The Benefits of Licorice in Weight Loss Agawam MA

Body weight is one of the most basic issues of human life. Self-esteem, acceptance among peers and perhaps lifelong success or failure, unfortunately, are all tied to our physical appearance. Thin is in, especially today. The prevalence of slender, even skinny models in advertising is ample evidence of our society's attitudes about body weight. While being overweight is certainly unhealthy, the fear and loathing attached to body fat can also be detrimental when it leads to eating disorders such as anorexia. But consternation over the impact of obsession with thinness on our national psyche, especially where young people are concerned, should not obscure the obvious fact that too many Americans are overweight. Everywhere you look, people are fighting the "Battle of the Bulge."

The body mass index (BMI) is a widely used formula to calculate obesity because body fat is considered within the calculated result. To calculate body mass index for a given height and weight, use the following formula: BMI = weight in kilograms (pounds divided by 2.2) divided by the square of the height in meters (inches divided by 39.4). Guidelines created in 1998 state that the BMI must be 24 or less in order for one's weight to be considered healthy. An individual with a BMI 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight. Obese individuals have a BMI greater than 30. Body mass index is associated with overall mortality. Studies have indicated that the greater the BMI in the individual, the greater the risk of death from all causes.

Licorice originated in the Mediterranean and Middle East and has been used medicinally and as a flavoring agent since at least 500 B.C. It has been used traditionally for fatigue (in the case of adrenal gland insufficiency), as an expectorant, in gastrointestinal distress (particularly of benefit in ulcers), and in inflammation. Licorice is used to flavor a wide variety of candies, gum, tobacco products, and beverages.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in Obesity Research & Clinical Practice was conducted involving 56 moderately overweight males and 28 moderately overweight females to investigate licorice and the potential of licorice to reduce body fat and visceral fat (fat that is metabolized by the liver, which turns it into cholesterol that circulates in the blood causing bad cholesterol). The subjects were divided into four groups, the first group receiving a daily placebo while the other groups received a licorice oil supplement at doses of 300, 600 or 900 mg daily. Calorie consumption was similar in all four groups. After eight weeks of ingestion of licorice flavonoid oil (LFO), the three LFO groups experienced a significant total body fat mass in comparison to the placebo group. "Thus, we presume that licorice flavonoid oil increases energy expenditure by enhancing beta-oxidation and inhibits lipogenesis resulting in reduction in body fat and body weight," wrote Tominaga and his co-workers. Also, LFO safely reduced body weight with no adverse events.¹

¹ Tominaga Y, Nakagawa K, Mae T, et al. Licorice flavonoid oil reduces total body fat and visceral fat in overweight subjects: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Obesity Research & Clinical Practice. Aug2009;3(3):169-178.