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Item
#10
SEXUAL
DYSFUNCTION FROM LICORICE
Licorice
acts like cortisone and reduces testosterone.
In
its chemical structure, licorice is so similar to many hormones
that it can amplify or interfere with their functions. Thus, since
it acts like cortisone, it can cause retention of excess salt in
our tissues (if we use enough licorice), causing ankle swelling
and puffy eyelids, raising our blood pressure (possibly with
headaches), and bringing on heart failure. The more you consume,
the greater are these effects.
Italian
researchers have recently shown that licorice also reduces
production of testosterone (a male hormone). This could explain
many cases of impotence in young men who habitually consume a lot
of licorice. In this context, we wish to remind readers that
licorice is to be found in many things, including some brands of
chewing gum and most types of chewing tobacco. Since chewing
tobacco contains more licorice than do most other things, just
think of its effect on those constantly tobacco-chewing, baseball
players!
It
is also present in many brands of breath freshener, candy, and
beverages (especially imported beers, pastis, and anisette). Even
some so-called health products, such as herbal teas, cough
mixtures and throat lozenges contain enough licorice to cause salt
retention. However, since not all brands of these products contain
licorice, read their package labeling and buy one that is
licorice-free. If you find licorice hard to resist, avoid its
regular daily use, and take a piece of it just occasionally.
Sources:
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(341:1158,’99)
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Did
you know?
Purdue
University scientists believe they've found a way to make insulin
for diabetics available in pills instead of daily shots. The
breakthrough is a new acrylic-based, gel-like coating on the pills
to improve the body's absorption of insulin. Efforts to control
diabetes with insulin pills have failed because the body digests
them much too quickly. The new product, so far tested only in
diabetic rats and dogs, "can potentially overcome these
barriers," said researcher Nicholas Peppas.
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