Experts have warned people against eating too much liquorice. It follows the case of a 56-year-old woman who was admitted to hospital after overdosing on liquorice. The woman from Yorkshire went into muscle failure, a potentially fatal condition, after eating too much Pontefract cake. Writing in the Postgraduate Medical Journal, doctors said she had been eating the liquorice sweets to relieve chronic constipation. The active ingredient in liquorice, glycyrrhizic acid, is found in a variety of products, including herbal remedies. A report by the European Commission published earlier this year suggested that people should not consume any more than 100mg of glycyrrhizic acid a day. Studies have shown that it can increase blood pressure or cause muscle weakness and chronic fatigue. Other problems include headaches or swelling. Recent research suggested it can also lower testosterone levels in men, affecting their mood and sex drive.
