Consuming Green Tea during Pregnancy

During pregnancy, doctors recommend that women drink enough water and other beneficial liquids. Water helps in the proper formation of the all-important placenta and amniotic fluid for which pregnant women should drink at least 8 to 12 glasses of water every day. At the same time, avoiding caffeinated drinks like coffee is equally important since caffeine leads to dehydration and could negate the positive effects of drinking water.

Green tea is created from the leaves of the Camelia Sinensis plant and boasts of a mild and earthy flavour. It is highly regarded as a health drink, due to the high amounts of antioxidants in it. To address any doubts like does green tea cause infertility or is green tea harmful to my baby, read this article.

Is Green Tea Safe during Pregnancy?

Women who love green tea are often troubled by the question, “Is green tea good in pregnancy?”, and if there are any negative effects if one drinks it. Any food item or drink, if consumed beyond the recommended levels, can prove to be harmful and the same applies to green tea during pregnancy. If you can practise moderation, green tea is fine as a stimulant when you are pregnant. Two cups of green tea a day is considered as a safe quantity that can be ingested while you are expecting.

Here is the answer to the doubt, “Is green tea dangerous for pregnant women?” Green tea has the potential to reduce folic acid or folate levels in your body, and hence it should be avoided during the first trimester. Even during the second and third trimester, the intake of green tea should not exceed two cups in a day, so that you and your baby are safe.

Note: Remember that green tea is not a herbal tea and does contain caffeine, though in much smaller amounts than coffee. An 8-ounce cup of green tea (236 ml) typically contains about 25-45 mg of caffeine, depending on the brewing strength, while the same amount of coffee can contain 95-200 mg of caffeine.

Does Green Tea Increase the Chances of Getting Pregnant?

Is green tea good for fertility? Numerous men and women who are keen to start a family ask this question to their doctor, and the answer is an emphatic yes. Green tea consists of important compounds that have fertility-boosting properties:

• Vitamin C: Due to its ability to curtail the oxidative harm to the reproductive cells, Vitamin C plays a vital role in reigning in the harmful free radicals in the body. Many clinical studies have been conducted in this area to answer the question, “Does green tea help you to get pregnant?” and they have conclusively shown that the chances of conceiving do improve dramatically.

• Antioxidants: Green tea extracts are one of the most important producers of antioxidants. Their primary purpose is to prevent the oxidative destruction of the reproductive tract cells and destroy free radicals. This plays a positive role in preparing your body for pregnancy.

• Minerals: Green tea leaves are packed with essential minerals like zinc, manganese, chromium, and selenium in varying quantities. In females, these minerals help in improving egg viability, and in males, enhance sperm count and motility. As a to-be-mother or an aspiring one, you will have many doubts like, “Can green tea prevent pregnancy?” and this should put them to rest.

So will green tea help to get pregnant? Surely! The combined and synergistic effects of the natural and organic compounds in green tea improve the probability of getting pregnant, along with providing many other health benefits.

Benefits of Green Tea for Pregnant Women

Is green tea healthy for pregnancy? Yes, there are loads of benefits that a cup of green tea can impart during pregnancy, and drinking a cup or two in a day is considered safe. Here are the prominent benefits you should know as a mother-to-be:

• A serious complication known as preeclampsia can develop in pregnant women who suffer from hypertension, and this can be dangerous for the pregnancy. Green tea can regulate blood pressure efficiently which is beneficial for pregnant women.

• Green tea is a powerful source of antioxidants, which prevent free radicals from destroying vital cells in our body. Diseases like cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease, etc., can be averted by adding antioxidants to your diet.

• The antioxidants in green tea are useful in speeding up the body’s metabolism rate which can help in countering pregnancy-related mood swings. According to clinical studies, green tea can enhance regulatory T Cells in the body that are responsible for keeping your immune system robust and strong. This way, you can fight off illnesses during pregnancy.

• Indigestion and stomach ailments are common during pregnancy. Green tea can help by easing your digestion.

• Studies have also indicated that green tea can promote oral health and enhance bone strength. Pregnant women may suffer from gingivitis due to fluctuating hormone levels. Green tea can ease this.

 Risk of Having Green Tea While Pregnant

There are a few green tea side effects for pregnancy and you should be aware of them before consuming it. It is always better to consult your doctor or gynaecologist and ask, “Can you drink green tea in early pregnancy?” especially if you like green tea and would want to continue drinking it during pregnancy.

• Drinking green tea while being pregnant can hamper the absorption of iron by blood cells. Iron is needed for the production of haemoglobin. This can become one of the reasons of gestational anaemia where the nutrient and oxygen intake of the body get hampered.

• Folic acid plays a critical role in averting neural defects in the baby and hence its intake during pregnancy is necessary. Over-consumption of green tea hampers the absorption process of folic acid, which could lead to a congenital defect of the spinal cord known as spina bifida. Folic acid is essential for your body during the first 12 weeks of the pregnancy, and hence, green tea should be avoided during this period.

How Much Green Tea to Consume During Pregnancy

Pregnant women are often plagued by worrying thoughts about eating and drinking their regular foods. During pregnancy, it is best to limit the consumption of green tea and other caffeine-based drinks to less than 200 mg per day, which can be roughly translated to about two cups every day. Apart from green tea, make sure you add up your daily intake of chocolate, soft drinks, coffee or energy drinks which should remain well below 200 mg.

What Herbal Teas are Safe to Have

Herbal teas are made from various parts of a plant, rather than the tea plant itself, and these parts include roots, flowers, seeds, fruits, and leaves. They help to hydrate the body. Rooibos tea is good for pregnant women due to its antioxidant properties and it is caffeine-free too. Herbal teas like ginger and mint help in reducing morning sickness symptoms, while chamomile can ensure you get a good night’s sleep by acting on insomnia. Red raspberry leaf tea promotes better labour contractions. Discuss with your doctor before consuming any herbal tea to ascertain its safety for you and your baby.

It is always best to listen to your own body. Your daily cup of green tea may have effects – positive or negative – that only you can experience. If it is causing sleepless nights or ruining your appetite or putting you on tenterhooks, it is best to speak to your doctor and voice these concerns. If you drink green tea while expecting, make sure you follow the above precautions and guidelines to ensure it is beneficial for you at this sensitive time.