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Pregnant Women Warned to Beware Licorice

Pregnant women are frequently warned to avoid drugs unless their obstetrician has specifically verified that they are safe. Now, a study from Finland suggests that they should also have their candy selections vetted. In particular, pregnant women should avoid natural licorice.
Over 1000 children born in Helsinki in 1998 have been followed for more than a decade. In 2006 the children were given a battery of neuropsychological tests, including intelligence, vocabulary and spatial motor skills. Those whose mothers had eaten a lot of black licorice during pregnancy scored less well than those whose mothers had eaten little or no licorice. They had also more behavioral problems and symptoms of aggressiveness and attention deficit disorder. An ingredient in licorice, glycyrrhizin, affects hormones and appears to have a negative impact on fetal brain development. Based on these findings, women should be cautious about consuming natural licorice during pregnancy.
[American Journal of Epidemiology, Nov. 1, 2009]

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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