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Q. I have read your articles on licorice raising blood pressure, but you don't state if it is black licorice or both red and black licorice.
I have never suffered from high blood pressure and I enjoy red licorice once in a while. I don't notice any side effects from eating it. Is it safe?
A. Red licorice is totally safe. It doesn’t contain the ingredient (glycyrrhizin) found in black licorice that may raise blood pressure.
I'm astonished that you gave this question any credence at all and even more taken aback that you posted a picture of candy along with your answer. You either misunderstood the reader's question or you really don't understand what licorice is. Licorice is the root of a leguminous plant and has almost nothing to do with the candy of the same name. There is no such thing (in nature) as either red or black licorice; these are purely confectionary inventions.
What you are eating when you have the candy called licorice is corn syrup and food coloring. That's where any health danger lies. There is barely any extract of licorice in these products, if any at all, because the flavor is usually provided by adding aniseseed extract. Your photo that accompanies this question is of licorice allsorts or licorice whips - a far cry from the natural plant. Please see this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Licorice
Answer to question is correct! Red licorice IS totally safe because it is flavored with anise oil instead of licorice extract which contains glycyrrizinic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid which are use to flavor BLACK licorice (anise oil is also sometimes used). The culprits, glycyrrhizinic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid ARE mentioned in the Wikipedia article so referenced by "astonished" Dean W in his 8-10-08 posting. Licorice extract can cause Pseudoaldosteronism. It inhibits the enzyme 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, which converts cortisol to cortisone. Cortisol binds to the aldosterone receptors in the kidney and mimics aldosterone which causes water and sodium retention along with loss of potassium leading to increased bloodpressure and hypokalemia which in turn lead to cardiac arrhythmias.
Oh dear so I better stop eating a 200g roll every week then!!!!