Understanding Your Diet: When Should Licorice Be Avoided?

October 6, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), the compound glycyrrhizin in licorice root can cause serious adverse effects, such as irregular heartbeat and cardiac arrest, when consumed in large amounts. This makes understanding when should licorice be avoided crucial for certain individuals and health conditions.

Quick Summary

Licorice, particularly varieties containing glycyrrhizin, should be avoided by individuals with pre-existing health conditions like high blood pressure, heart, or kidney disease. Pregnant or breastfeeding women and those on specific medications should also exercise extreme caution or abstain completely. Safe consumption depends on the individual's health status and the type of product.

Key Points

Pre-existing Conditions: Licorice should be strictly avoided by individuals with high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney issues, or low potassium levels due to the effects of glycyrrhizin.
Medication Interactions: It can interfere with the effectiveness of common medications, including diuretics, blood thinners, and blood pressure drugs, and increase side effects of corticosteroids.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Licorice consumption is unsafe for pregnant women due to potential risks of preterm delivery and developmental problems in the child, and should also be avoided during breastfeeding.
Glycyrrhizin is the Concern: The compound glycyrrhizin is the key concern, causing fluid retention, low potassium, and hypertension; products without this compound, like DGL, are a safer alternative.
Read Labels Carefully: Not all products labeled "licorice" contain the harmful compound; many candies use anise oil instead, but medicinal supplements often contain real licorice root.
Small Amounts for Healthy Individuals: For healthy people, occasional, small amounts of licorice are generally considered safe, but chronic or excessive intake carries significant risks.
Consult a Professional: Always talk to a healthcare provider before taking licorice supplements, especially if you have health conditions or take other medications.

The Risks of Glycyrrhizin in Licorice

Licorice root contains glycyrrhizin, a compound responsible for its sweet flavor but also its potential health risks. Glycyrrhizin mimics the hormone aldosterone, leading to pseudohyperaldosteronism, which can be hazardous for many individuals. It causes the kidneys to retain sodium and water while excreting potassium, resulting in low potassium (hypokalemia) and increased blood pressure. This can strain the cardiovascular system and other organs, potentially leading to serious complications.

Specific Health Conditions Warranting Avoidance

Certain health conditions are exacerbated by glycyrrhizin, making licorice avoidance necessary.

Heart Conditions

Those with heart disease should avoid licorice. Sodium and water retention can worsen heart failure, and low potassium can cause irregular heartbeats. Excessive consumption has been linked to cardiac arrest.

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

Licorice raises blood pressure, so individuals with hypertension should avoid it. It can interfere with blood pressure medications. A study showed that even a low daily dose of glycyrrhizin increased blood pressure in healthy volunteers.

Kidney and Liver Disease

Licorice strains the kidneys due to electrolyte imbalance and fluid retention, potentially worsening kidney disease. It can also pose risks for those with liver conditions.

Low Potassium (Hypokalemia)

Individuals with low potassium should avoid licorice as it can dangerously lower levels further, causing symptoms like muscle weakness and heart palpitations.

Hormone-Sensitive Conditions

Licorice contains compounds with estrogen-like activity. People with hormone-sensitive conditions like breast, uterine, or ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids should avoid it.

Dangerous Interactions with Medications

Licorice can interact with numerous medications.

Blood Pressure Medications: Licorice can increase blood pressure, reducing the effectiveness of these drugs.
Diuretics: Combining licorice with diuretics can cause dangerously low potassium.
Digoxin: Low potassium from licorice can increase the toxicity of this heart medication.
Corticosteroids: Licorice can enhance the effects and side effects of corticosteroids.
Blood Thinners (e.g., Warfarin): Licorice may reduce warfarin's effectiveness, increasing clot risk.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: A Clear Warning

Pregnant and breastfeeding women should strictly avoid licorice.

Pregnancy

Consuming large amounts of licorice can increase the risk of preterm delivery. High maternal glycyrrhizin intake has been linked to negative impacts on childhood cognitive development and increased risk of behavioral issues.

Breastfeeding

Due to limited safety information and the potential for glycyrrhizin to pass into breast milk, avoidance is recommended.

Not All "Licorice" Is Created Equal

Many licorice-flavored candies in the U.S. use anise oil, which is safe in moderation and does not contain glycyrrhizin.

Comparing Licorice and Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice (DGL)

DGL (Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice) is a safer alternative for seeking licorice's benefits without glycyrrhizin's risks. It is processed to remove or significantly reduce glycyrrhizin.


Feature	Traditional Licorice Root	Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice (DGL)
Glycyrrhizin Content	Present in significant amounts	Removed or reduced to trace levels
Safety Profile	Risky for vulnerable groups and in excess; causes electrolyte imbalance and hypertension	Generally considered safe for most people; minimal risk of glycyrrhizin side effects
Best For	Mild, occasional use by healthy individuals; should be avoided by at-risk populations	Consistent, long-term use for digestive health support
Use Cases	Traditional herbal remedies, flavorings in low quantity	Supplements for acid reflux, ulcers, and overall gut health

Consulting a Healthcare Professional

Always consult a healthcare provider or pharmacist before consuming licorice, especially with pre-existing conditions or medications. This information is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

Conclusion

Licorice root's glycyrrhizin means it's not safe for everyone. When should licorice be avoided is critical: if pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have high blood pressure, heart, kidney, or low potassium issues, or are on certain medications. While small, occasional amounts may be safe for healthy individuals, at-risk groups should avoid it entirely. DGL is a safer option for therapeutic use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Licorice root contains glycyrrhizin, which can cause the body to retain sodium and water, leading to elevated blood pressure. This effect can be particularly dangerous for individuals already diagnosed with hypertension or taking blood pressure medication.

No, pregnant women should avoid licorice, especially licorice root products. The glycyrrhizin in licorice has been linked to an increased risk of preterm delivery and potential developmental issues in the child.

The main difference is the presence of glycyrrhizin. DGL (Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice) has had this compound removed, eliminating the risk of side effects like high blood pressure and low potassium. Regular licorice root contains glycyrrhizin.

There is no single safe amount, as individual sensitivity varies. However, health agencies suggest that consuming more than 100 mg of glycyrrhizin a day is potentially problematic. For some, more than 2 ounces of black licorice daily for two weeks may cause harm.

Yes, excessive consumption can lead to hypokalemia (low potassium), which in turn can cause abnormal heart rhythms or cardiac arrhythmia.

Licorice root tea should be avoided by pregnant and breastfeeding women, those with high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, or low potassium levels, and anyone on medications that might interact with glycyrrhizin.

Most licorice-flavored candy in the U.S. is made with anise oil, not real licorice root. Anise oil does not contain glycyrrhizin and does not pose the same health risks, though it still contains sugar.