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[enigmatic_alex44]

I'm not into candy these days, but back when I was I liked Nerds, Runts, and Bottlecaps (actually I still like those). But I NEVER understood people willingly choosing licorice as a "treat". Is there a worse treat? Both red and black versions are vile, it's like eating a mildly flavored strip of car tire.

Well, I saw this on the Doctors show this week, and there's an article from this week too. Licorice can cause seizures and dangerous blood pressure levels:

Your mother was right: You really can overdose on candy.

Doctors are recommending that licorice makers list a daily limit on the package after an Italian boy suffered seizures from eating too much of the stuff.

The 10-year-old's parents brought him to the hospital in Bologna after the initial attack. He had three more seizures in a matter of hours and told doctors that he had a terrible headache, according to a report published Monday in Pediatric Neurology.

It wasn't until doctors noticed that the kid's teeth were stained black that they discovered the culprit — he had been eating at least 20 pieces of licorice a day for four months.

Licorice candy contains an active ingredient called glycyrrhizic acid that can trigger high blood pressure and hypertension in high doses.

The Italian boy's blood pressure rose so high he got a brain swelling condition called posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, or PRES.

“We concluded that the licorice intake could explain the boy’s hypertension and we recommended he stop the excessive ingestion of licorice immediately,” wrote Dr. Davide Tassinari and his colleagues at the University of Bologna in the report published Monday.

He's better now that he stopped eating the candy, the doctors said.

In their case study, the doctors noted that kids with a low body weight should be especially careful not to overdo it when eating licorice.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says consuming large quantities of licorice over a long period of time is what increases risk. The agency says it can be dangerous to eat as much as 2 ounces of licorice a day over a two-week period if you are indulging in it every day.

Yikes.

The doctors on the show mentioned this affects adults too, the limit should be 2 ounces if you are eating licorice daily which is what the health administration also recommends as the limit (who would subject themselves to that though???!!).

The next time someone offers you licorice politely toss it in the trash where it belongs!

 

[Dishwalla]

Black licorice is delicious.

Also those are recycle bins, not trash cans.

 

[NateDrake]

Black licorice is amazing.

 

[John Kowalski]

also stop drinking and driving

 

[Jeff-DSA]

Black licorice is disgusting.

 

[Skellig Gra]

You shouldn't be eating more than 2 ounces of candy a day regardless of what it is.

 

[Nikodemos]

2 ounces of candy a day is like, what, nearly 60 grams? Of which about 50 are pure sugar? Yeah, you probably shouldn't eat that much candy anyway.

And I don't see how anyone could eat two ounces of pure licorice a day. The taste is simply way too intense.

 

[-Horizon-]

Black licorice is disgusting.

Yep.

 

[nilbog21]

Correction: avoid licorice if you are morbidly overweight and have underlying blood pressure issues that could put you over the edge.

 

[Goro Majima]

Black licorice is awful so it's no wonder that it took this long to figure out that it causes seizures.

 

[marrec]

Double Salt Black Licorice 4 lyf

I only use it as an after dinner treat though, so I'm clear.

 

[DedValve]

When I was a kid I was told if I stayed quiet during Sunday school I'd get a tasty treat.

That was probably the most vile lie the church has ever told me. Licorice is shiiiiiiiit.

I tasted both and never again. I learned my lesson.

 

[Wilsongt]

Black licorice is disgusting.

Yep.

 

[Acorn]

Black licorice is amazing.

Nathan Drake continues to never let me down.

Edit wait no I meant to quote the hating liquorice dude.

 

[Not Spaceghost]

Black licorice is the best

 

[nateeasy]

The majority of red licorice contains zero licorice. Legit black licorice is amazing.

 

[Phreaker]

Black licorice is the best

Yep.

 

[Zombine]

I only like Lemon flavored twizzlers with that fruit punch center. The regular kind is disgusting.

 

[Jeff-DSA]

At the end of every container of Jelly Bellies lies a couple of handfuls of black licorice beans that have been touched by a hundred hands as they were tossed back into the bin.

 

[johnnyquicknives]

The only thing worse than black liquorice is people who call it liquorish.

 

[MikeyB]

Salty Dutch black licorice for maximum snacking.

 

[zoozilla]

When I was a kid my dad took me to a fancy event where there was a bowl of black licorice.

I had to go to the bathroom and wash out my mouth. I've never had it since, and I don't plan to start anytime soon.

 

[enigmatic_alex44]

The majority of all licorice contains zero good taste

FTFY. ur welcome

The only thing worse than black liquorice is people who call it liquorish.

