Interesting Food Facts: Do You Like Licorice?

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My Dad was a big fan of black licorice. I never liked it but maybe you do. Well, if you like that chewy candy beware...eating too much can land you in the hospital. BLACK LICORICE According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), black licorice contains the compound "glycyrrhizin," and eating this candy to excess can cause potassium levels in your body to fall. It is possible to cause an irregular heartbeat leading to death which actually happened to a man in Massachusetts in 2019. Of course, this actually happening is very rare. Just how much is too much licorice? The FDA recommends for those over the age of 40, eating more than two ounces a day (about 6 pieces of licorice) for more than two weeks is enough to put you at risk for irregular heart beats. Other health issues related to licorice overeating are fatigue, high blood pressure, stroke and kidney stones. So, if your eating too many Twizzlers at one time or daily and you notice an irregular heartbeat, it's time to take your hand out of that candy bowl! Grab a banana or eat a baked potato instead, which contain high levels of potassium and help with maintaining a normal BP and heartbeat. When consuming many foods knowing the ingredients and how it may possibly affect your body is important. And this confection is no different. Are you a black licorice or red licorice eater? Did you know about these side effects from overeating this candy? Source- Eating Well and The Daily Meal