• Rich chemical composition of licorice
• Liquorice - Properties
• Contraindications to the use of licorice and possible side effects

Originally from southern Europe and Asia, smooth licorice is a plant today primarily associated with black candies with a very distinctive flavor. Licorice root is about 50 times sweeter than sugar, and candies made from it are very popular in Belgium, the Netherlands, throughout Scandinavia, Italy, and France. In Poland, however, black gummies, candies, and chewing gum with a spicy-herbal, slightly bitter aftertaste, reminiscent of cough syrup, are not very popular. That's a shame, because licorice has many interesting health-promoting properties that were already valued in ancient medicine in countries like China, Rome, and Egypt. If you're not a fan of licorice in the form of candies, you can take it in capsules or extracts . It's worth knowing what properties this plant has and what it can be used for.

Rich chemical composition of licorice

Used in the confectionery and cosmetics industries, licorice root is rich in mineral salts, triterpenes, glycyrrhizin, flavonoids, polysaccharides, essential oils, saponins, amino acids, and flavonoids such as glabrin, hispglabridin, glabridin, liquiritin, and isoliquiritin. Licorice is found in cosmetics for couperose skin, hair cosmetics, and even toothpaste.

Liquorice - Properties

Candies and gummy bears made with licorice have the advantage over other sweets in that, unlike sugar-sweetened products, which contribute to the development of cavities, licorice root prevents cavities. Among other things, licorice root has the following effects:

• expectorant,
• anti-inflammatory,
• antiviral,
• antifungal,
• diastolic,
• Antioxidant,
• Stimulating the work of the immune system.

Therefore, licorice is beneficial in the treatment of upper respiratory tract diseases because it has an expectorant effect, reduces secretions in the lungs, and relaxes the smooth muscles of the bronchi. Licorice extract also has a positive effect on the proper functioning of the kidneys and bladder and supports liver and stomach function. It also helps relieve symptoms associated with stomach and duodenal ulcers. Licorice also effectively supports the fight against tooth decay and prevents discoloration and tartar formation on teeth.

Contraindications to the use of licorice and possible side effects

Licorice should not be consumed by people suffering from high blood pressure, liver cirrhosis, kidney failure, kidney stones, or low potassium levels. Licorice is not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women, or for children under 4 years of age (the high concentration of glycyrrhizin in licorice can lead to brain development disorders in children). Even with dietary supplements containing licorice extract, you should strictly adhere to the permitted daily dose, as excess can lead to undesirable side effects, such as:

• pressure fluctuations,
• cardiac arrhythmias,

Although people in France, Belgium, and Sweden gorge themselves on the characteristic black gummy bears, licorice isn't as popular in Poland. Especially during the cold and rainy season, it's worth indulging in this unusual delicacy from time to time and in moderation to support our respiratory system in its fight against viruses and microorganisms.