commonly used as a sweetening or flavoring agent in a variety of commercial food products today. It is often added to herbal teas, soothing cough lozenges and cough syrups, as well as being found in a wide range of candy products.
Licorice root is also used as a filler inside medicine capsules and even as a mask to offset the unpleasant taste of medicines. In the United Kingdom it is used as an emulsifier to create foam in beverage products. However, many people who consume it are not aware of its health benefits and harms.
Health benefits of licorice
1. Licorice root or Glycrrhiza is used primarily as a treatment for gastritis or upper respiratory diseases.
2. It is used as an aid for constipation, gastritis, stomach ulcers, canker sores or mouth ulcers, as well as to relieve menstrual cramps. It is also frequently used to relieve symptoms of bronchitis or the common cold, and can be found in many cough syrups and cough tablets.
3. Studies are currently being conducted to see if glycyrrhiza is useful in treating HIV and genital herpes. So far the results are showing positive results.
4. When looking for alternative health treatments, it is always best to consult a doctor to ensure that participating in this treatment will be beneficial for you. Always research and be aware of the medications, herbs, and alternative treatments you are considering. Most herbal and alternative remedies are not federally regulated and therefore can be harmful or even fatal if used incorrectly.
Red licorice is very different from black
It turns out that the red version of this remedy is not a licorice product at all. It's really candy. It does not contain the potentially harmful effects that black licorice may have because it is made with artificial flavors of cherry, strawberry, or raspberry, not the root of the Glerrhiza glabra plant. It is a real sweet dessert made from sugars or syrup.
Possible side effects associated with excess consumption
Licorice is not without its negative health effects. Bad effects can occur from eating this sweet on a regular basis. People should be fully aware of how much they are consuming and for how long. Eating at least fifty grams of black licorice candy daily for two weeks can significantly raise a person's blood pressure. It can also cause potassium depletion, electrolyte disturbance, sodium or fluid retention, or affect pH levels within the blood.
Glycyrrhizic acid is the compound found in licorice that is responsible for most of the negative traits. For this reason, a method was devised to remove this component from the root itself. This safer product is called DGL, or deglycyrrhizin licorice.
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