For thousands of years, licorice root has been used to treat various ailments, including respiratory issues and digestive ...

Eating licorice regularly, in large quantities or with certain medications can cause serious side effects. But why is that?

Another key factor to consider is the dosage. While licorice root is generally considered safe, taking too much can lead to side effects like high blood pressure and low potassium levels.

However, the FDA warned that black licorice could become toxic when eaten in excess. Here's why: The main component in black licorice is glycyrrhizin, a sweet compound in licorice root.

This particular type of licorice root undergoes a process to eliminate the glycyrrhizin component, which can cause unwanted side effects like hypertension and decreased potassium levels.