Is it Safe To Drink Green Tea During Pregnancy?

This post was most recently updated on July 25th, 2023

Pregnant women are often advised to drink plenty of fluids to ensure better formation and development of the fetus. In addition to filtered water, monotonous drinks, pregnant mothers also have many other options of drinks including green tea. Green tea is considered as the favorite drink of many people, but whether pregnant mothers can drink green tea during pregnancy or not? Is there any effect?

Since ancient times, green tea has been used as an excellent drink to help bring many health benefits to people. Referring to green tea, we can mention a few uses to help identify the brand of this drink such as heat, anti-oxidation, and cancer prevention. But the question many people wonder is that drinking green tea during pregnancy is really as beneficial as many people think it can cause potential health hazards. Let’s go with Health My Lives to find the answer to this question!

Is it good to drink green tea during pregnancy?

Pregnant women who love green tea often ask the same questions as above. Note that the consumption of green tea or any other beverage should be in moderation.

So the answer to whether women drink green tea is really safe when pregnant or not is that pregnant mothers need to avoid this drink in the first trimester of pregnancy. The reason is that green tea reduces the concentration of folic acid (or folate), thereby indirectly increasing the risk of neural tube defects in the fetus. In addition, in the second and third trimesters, the amount of tea used by pregnant mothers should not exceed 2 cups per day to ensure the better health of both mother and baby. Another little information is that pregnant mothers drinking green tea can interfere with the absorption of iron from green vegetables.

Note that green tea and herbal teas are not the same, green tea contains caffeine, which increases the fetal heart rate as well as reduces blood flow to the fetus, in addition, caffeine causes dehydration as well as reduce thirst in pregnant mothers. According to statistics, a cup of tea with a capacity of about 236ml will contain about 25 – 46 mg of caffeine, while a cup of coffee of equal capacity contains 95-200 mg of caffeine. Therefore, mothers who drink green tea during pregnancy should pay attention to this clearly.

Can green tea help women get pregnant easier?

Talking on the sidelines a bit, maybe people will also wonder this when they hear the question of whether drinking green tea during pregnancy is safe or not. And the answer for those who want to have a little angel for themselves is that green tea is not only delicious but also has many nutrients that help to enhance fertility. Such substances include:

• Vitamin C: Limiting the effects of oxidants on reproductive cells, controlling free radicals in the body is the benefit of vitamin C in green tea and thereby, fertility will be improved significantly more.
• Antioxidants: Like vitamin C, antioxidants prevent cell destruction of free radicals. That plays a positive role for your body to prepare for pregnancy.
• Minerals: Several essential types such as zinc, manganese, chromium, and selenium in green tea increase the viability of eggs in women. For men, these minerals help increase sperm quality as well as their motility.

Specific benefits of green tea for pregnant mothers

Pregnant mothers who drink from one to two cups of green tea a day will receive huge benefits below.

When it comes to serious complications of pregnancy, pre-eclampsia is not to be mentioned and this condition is particularly high risk in people with high blood pressure. If you have a habit of drinking 1-2 cups of green tea a day, pregnant mothers should rest assured because green tea will help pregnant women regulate blood pressure effectively.

Diseases that only hear the name are also afraid of high blood pressure, heart disease or cancer will not have much chance of knocking on the door to disturb your health if you have guardians like quality.

Antioxidants come from green tea. The antioxidants from green tea are very helpful in speeding up the body’s metabolism, thereby helping to combat mood swings associated with pregnancy. According to clinical studies, green tea can boost the T cells responsible for regulating the body that is responsible for keeping your immune system healthy. If you consume an appropriate amount of green tea, your body can fight off illness during pregnancy.

During pregnancy, you will inevitably experience unpleasant things like indigestion or stomach ailments. But pregnant mothers who love green tea will not have to worry about it because this drink will soothe the discomfort mentioned above.

Studies also show that mothers who drink green tea can improve oral and joint health. Pregnant women can get gingivitis due to fluctuating hormone levels, while green tea is also effective in soothing the condition.

Can Too Much Green Tea Be Risky For Pregnant?

Some of the disadvantages of drinking green tea during pregnancy include reducing the amount of folate (or folic acid) that is essential for fetal development. A deficiency of folate can lead to a birth defect in the spinal cord known as spina bifida . Folic acid is essential for your body during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, so pregnant women should avoid drinking green tea during this period. So, it is better to consult your doctor or gynecologist if you want to use green tea in the early stages of pregnancy or throughout pregnancy.

Pregnant mothers have a habit of drinking green tea during pregnancy also hinders the absorption of iron by blood cells. Iron is extremely important factor for the creation of hemoglobin. So pregnant mothers drink green tea can be one of the causes of anemia in pregnancy.

How much green tea should pregnant women drink?

Pregnant mothers are often worried by disturbing rumors about eating or drinking certain foods on a regular basis. During pregnancy, it’s best to limit your intake of green tea and other caffeinated beverages to less than 200mg per day, which can be roughly estimated at two cups of green tea per day.

In addition to green tea, make sure foods or beverages such as chocolate, soft drinks, coffee or energy drinks are also below 200mg of caffeine per day.

Besides drinking green tea during pregnancy, is there any other good tea?

If you are afraid that the caffeine content in green tea will affect your fetus, there is an alternative to herbal tea. This tea is made from the leaves, seeds, roots or bark of some plants that bring many beneficial effects for pregnant women, such as supporting good digestion, helping to reduce anxiety and stress as well as morning sickness.

Herbal teas like ginger and peppermint will help reduce morning sickness symptoms, while chamomile tea is known for its benefits of ensuring a good night’s sleep. Red raspberry leaf tea promotes better labor contractions.

Some herbal teas you should avoid, like sage leaf tea, contain thujone, which is linked to high blood pressure and miscarriage. In addition, pregnant mothers should also avoid parsley tea. This tea can also affect the development of the fetus, increasing the risk of miscarriage in pregnant women.

Conclusion

Therefore, if you intend to use any tea and the effects are good, pregnant women should discuss with your doctor before use. This helps you avoid undesirable side effects that can even harm the health of you and your baby.

Drinking tea during pregnancy has its benefits and shortcomings, it is best to be vigilant and listen to your body more when using any product during pregnancy.