LOL isn't that how it's pronounced???

 

[Dylan]

It wasn't until doctors noticed that the kid's teeth were stained black that they discovered the culprit — he had been eating at least 20 pieces of licorice a day for four months.

Uh, I don't think the lesson here is "Avoid licorice". It's, don't do that.


How did this kid even get access to 20 pieces of licorice per day for four months straight? Nobody noticed?

 

[NateDrake]

Nathan Drake continues to never let me down.

Edit wait no I meant to quote the hating liquorice dude.

Too late!

 

[Sho_Nuff82]

Licorice & Sweet Tooth do not belong in the same sentence.

Stuff is straight disgusting. Had a face like I was drinking beer for the first time whenever I tried it as a kid.

 

[Exile20]

Uh, I don't think the lesson here is "Avoid licorice". It's, don't do that.


How did this kid even get access to 20 pieces of licorice per day for four months straight? Nobody noticed?

lol

Strange but True: Drinking Too Much Water Can Kill

If you are thirsty, love yourself and avoid water!

 

[Kieli]

Liquorice is putrid. More like punishment than treat.

 

[SliceSabre]

But Black licorice is the best. Fuck those doctors!

 

[RoKKeR]

Black licorice is fucking disgusting.

Redvines on the other hand...

 

[Daria Morgendorffer]

That's not even real licorice, the best licorice is salty or double salty.

 

[shinobi602]

Licorice is probably one of the most disgusting flavors for me. Absolutely awful to my taste buds.

 

[Koppai]

lol

Strange but True: Drinking Too Much Water Can Kill

If you are thirsty, love yourself and avoid water!

A lady died because she drank a shitload of water and didn't pee trying to win a Wii in a contest. Even a nurse called in to the station and told them it was dangerous and they didn't listen. The woman died and they were all fired...maybe faced fines and jail time too.

 

[snacknuts]

Black licorice is fucking disgusting.

Redvines on the other hand...

...are worse

 

[theechrisfox]

I like coiling a twizzler around two strips of bacon, Sweet and salty snack, the licorice flavor (it doesn't contain any real licorice, so don't worry, I won't die or convulse) goes well with the savory bacon.

 

[RoKKeR]

...are worse

lol

"Ooh, sorry. The correct answer was "are infinitely better". Thanks for playing!"

 

[>:)]

You guys are doing it wrong

 

[CrudeDiatribe]

Both red and black versions are vile, it's like eating a mildly flavored strip of car tire.

That's not real liquorice. The black is "liquorice flavoured" candy and the red is cherry or strawberry made in the same mould.

Black licorice is awful so it's no wonder that it took this long to figure out that it causes seizures.

They've known for years. It is rare though.

 

[Orbis Tabula]

Glycyrrhizic acid, huh? I'm remember that one for Hangman.

 

[Zona]

I love black liquorice! Never been something I'd binge on though. The most I would ever eat in a sitting is a box of good&plenty's at the movies.

 

[EdwardTivrusky]

What about Pontefract Cakes?

Also, you can take my Tiger Tots away from my cold dead hands, not that i can find them often any more

Love liquorice just don't eat too much every day, moderation people, come on!

 

[so1337]

Black licorice is disgusting.

Yep.

 

[Gentleman Jack]

Black licorice is delicious.

Also those are recycle bins, not trash cans.

Black and clear plastic can be recycled the same way.

 

[BGBW]

Licorice is great because of people like the OP who don't like it. You can safely "share" it knowing that most likely you'll get to keep it to yourself.

Especially the salted kind.

 

[enigmatic_alex44]

That's not real liquorice. The black is "liquorice flavoured" candy and the red is cherry or strawberry made in the same mould.

I know the real stuff is stronger and more bitter which is even worse. Though even the square candy version digusts me:

Also those are recycle bins, not trash cans.

Recycle your uneaten licorice to make new car and bike tires!

 

[Culex]

Whenever I go to cape cod I get black licorice.

It's one of my favorites. I use it with my chocolate martini's.

 

[Rhomega Beta]

Black licorice tastes like rubber. Red licorice is good.

 

[Tacitus_]

I know the real stuff is stronger and more bitter which is even worse. Though even the square candy version digusts me:

Those things are disgusting. Get it proper or not at all.

 

[theepicoftyler]

The Doctors broadcast scientifically accurate or plausible information about 50% of the time.

http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-dr-oz-claims-fact-check-bmj-20141219-story.html

 

[Peru]

Salty black licorice is the best thing in the world. Genuinely a daily struggle to keep myself from gorging on it constantly.