Licorice it has a sweet taste and is mainly used to make candies and confectionery, but the licorice roots or the pure licorice have multiple beneficial effects on health.
Let's find out better.
- Description of the plant
- Benefits of licorice
- Effects of licorice
- Does licorice make you lose weight?
- Controindicazioni
- Calories and nutritional values ​​of licorice
- How to use
- Curiosities about licorice
Description of the plant
The licorice plant (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is native to Western Asia and Southern Europe and belongs to the Leguminosae family, the same which includes the bean, pea and chickpea.
It is a perennial herbaceous plant, whose roots are used, considered one of the oldest herbal remedies. In fact, they were already used in ancient Egypt to make a liquorice-based liqueur intended for the pharaohs.
In addition, they were used in traditional Chinese medicine to relieve stomach pain, inflammation and breathing problems.
Benefits of licorice
Licorice it can be useful to counteract or prevent some ailments.
Here is a list of its beneficial properties:
- Antioxidant e inflammatory.
- Antimicrobial.
- Counteracts gastroesophageal reflux, heartburn and stomach pain.
- Counteracts peptic ulcers.
- Reduces the risk of cancer.
- Relieves respiratory ailments.
- Improve your blood sugar.
- Counteracts the symptoms of menopause.
- It improves the quality of the skin, counteracting acne and eczema.
Effects of licorice
Licorice is very useful in case of arterial hypotension, especially in the warm seasons.
It can be a good remedy to always carry it with you and consume it to raise the pressure in case of drops.
He's able to relieve reflux symptoms gastroesophageal.
In addition, it has an effect on the symptoms of menopause, relieving them.
Like licorice, there are other natural remedies for low blood pressure - find out what they are
Does licorice make you lose weight?
According to some studies, licorice would promote weight loss, through a mechanism not yet known.
However, other research has not confirmed the same hypothesis and new studies will be needed to get more information.
It should always be emphasized that although a food can provide a little help in reducing fat mass, it is essential to follow a personalized diet and an active lifestyle in order to achieve long-term results.
Controindicazioni
Un Moderate use of licorice is considered safe and has no adverse effects in healthy individuals.
However, prolonged consumption or in excessive doses could:
- Increase cortisol levels in the blood.
- Raise blood pressure.
- Lower blood potassium levels.
- Lead to muscle weakness.
- Impair the brain development of the fetus pregnant.
Calories and nutritional values ​​of licorice
100 g of sweet licorice provide:
How to use
Licorice it tastes sweet, thanks to the presence of the active ingredient glycyrrhizin.
It's possible use licorice roots, licorice extract or licorice in capsules.
You can use it for to flavor drinks or food, or to make a liqueur.
You can prepare one licorice tea leaving the licorice roots to infuse, or, they can be found on the market ready to use, to be consumed, for example, to relieve gastrointestinal disorders, such as heaviness or abdominal swelling.
Very often it comes used for the production of candy or confectionery, but today it is also increasingly used for savory preparations, such as licorice risotto.
Properties and use of licorice mother tincture
Curiosities about licorice
The roots of licorice they were used by the ancient Egyptians to make a sweet drink intended for the pharaohs.
Licorice it is used by traditional Chinese medicine to relieve gastrointestinal symptoms such as stomach pain, or to reduce inflammatory states and respiratory disorders.
