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

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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