Yes, that’s right. Eat too much black licorice, and your heart can stop.

(Okay, okay, it’s a bit of a dramatic extreme, but it’s true. I swear .)

Black licorice contains a compound called glycyrrhizic acid, which mimics a hormone in your body (aldosterone), which causes you to lose potassium through your urine. This causes what’s called hypokalemia , which can lead to abnormal heart rhythms. (Maintaining the right level of potassium in your body is vitally important. Too much or too little can cause abnormal heart rhythms. Luckily your kidneys usually keep everything juuuuust right.)

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