Common sweet treat can boost gut health and potentially slow cancer

29 February 2024 , 16:23

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Liquorice snails could have many health benefits (Image: Getty Images)

A common sweet treat has been identified as helping to improve your gut health and even slow down the growth of cancer.

Liquorice, which can also be enjoyed as a tea or used in herbal remedies, has been proven to have many health benefits. The plant it comes from, Glycyrrhiza glabra, has been used in traditional medicine for hundreds of years to boost health. This plant is native to Western Asia, North Africa, and Southern Europe. It's been used for its flavour for a long time, and now studies are showing that it's good for our health too.

Even though the healthiest part of the plant is its root, liquorice sweets still have lots of benefits. Locals in the Netherlands and Italy started using liquorice root to make sweets in the 17th century. But here in England, we've been making liquorice sweets since the 18th century, reports Gloucestershire Live.

The town of Pontefract in Yorkshire became famous for making these sweets. Liquorice has lots of health benefits. It can help reduce inflammation, which can help with arthritis and skin conditions. Lowering your inflammation level can also reduce your risk of strokes, heart disease and some types of cancer.

Some studies suggest that Licochalcone-A, a compound found in the root, can stop cancer cells from growing. This has been linked to slowing down or even stopping cell growth in skin, breast and prostate cancers. But that's not all liquorice root can do. It's often used to help with tummy troubles like acid reflux, stomach ulcers and heartburn.

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One study found that adults with these issues who took liquorice root daily had fewer symptoms over two years than those who took common anti-acids. However, it's important to remember that too much of a good thing can be bad. The British Heart Foundation warns that eating too much liquorice can cause problems like high blood pressure, fluid retention, muscle weakness and heart rhythm abnormalities. This is because of a substance called glycyrrhizin found in liquorice.

Before eating large amounts of liquorice daily (57g or more), it is recommended that you check with a health professional whether you're suitable to do so. This is particularly important if you have blood pressure problems.

Rom Preston-Ellis