Food

Salmiak: Is The Flavoring in Sweets Healthy?

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Salmiak has always been a natural remedy that is particularly popular in northern Europe. If you overdose, however, it can also lead to undesirable side effects.

Where is salmiac found?

Salmiac is the mineral ammonium chloride. Only 110 sites of the rare mineral are known worldwide.

Licorice products with salmiak are colloquially referred to as “adult liquorice” because their taste has a repellent effect on children and salmiak can lead to acidification of the blood in higher doses. A product with an ammonia content of up to eight percent is still considered candy in this country. If a product contains more than eight percent salmiak, it is a medicinal product.

What are the health risks of ammonia?

Products containing sal ammoniac are particularly popular in northern Germany and the neighboring Scandinavian countries. In these regions, salmiak is considered a remedy that is traditionally used to treat sore throats. In addition, ammonia salt has a disinfecting effect, as it lowers the pH value of the saliva and thus kills bacteria. If you take an overdose of salmiac, there is also a risk of over-acidifying the body.

However, the liquorice contained in large quantities in salmiak pastilles often represents a greater danger than salmiak itself. If you overdose liquorice, cardiovascular disorders can be a possible result. The liquorice root contains the hormone-like substance glycyrrhizin. This removes potassium from the body and increases blood pressure. You should therefore not regularly snack on more than 50 grams of liquorice per day.

With normal consumption, however, it is unlikely to overdose on salmiak or liquorice to such an extent that your health suffers acutely. As long as you follow the consumption recommendation on the packaging, you are on the safe side and can enjoy the health-promoting effects of sal ammoniac.

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