Ingredient safety
Does Black Sugar Protect Contain Licorice? Blood Pressure Facts
Black Sugar Protect names licorice root, which contains glycyrrhizin. That compound can raise blood pressure and lower potassium, more so with large amounts or long use. The amount in the product is not disclosed, so people with high blood pressure should ask a clinician first.
Written by the Black Sugar Protect editorial teamUpdated · 8 min read
The short answer
Can licorice root raise your blood pressure?
Yes, it can. A compound in licorice root called glycyrrhizin is the reason, and the effect grows with the amount and with time.
Memorial Sloan Kettering lists high blood pressure with low potassium as the most common side effect of licorice. Even moderate amounts, taken day after day, have been linked to both (MSK, Licorice). Doctors call this pairing hypokalemic hypertension.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health goes further. It says glycyrrhizin can cause an irregular heartbeat and, in rare cases, cardiac arrest. It also says even small amounts have been tied to severe effects in people who already have high blood pressure (NCCIH, Licorice).
Most serious reports involve large amounts or long use. The amount in Black Sugar Protect is unknown, so you cannot place it on that scale.
What happens in the body
How does licorice affect blood pressure and potassium?
Glycyrrhizin can push blood pressure up while potassium drops (MSK, Licorice). The heart needs potassium to keep a steady rhythm.
| Effect | What is reported | When it is more likely |
|---|---|---|
| Higher blood pressure | The most common side effect of licorice | Regular use, even at moderate doses |
| Lower potassium | Often appears together with the higher blood pressure | Long-term use; also with water pills |
| Heart rhythm problems | Irregular heartbeat; rare cardiac arrest | Excessive use or existing heart disease |
| Pregnancy risk | Large amounts by mouth are considered unsafe | Any large or long-term intake |
| Blood sugar benefit | No blood sugar dose has been studied | Not established |
Notice the last row. The brand does not explain why licorice root is in the formula.
Inside the bottle
How much licorice root is in Black Sugar Protect?
The amount is not disclosed. Tap the numbers to see what is known about each named ingredient.
- Licorice root
No amount. Glycyrrhizin in licorice can raise blood pressure and lower potassium, more so with large amounts or long use.
- Magnesium
No amount and no form. Supplements should stay at or below 350 mg a day for adults unless a clinician advises more.
- Concentrated Ceylon cinnamon
No amount. Ceylon is the low-coumarin type. Trials used 120 mg to 6 g a day.
- High purity berberine
No amount and no purity figure. The usual herbal dose is 250 to 500 mg two or three times daily.
- Alpha-lipoic acid
No amount. Oral trials used 600 mg or more a day; a review found no blood sugar benefit over placebo.
- Chelated chromium
No amount and no compound named. A paid press release says chromium picolinate instead.
Licorice root appears first on the brand's ingredient graphic, but no milligram figure, extract strength or glycyrrhizin content is published anywhere we could open (Black Sugar Protect sales page). A paid press release supplied by the brand also lists licorice root and says the amounts are not publicly disclosed (Newswire, sponsored). The licorice root profile collects everything known so far.
Who should ask first
Who should be careful with licorice root?
Some people react to smaller amounts than others. Check whether any of these apply to you.
Heart, kidney or blood pressure problems
NCCIH says people with heart or kidney conditions may be affected by smaller amounts of glycyrrhizin (NCCIH, Licorice).
Water pills, digoxin and blood pressure drugs
Licorice may deepen potassium loss with diuretics, raise the risk of digoxin toxicity and work against blood pressure medicines (MSK, Licorice).
A salty diet or pregnancy
High salt intake can make smaller amounts matter more. Large amounts by mouth are unsafe in pregnancy (NCCIH, Licorice).
If you take any blood pressure medicine, a water pill or digoxin, talk with your clinician before adding a product that contains licorice. Do not stop or change a prescribed medicine on your own.
Why it matters here
Why does licorice matter in a blood sugar supplement?
Licorice matters because blood sugar and blood pressure often travel together. If you watch one, your clinician may already be watching the other.
Licorice adds a separate question to a blood sugar product: your blood pressure and potassium. If you are unsure whether the product suits you, see who it's for.
Keep the evidence picture in view too. The American Diabetes Association's 2026 Standards of Care say herb, spice and mineral supplements are not recommended for blood sugar benefit (ADA, Standards of Care 2026). No trial of Black Sugar Protect itself has been published.
Licorice is not a blood sugar ingredient with research behind it. In Black Sugar Protect it is a safety question, and the label on your bottle is the only place an answer could appear.
Keep watch
How can you track blood pressure while taking a licorice product?
