Do your children struggle in school? Are you sick of teachers categorizing your son or daughter as “test challenged?”
Yes?
Blame licorice.
No kidding.
The next time your child complains about failing yet another exam, consider how much licorice you consumed while you were pregnant.
A new study published in the Journal of Epedimiology found that women, who consumed about 100 grams of pure licorice a week during their pregnancy, have children who perform poorly on tests.
So, pregnant women + licorice = dumb kids?
Kind of.
According to researchers, glycyrrhizic acid found in licorice root is about 50 times as sweet as sugar. That’s a plus for candy makers, but scientists in Helsinki and Edinburgh say it may also enhance the crossing of stress hormones from mother to baby, which in turn translates to lower intelligence, the possibility of behavioral problems, and a strong likelihood of ADHD diagnoses.
The study also noted that very large amounts of licorice have been linked to high blood pressure, heart irregularities and other medical problems (a.k.a. obesity). In addition, other studies have linked licorice consumption during pregnancy to premature babies.
Does this mean that pregnant women should ban Twizzlers from their homes to ensure they don’t give birth to problem children?
Researchers say, absolutely not. Scientists note that Twizzlers and Red Vines do not contain 100 percent licorice. However, health experts say it is never a good idea to indulge in too much of any one thing. Moderation is key. Meaning, you don’t have to eliminate licorice from your diet entirely, but you shouldn’t be eating it for breakfast, lunch and dinner either.
Did you eat mass amounts of licorice while you were expecting your children? How did they turn out?
I don’t remember how much licorice I consumed while I was pregnant with my daughter. Apparently, it wasn’t enough for me to be concerned about, though if this study focused on deviled eggs, I would really be in trouble.
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