How to Avoid Liquorice to Reduce Blood Pressure Spikes

Contrary to some common beliefs, liquorice isn’t only found in those red twizzled things you eat at movie theaters. In fact, licorice candy has a very small amount of the herb liquorice, while some other foods have tons of it. While it may be tasty, it also can lead to swift increases in blood pressure. You can avoid liquorice to reduce blood pressure spikes with the following tips.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Know what the herb liquorice looks like and its aliases. It’s a tall legume with bean pods in which the roots are used for flavoring. It’s also known as black sugar, licorice root, sweetroot and sweetwood.
2. Be wary of deserts, teas, dark beers, liqueurs and smoking. Many cakes and confections use the herb for its sweet flavor; likewise with many drinks and pipe or cigarette tobacco.
3. Ask the chef. When dining out, make sure whatever you order does not include the herb. Ask the chef what dishes include it and don’t order them.
4. Prepare foods yourself. This way you know what’s in them. If a recipe calls for liquorice, substitute brown sugar or vanilla.
5. Let people know of your aversion to liquorice if you are going out to dinner parties or other gatherings where food is served.
6. When in doubt, skip it. You’re not going to die if you don’t eat that scrumptious looking piece of cake. But you may get sick if you do.

Tips & Warnings

• If you do eat too much liquorice and end up with soaring blood pressure, seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
• Don’t bring liquorice to hospital patients.