If your clinician agrees you can try it, a simple log makes changes easy to spot.
Take a few readings first
Measure your blood pressure on several days before your first dose, so you know your usual numbers.
Use the same time and arm
Sit quietly for a few minutes, then measure at the same time of day. Small habits make readings easier to compare.
Write down every reading
Log the date, the time and the numbers. Add any new swelling, muscle weakness or a pounding or uneven heartbeat.
Bring the log and the bottle
Show both at your next visit.
On the bottle
What should the label tell you about licorice?
A complete label would answer the questions below. Right now, none of them is answered for Black Sugar Protect (Black Sugar Protect sales page). Read the back of your bottle with this list in hand.
| Label detail | Why it matters | Published now |
|---|---|---|
| Amount of licorice root | Harms rise with the amount taken | Not published |
| Extract type or glycyrrhizin content | Glycyrrhizin causes the blood pressure effect | Not published |
| Serving size and directions | Sets how much you take each day | Not published |
| Warnings | Should cover blood pressure, pregnancy and medicines | Not published |
| Distributor name and address | Someone to ask about the extract | Not published |
If the bottle leaves these blank, ask the seller before your first dose. The website contacts are on the contact page, and a full walk-through is in our guide to reading a supplement label.
When to act
What should you do if your readings climb?
Stop the product and call your clinician if your blood pressure runs higher than usual or your heartbeat feels uneven. Bring the bottle so they can read what is in it.
An irregular heartbeat with chest pain, fainting or severe weakness needs emergency care. A full list of possible reactions to all six ingredients is on the side effects page.
FAQ
Licorice root and blood pressure: common questions
Does licorice root raise blood pressure?
Yes, it can. Glycyrrhizin in licorice root can raise blood pressure and lower potassium, and Memorial Sloan Kettering calls this its most common side effect. The risk is higher with large amounts, long-term use, heart or kidney disease, or a salty diet.
Is there licorice in Black Sugar Protect?
Yes. Licorice root is the first of six ingredients named on the brand's ingredient graphic. The amount, extract type and glycyrrhizin content are not published, so check the label on the bottle you receive and ask the seller if it is missing.
Can I take Black Sugar Protect if I have high blood pressure?
Ask your clinician first. Licorice root, one of its six named ingredients, can raise blood pressure, and even small amounts have been tied to severe effects in people with high blood pressure. Because the amount is unknown, bring the bottle to your appointment.
Can licorice root lower potassium?
Yes. Regular licorice intake has been linked to low potassium, often together with high blood pressure. Water pills can make the drop larger. Low potassium can affect heart rhythm, so people on diuretics should ask about a blood test.
Does licorice interact with blood pressure medicine?
It may. Memorial Sloan Kettering says licorice may interfere with blood pressure medicines, increase potassium loss with diuretics and raise the risk of digoxin toxicity. Never stop or change a prescribed medicine to make room for a supplement.
Why is licorice in a blood sugar supplement?
The brand does not say. No blood sugar dose of licorice has been studied in our sources, and its known effects are on blood pressure and potassium. Treat it as a safety question rather than a reason to buy.
Is licorice root safe during pregnancy?
Large amounts of licorice by mouth are considered unsafe during pregnancy, according to NCCIH. Black Sugar Protect also names berberine, which should be avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Talk with your prenatal care provider before using any product that contains either one.
Can Black Sugar Protect raise blood pressure because of licorice?
Licorice root contains glycyrrhizin, which can raise blood pressure. The amount in Black Sugar Protect is not disclosed, so ask your clinician first if you have high blood pressure.
Who should be careful with the licorice root in Black Sugar Protect?
People with high blood pressure, heart or kidney problems, or those who take a water pill. Check with your clinician before you start, since the licorice amount is not published.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Plain-language pages built from the bottle photos, the sales page and linked public health sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by Blacksugarprotects, a USA Authorized Black Sugar Protect Retailer, not by the manufacturer. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
Keep reading
More about Black Sugar Protect
Licorice root
Licorice root has no blood sugar dose, but its glycyrrhizin can raise blood pressure and lower potassium.
Read more
Side effects
No warnings are published, so here are the known side effects of each of the six named ingredients, and when to stop.
Read more
Who it's for
Who Black Sugar Protect may suit, who should ask first, and who should skip it, with a six-question check.
Read moreUSA Authorized Black Sugar Protect Retailer
Ready to try Black Sugar Protect?
Pick a pack at checkout. One bottle is a 30-day supply, per the sales page. Guarantee: 90 days on the sales FAQ.
- CartPanda checkout
- 90-day guarantee
- Free US shipping on 3 or 6
