Are you a herbal tea drinker?
In that case, you'll be wondering which teas are safe during pregnancy.
Today I'm going to take you through the evidence on nine different types of herbal tea so that
you know which ones are safe during pregnancy, and which ones to avoid.
Stay tuned!
Herbal tea is known to have a range of health benefits from reducing inflammation to improving
heart health.
It's not only delicious, but medicinal too.
Which is why, not all teas are safe during pregnancy.
You see, herbal tea may help ease uncomfortable pregnancy symptoms, such as morning sickness
and acid reflux.
But, consuming too much herbal tea during pregnancy may have adverse impacts on your
baby's growth and development.
There is a wide range of herbal tea choices.
Let's have a closer look at which are safe, and which are not....
Firstly, unless specifically recommended by your healthcare professional, I'd recommend
avoiding chamomile tea and ginseng tea.
Chamomile tea is often consumed to relieve menstrual cramps and stomach aches.
During pregnancy, it may be beneficial for easing the symptoms of morning sickness.
However, research suggests that chamomile tea consumption during pregnancy has been
associated with preterm delivery and low birth weight infants.
There have also been a few documented cases of pregnant women experiencing anaphylaxis,
so you definitely need to be cautious with it.
Now when it comes to ginseng,
authorities recommend that ginseng should generally be avoided during the first trimester
of pregnancy, and used with caution if you choose to use it later in pregnancy.
as studies show it has been linked with growth restriction, high blood pressure and difficulty
sleeping.
There is still debate about the following herbal teas during pregnancy, so I'd recommend
limiting your intake to no more than one cup per day, or two cups every other day, just
to be on the safe side:
Number 1 - Ginger Tea. Ginger is rich in vitamin B6, which has shown
to ease nausea.
Consumption of ginger tea during pregnancy may reduce pregnancy-related nausea.
However, before consuming ginger tea during pregnancy, it should be noted that there have
been studies that suggest ginger tea consumption may result in shorter length of gestation
and a reduced infant head circumference so don't guzzle it down.
Number 2 - Green Tea. Green tea is rich in antioxidants and reduces
inflammation.
Some studies have shown that the anti-inflammatory properties may reduce fat mass and risks of
obesity within offspring.
However, Green tea contains caffeine, which means you need to take care to limit your
intake.
Too much caffeine has been associated with impacting the development of fetal organs.
Number 3 - Hibiscus Tea. Hibiscus tea is popular as it has been shown
to reduce blood pressure and have a role in improving cardiovascular functioning.
However, the impact of hibiscus tea during pregnancy hasn't been studied, so until there's
more research, it's wise to be cautious.....especially as blood pressure often fluctuates throughout
pregnancy.
Number 4 - Lemongrass Tea. Similarly, lemongrass tea appears to be relatively
safe during pregnancy.
However, it too may reduce blood pressure, which may increase feelings of dizziness and
lead to further hypotension. So just be careful of how much you take.
Number 5 - Rooibos Tea. Although Rooibos tea is low in caffeine, and
has been shown to have anti-diabetic properties, no studies have been undertaken to determine
its safety during pregnancy, so until it's properly studied, it's recommended that it
be limited.
Now, if you want to drink herbal tea, these teas are my favourites for pregnancy.
Remember, however, that herbal teas are unregulated, so the dose and quality can vary from brand
to brand.
It's also wise to read the label to check for other additives.
Based on current evidence, up to three cups per day of the following teas are safe:
Number 1 - Echinacea tea. Echinacea tea is derived from wildflowers and has
been used historically to treat a common cold.
Current research suggests that it is safe to consume in moderation during pregnancy.
Then secondly, peppermint tea.
The limited research available suggests that peppermint tea is one of the safer herbal
teas to consume during pregnancy.
It has also been found to be beneficial for relieving nausea and preventing vomiting in
some women. So that's a good thing!
So they might be some good choices for you
Now, let me know in the comments below what your favourite tea is.
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