"I was addicted"

Swede (56) almost died of a liquorice overdose

Liquorice should only be consumed in moderation - a 56-year-old Swede found this out after a stay in hospital.

(Bild: alex papin)

Easter is just around the corner and the festive season is particularly good for those with a sweet tooth. But too much chocolate and the like is known to be unhealthy - one Swede almost died because of his passion for a particular sweet. His life was even in danger because of his excessive consumption of liquorice. 

Swede Joacim Österstam was plagued by mysterious complaints for weeks. "First I had a headache for a few days, then problems with my vision. I couldn't concentrate on anything, I couldn't focus. Then I got wobbly legs and incredible pain in my legs. I finally went to the doctor, who immediately sent me to the emergency room by cab," the 56-year-old told Bild. 

A picture of Joacim Österstam on Instagram:

Potassium levels were extremely low
When he went to hospital in mid-March, Österstam's condition was already so bad that he could barely get in and out of the vehicle. "I had such pain in my legs. I was walking like a 90-year-old." Blood tests revealed that his potassium levels were very low. "My levels were 1.8. Normally you have 3.5. The doctor explained to me that levels that low can be life-threatening." However, the cause of this finding initially remained a mystery.

It was only in another hospital that a doctor asked whether the Swede liked to eat liquorice, which he confirmed: "I was downright addicted to liquorice." This solved the mystery: the sweet is made from liquorice root and contains glycyrrhizin. This substance affects the body's electrolyte balance, which can lead to a potassium deficiency. Increased blood pressure can also be a complaint after consuming too much liquorice.

"I'll never touch liquorice again"
Österstam wants to warn other fans of liquorice after his dramatic experience. He himself has sworn off the sweet: "I'll never touch it again. I think I would even spit it out if I accidentally put it in my mouth."

Death in the USA after liquorice overdose
According to the WHO, no more than 100 mg of glycyrrhizin should be consumed per day. This corresponds to about 50 grams of licorice. In 2020, a man from Massachusetts died from eating too much liquorice, as reported by the AP news agency. The 54-year-old had consumed one and a half packs of liquorice over several weeks - he suffered a cardiac arrest.