We all know that too much candy is bad for us, but how much is too much?
When it comes to black licorice, the limit is surprisingly small.
According to a report by the FDA, adults 40 and older can actually “overdose” on the popular candy if they eat more than 2 ounces of it per day. That works out to about three one-inch pieces — which means just four daily sticks of black licorice could potentially land you in the hospital.
Black licorice contains a compound called glycyrrhizin that can lower your potassium levels. This can lead to an irregular heartbeat. This irregular heartbeat is what could potentially send black licorice lovers to the hospital if they’re over 40.
It would take you about two weeks to build up enough glycyrrhizin in your blood to mess with your heart rate, so you’re probably in the clear if you already had some black licorice today.
Once the consumption of black licorice stops, heart rate usually returns to normal with “no permanent health problems.”
Luckily, Americans don’t seem to particularly like black licorice. But if you do, this is important information to keep in mind.
Plus, there are plenty of other yummy Halloween candy options to replace your black licorice fix.
Check out the video below to learn a little more about this study, and please Liked Video this important news on Facebook to keep your friends and family safe!
