If you enjoy black licorice candy, herbal teas, or dietary supplements containing licorice root, you might wonder how long this substance remains in your body. Understanding the duration licorice stays in your system is crucial, especially considering its potential health effects when consumed regularly or in large amounts.
This comprehensive guide explores how long licorice and its active compounds stay in your body, the factors that influence this duration, and why this information matters for your health and safety.
Understanding Licorice and Its Active Compounds
Licorice comes from the root of the Glycyrrhiza glabra plant, which has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years. The key compound responsible for both licorice’s characteristic sweet taste and its biological effects is glycyrrhizic acid (also called glycyrrhizin).
When you consume licorice, your digestive system converts glycyrrhizic acid into glycyrrhetinic acid, which is the metabolically active form that produces most of licorice’s effects in your body.
Glycyrrhizic acid is remarkably sweet — approximately 50 times sweeter than regular table sugar — which explains why manufacturers use it as a natural sweetener in candies, beverages, and various food products.
How Long Does Licorice Stay in Your System?
Licorice has an exceptionally long half-life compared to many other food compounds. Research indicates that glycyrrhetinic acid, the active metabolite of glycyrrhizic acid, has a half-life ranging from 3.5 to over 20 hours, depending on individual factors.
However, the complete elimination of licorice compounds from your body takes considerably longer. Studies suggest that it can take anywhere from several days to several weeks for your body to fully eliminate licorice and its metabolites, particularly if you’ve been consuming it regularly.
Factors Affecting How Long Licorice Stays in Your Body
Several factors influence how quickly or slowly your body processes and eliminates licorice:
- Frequency of consumption: Regular daily consumption allows licorice compounds to accumulate in your system, extending the time needed for complete elimination.
- Amount consumed: Higher doses take longer to process and eliminate than smaller amounts.
- Individual metabolism: Your metabolic rate, influenced by genetics, age, and overall health, affects processing time.
- Liver function: Your liver plays a crucial role in metabolizing licorice compounds; impaired liver function can slow elimination.
- Kidney function: Healthy kidneys help filter and excrete metabolic byproducts; compromised kidney function extends retention time.
- Body composition: Body fat percentage and overall body composition can influence how compounds are stored and eliminated.
- Hydration levels: Adequate hydration supports the elimination process through urine.
Why the Duration Matters: Health Implications
Understanding how long licorice stays in your system is more than academic curiosity — it has real health implications, particularly if you consume licorice products regularly.
Accumulation and Toxicity Risk
Because licorice has a long half-life and elimination time, consuming it daily or multiple times per week allows glycyrrhetinic acid to accumulate in your body. This accumulation increases the risk of developing adverse effects, even if each individual serving seems moderate.
The accumulated glycyrrhetinic acid can inhibit an enzyme called 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2. This enzyme normally converts active cortisol into inactive cortisone. When inhibited, more cortisol remains active in your body, leading to effects that mimic a condition called hyperaldosteronism.
Pseudohyperaldosteronism: A Serious Concern
Regular, excessive licorice consumption can lead to pseudohyperaldosteronism, a condition characterized by:
- Elevated blood pressure
- Low potassium levels (hypokalemia)
- Sodium retention
- Fluid retention and swelling
- Irregular heartbeat or heart rhythm disturbances
- Muscle weakness
- Fatigue
In severe cases, this condition can lead to dangerous cardiac arrhythmias, including ventricular fibrillation, which can be life-threatening.
Documented Cases of Licorice Toxicity
Several case reports have documented serious health consequences from excessive licorice consumption. In one tragic case, a 54-year-old man died after consuming 1-2 large packages of black licorice candy daily for three weeks. He experienced ventricular fibrillation and subsequently died from electrolyte imbalances and multiorgan failure.
Another case involved a 55-year-old woman who developed severely low potassium levels and uncontrolled high blood pressure after consuming 1-2 packages of black licorice daily for four years. Fortunately, after eliminating licorice from her diet and following medical treatment, her condition resolved over several months.
These cases highlight how the accumulation of licorice compounds over time can lead to serious, potentially fatal consequences.
How Much Licorice Is Safe to Consume?
Given the long duration that licorice stays in your system and its potential for accumulation, understanding safe consumption levels is essential.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that adults limit their intake to no more than 100 mg of glycyrrhizic acid per day. This amount corresponds to approximately 2 to 2.5 ounces (60-70 grams) of licorice root or licorice-containing products.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that individuals aged 40 or older who consume 2 ounces (57 grams) of black licorice per day for at least two weeks may develop irregular heart rhythms requiring hospitalization.
Variability in Licorice Products
One challenge in determining safe consumption is that the glycyrrhizic acid content can vary dramatically between products — sometimes by as much as 30-fold. This makes it difficult to know exactly how much active compound you’re consuming unless the manufacturer provides specific information on the label.
When purchasing licorice products, check the ingredient list for terms like “licorice extract,” “licorice root,” “Glycyrrhiza glabra,” or “glycyrrhizic acid” to identify products that contain actual licorice.
Note that red licorice candy typically does not contain actual licorice root extract, so it doesn’t carry the same risks as black licorice.
Timeline for Symptom Resolution After Stopping Licorice
If you’ve been consuming licorice regularly and stop, how long does it take for potential adverse effects to resolve?
Research suggests that most people who develop pseudohyperaldosteronism from licorice consumption will see their symptoms improve within 1 to 4 weeks after completely eliminating licorice from their diet. However, complete normalization of blood pressure and electrolyte levels may take several months in some cases.
