The practice of drinking green tea has been practiced during ancient times that is why it leads to a lot of research about its beneficial effects on the human body. Some consumers would green tea not just because of their taste but due to its medicinal properties. Compared to other herbal teas, green teas are known to be the safest and the healthiest but can we conclude that its positive effects can be beneficial to pregnancy as well? In this article, we’ll know more about green tea’s benefits and possible downsides to pregnancy.
Is green tea safe for pregnancy?
There is no research that would state that drinking green tea during pregnancy is harmful. It is safe for pregnant women to drink green tea because it is boost with different health benefits however, there are some factors to consider to ensure that it will not cause harm to you and your baby. Moderation is still the key for you to enjoy it without the risk.
Benefits of green tea to pregnancy
1.Keeps blood sugar in the normal level
It is more recommended for pregnant women to drink green tea than coffee because it is known to effectively monitor the glucose level by ensuring that the sugar level is at the optimum, especially for those who have gestational diabetes.
2. Regulates blood pressure
During pregnancy, having a high blood pressure should be avoided so as not to have any other complications such as preeclampsia. Through the antioxidants found in green tea which is the polyphenols, there is a preventive measure to protect the bodily cells that would lead to a regulation in the blood pressure.
3. Helps dental issues
During pregnancy, calcium deficiency is common that may lead to some dental issues such as gingivitis and cavities. With the help of green tea, its antioxidant property which is the catechin helps in the destruction of the different viruses and bacteria that causes dental issues.
4. Has the ability to alleviate mood swings
Green tea contains an amino acid compound which is the theanine that provides relaxing and calming effects that would help to treat mood swings which are common to pregnancy.
5. Resolves skin problems
Due to hormonal imbalances during pregnancy, you may experience some acne breakouts. Since green tea contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, it will help resolve or reduce skin issues.
6. Boosts immune system
The different antioxidants found in green tea has the ability to interact with the lymphocytes that produce thymus, which is a compound that strengthens the immunity to fight off common diseases and illnesses during pregnancy.
When is green tea considered as harmful to pregnancy?
Green tea can only pose danger to pregnancy if it is taken in too large amounts and high concentrations. It still contains caffeine which causes acidity. These would happen if the environment is too acidic due to so much consumption of green tea:
1. Difficulty to absorb iron
Iron is important for the production of hemoglobin, without hemoglobin, it may cause anemia that is too dangerous to the pregnancy. Drinking green tea makes it hard for the human body to absorb iron that is why avoid excessive amounts.Â
2. Difficulty to absorb folic acid
Folic acid is one of the most important compounds for pregnancy because it aids in the developmental bodily stage of the fetus during the first 12 weeks. Overconsumption of green tea leads to different congenital diseases of the fetus such as spinal cord defect.
3. An increase in the metabolism rate
There is already an increase in the metabolism rate during pregnancy. If there is an overconsumption of green tea, the metabolism would further increase that may cause different hormonal imbalances such as a sudden increase or decrease of weight which is dangerous to the pregnancy.
How much green tea is too much?
One cup of green tea contains about 35 mg to 45 mg of caffeine. The allowed caffeine daily intake of caffeine for pregnant women is about 200mg which equates to 3-4 cups of caffeine products each day. You can consume until 4 cups of green tea per day provided that you will no longer drink any other caffeinated drink throughout the day. The advisable amount of green tea consumption is about 2 cups only so that there will still be an allowance for other caffeinated drink that you may take in a day such as coffee, chocolate, soft drinks, etc.
Types of green tea that are safe to pregnancy
- Organic green tea
This type of green tea is from an all-natural plant grown from organic farming methods that are free from harmful pesticides.
- Decaf green tea
This is a type of green tea that is free from caffeine. It consists of high levels of antioxidants that are packed with a lot of health benefits.
- Matcha green tea
This is a highly nutritional type of green tea that is a commonly used drink supplement that has cancer-fighting properties and is enriched with antioxidants for weight loss and diabetes.
Tips in drinking green tea while pregnant
- Green tea contains tannins that may cause constipation, nausea, and stomach due to acidity when consumed green tea on an empty stomach.
- It is not advisable to drink green tea while eating your meals due to the inability of iron absorption.
- It is advisable to drink green tea for at least 2 hours before and after eating a meal.
- Since it still contains caffeine, it is not advisable for you to drink it before bedtime so as not to affect your sleeping pattern.
- Make use of filtered water or mineral water when making green tea so that it won’t lead to some digestive issues.
- Only buy green tea from a reputable seller or brand so that you can be sure of its safety.
- If it is possible, create your own green tea through the use of different herbs that are beneficial for pregnancy just make your research about the different safe herbs to consume or better yet consult your doctor.
Read also:
- Taking the Decaf Tea While Pregnant
- Chicory Root: Is it Safe During Pregnancy?
- Using Jasmine Tea During Pregnancy: is it Good or Bad?
