By Deborah Mitchell for EmaxHealth.com

If you have enjoyed licorice root for its tummy soothing qualities—and even if you haven’t—you may be interested to know that a team of scientists have uncovered another benefit of this ancient herbal remedy. Licorice root has been shown to possess substances that can reduce blood sugar levels and offer other anti-diabetes advantages.

Licorice root harbors health benefits

Over the years, researchers have uncovered several substances in licorice root that may offer health benefits. In the fight against gum disease, for example, a recent study in the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Natural Products reported that licoricidin and licorisoflavan A were effective against bacteria that cause cavities and have roles in gum disease.