The recovery timeline depends on:
- How long you consumed licorice
- How much you consumed daily
- Your overall health status
- Whether you have pre-existing cardiovascular or kidney conditions
- How severe your electrolyte imbalances became
In some cases, high blood pressure may persist even after stopping licorice, requiring ongoing medical management.
Who Should Be Especially Cautious?
Certain individuals face higher risks from licorice consumption and should be particularly careful about both the amount consumed and frequency of consumption:
- People over 40: Age-related changes in metabolism and cardiovascular function increase sensitivity to licorice’s effects.
- Individuals with heart conditions: Pre-existing cardiac issues make dangerous arrhythmias more likely.
- People with high blood pressure: Licorice can further elevate blood pressure and may interfere with blood pressure medications.
- Those with kidney disease: Impaired kidney function slows elimination and increases accumulation risk.
- Individuals with liver disease: Compromised liver function affects metabolism of licorice compounds.
- People taking certain medications: Licorice can interact with diuretics, blood pressure medications, and other drugs.
- Pregnant women: Licorice consumption during pregnancy has been associated with adverse outcomes and should be avoided.
- People with low potassium levels: Licorice can further deplete potassium, creating dangerous imbalances.
Signs You May Need to Stop Consuming Licorice
If you regularly consume licorice products, watch for these warning signs that may indicate accumulation and toxicity:
- Unexplained increase in blood pressure
- Muscle weakness or cramping
- Irregular heartbeat or heart palpitations
- Persistent fatigue
- Swelling in your legs, ankles, or feet
- Headaches
- Numbness or tingling sensations
If you experience any of these symptoms and regularly consume licorice, stop consuming it immediately and consult your healthcare provider for evaluation.
Sources of Hidden Licorice
Beyond black licorice candy, many people unknowingly consume licorice from other sources, contributing to accumulation in their system:
- Herbal teas: Many digestive and respiratory teas contain licorice root.
- Dietary supplements: Licorice root extract appears in supplements for digestive health, adrenal support, and respiratory conditions.
- Cough drops and syrups: Traditional formulations often include licorice.
- Chewing tobacco: Some products use licorice as a flavoring agent.
- European candies and beverages: Licorice is more commonly used in European products than American ones.
- Some alcoholic beverages: Certain liqueurs and spirits contain licorice flavoring.
Reading ingredient labels carefully helps you identify all sources of licorice in your diet.
What to Do If You’ve Consumed Too Much Licorice
If you realize you’ve been consuming excessive amounts of licorice, take these steps:
- Stop all licorice consumption immediately: Discontinue all products containing licorice root or glycyrrhizic acid.
- Increase potassium-rich foods: Eat foods high in potassium such as bananas, sweet potatoes, spinach, and avocados to help counter potential deficiency.
- Stay well-hydrated: Drink plenty of water to support the elimination process.
- Monitor your symptoms: Pay attention to blood pressure, heart rhythm, and any unusual symptoms.
- Consult your healthcare provider: Seek medical evaluation, especially if you have symptoms or pre-existing health conditions. Your doctor may want to check your blood pressure and electrolyte levels.
Do not attempt to self-treat with supplements or medications without medical guidance. If you experience severe symptoms such as chest pain, severe irregular heartbeat, extreme weakness, or difficulty breathing, seek emergency medical care immediately.
Safer Alternatives to Licorice
If you enjoy licorice flavor but want to avoid the health risks associated with glycyrrhizic acid accumulation, consider these alternatives:
- Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL): This form has had most of the glycyrrhizic acid removed, making it safer for regular consumption while retaining some beneficial properties.
- Anise or fennel: These herbs provide a similar flavor profile without the glycyrrhizic acid content.
- Red licorice candy: Despite the name, this typically contains no actual licorice and gets its flavor from anise or other ingredients.
- Star anise: Offers a licorice-like flavor for cooking and beverages.
The Bottom Line
Licorice and its active compounds can remain in your system for several days to weeks, depending on various factors including consumption frequency, amount, and individual metabolism. The long half-life of glycyrrhetinic acid means that regular consumption allows these compounds to accumulate in your body, significantly increasing the risk of adverse effects.
Most healthy adults can safely consume up to 100 mg of glycyrrhizic acid per day (about 2-2.5 ounces of licorice), but even at this level, daily consumption over extended periods can lead to accumulation and potential health problems.
If you’ve been consuming licorice regularly and stop, it may take 1-4 weeks for symptoms to improve and several months for complete normalization of blood pressure and electrolyte levels.
The safest approach is to consume licorice only occasionally rather than daily, be aware of hidden sources of licorice in your diet, and consult with your healthcare provider if you have any pre-existing health conditions or concerns about your licorice consumption.
Remember, while licorice has been used medicinally for thousands of years and offers some potential health benefits, the risks of accumulation and toxicity are real and well-documented. Moderation and awareness are key to enjoying licorice safely.
Sources:
- National Library of Medicine – Case Report on Licorice Toxicity
- National Center for Biotechnology Information – Pseudohyperaldosteronism
- PubMed – Licorice-Induced Hypertension
- PMC – Traditional Uses of Licorice Root
- PMC – Pharmacokinetics of Glycyrrhizic Acid
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration – Black Licorice Safety
- World Health Organization – Food Additives Safety
- PubMed – Glycyrrhizic Acid Metabolism
⚕️ Medical Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information provided has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet, taking supplements, or starting any health regimen. Individual results may vary.