Man Hospitalised With Dangerously High Blood Pressure 'After Eating Liquorice Jelly Beans Daily'

A man was recently hospitalised with dangerously high blood pressure and low potassium levels, but doctors couldn’t understand why.

After a bit of digging, medical staff discovered that the 51-year-old’s daily habit of eating a bag of liquorice jelly beans was most likely to blame.

Liquorice is particularly dangerous to people over 40 years old who have a history of heart disease and/or high blood pressure, according to Dr Nitin Shori, an online doctor with Pharmacy2U.

He added: “No matter how old you are, if you eat more than 57g (2oz) of black liquorice a day for more than two weeks, it can cause serious problems with your heart.”

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According to a paper published in the journal Postgraduate Medicine, the man was hospitalised in Ontario, Canada, having suffered with abdominal pain for three days followed by a loss of appetite, vomiting and a dry mouth.

But doctors were baffled because he had no history of high blood pressure or of any underlying conditions that may cause it.

They later discovered that the man had something of a liquorice jelly bean addiction - eating a bag of 50 beans a day.

Black liquorice contains glycyrrhizin, a sweetening compound taken from liquorice root, which can cause potassium levels in the body to fall. However potassium is crucial for maintaining normal heart activity.

According to the NHS, decreased potassium levels can lead to some people experiencing abnormal heart rhythms, as well as high blood pressure, swelling, lethargy and, in very serious cases, heart failure.

The patient was advised to give up the jelly beans and, soon after, his health returned to normal.

Dr Tamara Spaic, an endocrinologist who helped with the case, told National Post that had they not discovered the root of his condition, the patient may have remained on blood pressure drugs to cope with the condition permanently.

While liquorice is safe to eat in moderation for most people, experts advise that no matter how old you are “you should avoid eating large amounts of black liquorice over a short space of time”.

The NHS adds that if you’ve been eating a lot of black liquorice and begin to have heart palpitations, muscle weakness or other health-related problems, stop eating it immediately and seek medical advice.

Experts from Maryland University advise anyone using liquorice-based medicine to not use it for longer than four to six weeks.

They add that people with the following conditions should avoid taking or eating liquorice full stop:

:: heart failure
:: heart disease
:: hormone-sensitive cancers such as breast, ovarian, uterine or prostate cancer
:: fluid retention
:: high blood pressure
:: diabetes
:: kidney disease
:: liver disease
:: low potassium (hypokalemia)
:: erectile dysfunction.

Additionally, pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid eating liquorice, they said.

Foods That Lower Blood Pressure Naturally

Kiwis(01 of07)

Research presented at a meeting last year of the American Heart Association shows that eating three kiwis a day is linked with decreased blood pressure.That study included 188 men and women age 55 and older, with slightly high blood pressure. They were instructed to eat three kiwis a day, or an apple a day for eight weeks.The researchers found that the people who ate the kiwis had lower systolic blood pressure levels than those who ate the apples. Kiwis are known to be rich in lutein, which means they have antioxidant properties. Flickr photo by whologwhy. (credit:Getty )

Peas, Bananas And Other Potassium-Rich Foods (02 of07)

A 2005 study in the journal Hypertension found that it's possible to get the blood pressure-lowering effects from potassium-containing foods, instead of just from a potassium supplement.Researchers from St. George's Medical School in London found that people who consumed potassium citrate -- which is found naturally in food -- has the same effects in decreasing blood pressure in people with hypertension as those who took potassium chloride, which is only available as a supplement, Harvard Medical School reported.Flickr photo by robin_24. (credit:Getty )

Watermelon(03 of07)

Watermelon is not just refreshing, it contains a bounty of nutrients including fiber, lycopenes, vitamin A and potassium, according to the Mother Nature Network. And, a study from Florida State University researchers shows that an amino acid found -- called L-citrulline/L-arginine -- in watermelon could also have blood pressure-lowering effects. The researchers had nine people with prehypertension take 6 grams of the L-citrulline/L-arginine amino acid a day over a six-week period. They found that the study participants had lower blood pressure, as well as better functioning of their arteries. Flickr photo by Gudlyf. (credit:Getty )

(Purple) Potatoes(04 of07)

Spuds may get a bad rap in the foodsphere, but a small study presented last year at a meeting of the American Chemical Society showed that the purple-hued root vegetables have blood pressure-lowering powers that are nearly as effective as oatmeal, without packing on pounds. The study included 18 people with high blood pressure. They ate six to eight purple potatoes (including the skins!) twice a day, for a month-long period. The researchers found that the study participants' systolic and diastolic blood pressure dropped at the end of the research period. (Though, it should be noted that this was just an observational study, and the potato-eaters' blood pressure was not compared to people who did not eat purple potatoes during the study.) Flickr photo by Taransa. (credit:Flickr: Taransa)

Tofu(05 of07)

Eating a lot of tofu and other soy foods -- like soy nuts, miso, edamame, tempeh and soy milk -- is linked with decreased blood pressure, WebMD reported.The study, presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology, included 5,000 people whose diets were tracked over 20 years. The researchers found that the ones who consumed the most isoflavones -- found in soy, as well as peanuts and green tea -- had lower systolic blood pressure than those who consumed the fewest isoflavones, according to WebMD. Flickr photo by FotoosVanRobin. (credit:Flickr: FotoosVanRobin)

Chocolate(06 of07)

Chocolate is linked with a lower BMI -- and it could be beneficial for people with hypertension.A 2010 review of studies in the journal BMC Medicine showed that flavanols, which are found in chocolate, seemed to promote the dilation of blood vessels, which in turn can lower blood pressure. "Flavanols have been shown to increase the formation of endothelial nitric oxide, which promotes vasodilation and consequently may lower blood pressure," study researcher Dr. Karin Ried, of the University of Adelaide in Austria, said in a statement. "There have, however, been conflicting results as to the real-life effects of eating chocolate. We've found that consumption can significantly, albeit modestly, reduce blood pressure for people with high blood pressure but not for people with normal blood pressure."Flickr photo by Siona Karen. (credit:Flickr: Siona Karen)

Chili Peppers(07 of07)

If you love a little heat with your food, it could be doing your blood pressure a favor, too. A 2010 study in the journal Cell Metabolism showed that capsaicin -- the spicy ingredient in chili peppers -- could help to lower blood pressure in rats with hypertension. However, the researchers from the Third Military Medical University in China noted that the results need to be replicated in humans. Flickr photo by Trostle. (credit:Flickr: Trostle)