Licorice is one of the foods that can benefit people with COVID-19, according to research from Iran.
A five-day randomized controlled trial tested the effects of taking licorice root extract versus a placebo on 51 adults who were critically ill with COVID-19 and receiving standard treatment in an intensive care unit (ICU) of Alzhahra Teaching Hospital, Iran.
The group taking licorice left the ICU after an average of 13.1 days, while the placebo group stayed there for 25 days, suggesting that licorice could be effective against COVID-19.
However, there were no differences between the groups in terms of how many people died from COVID-19 and how much time patients spent on ventilators.
According to the researchers, this benefit of licorice may be due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
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When the body responds to COVID-19, it releases cytokines: pro-inflammatory proteins that help fight infections.
However, in some patients the body releases too many cytokines, causing a cytokine storm, which results in too much inflammation and potentially serious side effects such as lung problems and damage to other organs.
The scientists suggested that anti-inflammatory compounds in licorice, such as flavonoids, could help calm the cytokine storm in the study participants, leading to better health outcomes.
An earlier study by another team showed similar results. In that case, researchers tested the effects of an herbal syrup made from licorice on 213 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 for seven days, compared to a placebo.
Those who used the syrup stayed in the hospital about two days shorter on average, just over five days, compared to about seven days for the placebo group.
Again, there was no difference in the number of patients who died from COVID-19, but there were improvements in other factors, such as how many were sent to an ICU.
The scientists concluded that their results were ‘promising’, and if they were due to the anti-inflammatory effects of licorice, it follows that other anti-inflammatory foods could also support recovery from COVID-19 – but the research on this is mixed.
Curcumin, a compound found in turmeric, may be effective. A 2020 study found that an easily absorbed form of the substance seemed to help the body recover faster.
However, a 2024 study on ginger found that this anti-inflammatory powerhouse had no effect on adults with COVID-19 — although those patients were not as severely ill.
Other foods that may (or may not) help include berries, citrus fruits, dark green leafy vegetables, garlic, nuts, fatty fish, olive oil, and seeds, as these foods contain antioxidants such as vitamin C, omega-3, and selenium, which are which is known to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Chickpeas, egg yolks, lentils, milk and shellfish contain nutrients such as vitamin D and zinc. It is believed to support the immune system.
Meanwhile, probiotics could help with immunity through their beneficial effects on gut health — although a 2024 study concluded that such supplements did not help high-risk individuals avoid COVID-19 infection, based on a review of four studies.
The research still does not clarify to what extent anti-inflammatory and immune supporting foods could help against COVID-19.
Official advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to emphasize the importance of vaccination, good hygiene practices and distance from sick people.
However, eating a healthy diet full of anti-inflammatory foods and immune-healthy nutrients at the same time can help and is unlikely to come with any negative side effects.
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References
Alikiaie, B., Shalamzari, SMH, Soltani, R., Yegdaneh, A., and Mousavi, S. (2023). Efficacy of licorice root as adjunctive therapy in critically ill patients with COVID-19: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial. Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice, 12(4), 141. https://doi.org/10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_22_24
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