Pregnant Women Cautioned Against Liquorice, Study Shows The Sweetener Can Cause Harmful Effects On Baby

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Pregnant women were advised to be cautious with the food that they eat, and while some foods should be taken moderately, some should be left avoided at all cost. One of which is the consumption of liquorice as it is known to not only affect the child's IQ but also the memory while also increasing the chance of having ADHD.

A new study conducted by Finnish researchers includes a comparison of 400 youths and their mothers, as NHS reported. They have assessed whether their pregnant mom has consumed a large quantity of the popular sweet or not. The study has defined a large quantity as more than 500mg of glycyrrhizin per week which is similar to 250g of liquorice.

The study has also required the young respondents to accomplish several cognitive reasoning tests to determine the level of their intelligence and found out that those who were exposed to a larger amount of liquorice while inside the womb have performed less than those who have little-to-nothing at all. Meanwhile, a study reprinted in the American Journal of Epidemiology stated the exposed youths have the worst memory.

The glycyrrhizin present in the liquorice increases the stress hormone's cortisol by hindering the enzyme that inactivates it. While cortisol is needed in the fetus' development, large amounts of it can be harmful, according to The Guardian. The natural sweetener can also increase the chance of the fetus to develop ADHD-type problems. It also shows how it can make girls start puberty earlier -- placing them at risk of diabetes, heart disease, and breast cancer.

Therefore, pregnant women and those who are planning to have a family were warned about the use of liquorice and the harmful effects of its glycyrrhizin and this was supported by the researchers of the University of Helsinki. However, it has shed no further details whether it is directly responsible for the child's development or not.