Healthier Confectionery
LOVELY LIQUORICE

SWEETER THAN SUGAR AND TWICE AS HEALTHY, LIQUORICE IS THE IDEAL PICK-ME-UP SNACK.

Remember dipping those liquorice sticks in damp yellow packets of sherbet or fighting in the playground for the Allsorts with the pretty blue coating? Or maybe even thinking about the smell and consistency when you popped it in your mouth is enough to put you off it. But love it or hate it, liquorice is good for you and you don’t have to indulge in sugar-filled sweets to reap the benefits. A Panda bar a day is full of natural ingredients and will give you that extra bit of boost when you most need it.

There is nothing new about the health-giving properties of liquorice. In ancient Greece it was used to calm coughs and soothe upset stomachs. Dioscorides writing in the 4th century BC describes it as having’ the property of quenching thirst if one holds it in the mouth’. He also gave the plant its botanical name Glycyrrhiza glabra (Glucos is the Greek for sweet and riza means root).

Meanwhile, in traditional Chinese herbalism liquorice is known as the ‘great detoxifier’ or ‘great harmoniser’ and thought to drive toxins from the system as well as eliminating harmful side effects of other herbs.

GETTING TO THE ROOT OF IT

These days this tall erect member of the pea family of plants is cultivated mostly in Greece and Turkey. It is easily recognisable by its gracefully spreading rows of leaflets on either side of a central stalk and its dark green leaves that hang down at night. Long-stemmed spikes of numerous bluish-purple to white flowers grow from the leaf axils from June to August followed by small leguminous smooth-skinned seed pods. The roots are brown, long and cyndrical and contain glycyrrhizin, the secret to liquorice’s medicinal powers.

This magic ingredient is thought to help stimulate the adrenal glands to produce hormones such as hydrocortisone, which quells inflammation and to increase levels of interferon, a virus-fighting substance manufactured by the immune system. The plant is soothing to inflamed or irritated tissues making it ideal for stomach ulcers and also a digestive stimulant and laxative, which is often used to ease constipation.

Liquorice may also be useful for menstrual and menopausal problems. Glycyrrhizin is thought to have weak oestrogenic properties meaning it can latch on to the body’s oestrogen receptors (areas on cells that allow oestrogen in like a key in a lock). So if there is excessive oestrogen in the body as can occur in cases of PMS it may be able to block access, reducing its effect. Alternatively, when oestrogen levels start to fall around menopause it can act as a much weaker but effective substitute. Topical liquorice creams can also help soothe itchy skin conditions such as eczema.

SWEET THERAPY

The root is made into capsules, tablets, tinctures and cream for therapeutic use. It has a sweet musty taste so is often combined with other herbs to mask their bitterness. It is also often found as an ingredient in cough mixtures and laxative preparations. But if you are looking for a healthy snack, the purer the liquorice, the richer the taste – and the healthier the product.

WATCH POINT

Glycyrrhizin can raise blood pressure if taken in excess doses so you should avoid liquorice if you have heart, kidney or liver disease, or high blood pressure, are pregnant, or are taking diuretics or digitalis.

SWEET - AND HEALTHY

Most sweets are pure sugar, which is bad not only for our teeth but also for our energy levels and waistline. And a constant diet of sweets can flood the body with insulin and stress the pancreas, which in time can lead to diabetes. But some sweets, so long as they contain additional nutrients, can play a part in a healthy diet say the experts. ‘If you so choose a small quantity of sweet, sugary foods can be part of the balance of good health provided you moderate your intake and don’t substitute them for more nutritious fare,’ says nutritionist Joanne Lunn, from the British Nutrition Foundation.

Look for the following healthy sweet ingredients when buying confectionery:

• Dried fruits such as apricots, dates and figs can satisfy a sweet craving and also contain nutrients.
• Honey contains trace amounts of vitamins, minerals and enzymes.
• Molasses are rich in B vitamins, iron and calcium, while unrefined cane sugar contains naturally occurring minerals as well as chromium, B vitamins and amino acids.
• Fructose or fruit sugar is metabolised more slowly than sucrose and doesn’t push up insulin levels
• Glycyrrhizin, found in liquorice is reputed to be 50 times sweeter than refined sugar.