If you were planning on wolfing down black licorice for Halloween, you may want to choose something less risky to your heart, like candy corn.Not that candy corn is good for your heart. (It's not even really corn, in case you didn't know). But at least there's no warning from the Food and Drug Administration about candy corn like this:
The video concludes by saying that the FDA "witches" you a happy and safe Halloween. Who knew that the FDA could be so much pun?As the video explains, the cuplrit is a substance in black licorice named glycyrrhizin, which, in addition to being tricky to pronounce when your mouth is full of black licorice, may result in a decrease in potassium levels in your body.
Drops in potassium levels can lead to abnormal heart rhythms, high blood pressure, muscle weakness, swelling, and even heart failure. The risk is particularly higher if you are over 40 years old and eat more than 2 ounces of black licorice a day for at least two weeks, as indicated by the United Kingdom's National Health Service.
But this does not mean if you are 39 years and 364 days old you are in the clear. Eating large amounts of black licorice may be risky for younger folks as well.
Depending on who you are, you may find this warning either meaningless or distressing. Black licorice is a bit like Ben Affleck as Batman. People seem to either really love it or hate it. In fact, as Meghan Holohan described for NBC News, you may even be born with this preference. Apparently some have an innate affinity for something that tastes like NyQuil.
Eating lots of black licorice may result in heart problems. Wearing it, not so much. Here two models wear outfits completely made out of liquorice during the 'Haribo fashion show' presented by German showmaster Thomas Gottschalk. (Photo: THOMAS LOHNES/AFP/Getty Images)
Speaking of NyQuil, some people even use licorice as a treatment for certain ailments. Harvested from the root of a plant properly known as Glycyrrhiza glabra and prepared as capsules, tablets and liquid extracts, there is some scientific evidence that it may help relieve eczema (by rubbing it and not eating it), heartburn (by eating it), and cough after removing a breathing tube used during surgery.
There are plenty of other claims about licorice root not backed by strong evidence such as that it can be used to treat canker sores, high cholesterol, hepatitis and obesity. Black licorice can also interfere with some medications such as decreasing the effectiveness of warfarin (Coumadin) and estrogen pills. Therefore, if you are taking any medications, check with your doctor before eating black licorice.
Of course, not everything that appears to be licorice or is even called licorice is really licorice. Red licorice is actually fruit-flavored and doesn't contain any licorice root at all. So don't worry about Halloweening yourself off Twizzlers if you are worried about cardiac arrhythmias. Happy Halloween.
