Licorice: The Unlikely Peacemaker in Your Body's Fat Cell Feud
A study in Phytomedicine finds liquiritigenin, a licorice flavonoid, can soothe inflammation in immune cells, offering a new way to combat diet-induced insulin
By Foodie Pundit Newsroom - Published - Updated - Section: Health Nutrition
Key points
- A high-fat diet can trigger chronic inflammation by causing immune cells (macrophages) to disrupt the function of fat cells.
- Liquiritigenin, a natural compound in licorice root, has been shown to prevent this inflammatory response by protecting the cellular power plants (mitochondria) in immune cells.
- This research highlights the importance of "immunometabolism," showing that dietary compounds can directly influence the immune system to improve metabolic health.
- The study used a concentrated compound; eating licorice candy is not a substitute and consuming too much licorice root can have negative health effects.
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Sources and methodology
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