Licorice, Sweet Root, Salmiak Pastilles and High Blood Pressure

Extracts from the sweet root are popular treats, especially as licorice or salmiak pastilles. But sweet root is also added as a sweetening flavoring in many teas.

The typical sweet taste of sweet root is mainly due to the glycyrrhizin it contains (a mixture of potassium and calcium salts of glycyrrhizic acid). This glycoside has a sweetness 50 times stronger than that of cane sugar.

However, sweet root is appreciated not only for its taste. Its ingredients have expectorant, mucolytic, and soothing effects, making it beneficial for infections of the upper respiratory tract. It is also helpful for stomach complaints due to its antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Caution with High Blood Pressure!

People suffering from elevated blood pressure should be cautious, as excessive consumption can further increase blood pressure. The ingredients of sweet root can also affect the body's own hormones such as cortisol and aldosterone. This can disrupt the regulation of the body's water-electrolyte balance, and with high or regular consumption of products containing sweet root, there can be a significant loss of potassium. However, sodium and water are retained in the kidneys. This effect in turn raises blood pressure. This is exacerbated when diuretics - that is, dehydrating medications commonly known as "water pills" - are taken.

Since excessive consumption can also be detrimental to healthy individuals, EU regulations require that foods with a certain glycyrrhizin content carry a warning label. This states that sweet root is included and that excessive consumption should be avoided in cases of elevated blood pressure. Unfortunately, it is not possible to definitively state when a critical dose is reached - especially for those suffering from hypertension. A tea manufacturer notes that 2.5 g of sweet root daily is considered non-critical. At the same time, however, it is recommended that hypertensive individuals do not drink tea with sweet root daily. Therefore, we advise consulting with the treating physician or pharmacist to determine whether and how much licorice, tea with sweet root, and similar products are considered tolerable in individual cases. Those who want to be on the safe side should best avoid it altogether.

Sources

By Sabine Croci. This article is medically reviewed. Last updated (03/2024).
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Licorice, Sweet Root, Salmiak Pastilles and High Blood Pressure

Caution with High Blood Pressure!

Sources

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