It is also used in toothpaste or certain medications. In addition to its medicinal properties – it helps fight coughs, flu and some allergies – it is usually added in these compounds to improve the taste.
Well, a recent study from the Shaheed Beheshti University of Tehran (Iran) warns about the possible adverse effects that its habitual consumption can have on the libido. And is that licorice intake reduces testosterone levels in men , which in the long run could cause a certain decrease in sexual desire.
The experiment carried out by the Iranian scientists consisted of providing volunteers with 1.3 grams of licorice extract to chew for ten days.
Afterwards, the level of this hormone was measured and it was found that it had dropped compared to what the participants had before starting the test. The authors of the research hypothesize that this effect is due to the phytoestrogens contained in the plant, which affect the human endocrine system.
