What are the effects of licorice?

Licorice has been noted to impact stress hormones significantly. According to Andrew Huberman, ingesting licorice can increase cortisol levels and consequently reduce testosterone and estrogen. This effect is not only substantial for serum cortisol, but it also leads to increased blood pressure. Due to these implications, it's advised to avoid licorice in conditions of chronic stress or if one seeks to optimize testosterone and estrogen levels. However, licorice might have a use case for adjusting to jet lag because of its effects on cortisol, which is associated with wakefulness and alertness. Still, care should be taken in its usage to prevent undesirable increases in cortisol levels throughout the day 1.

This data was published in May 2021, please consult the latest literature or professionals for more current information.